Rent the Runway Partners With Amazon Fashion for ‘Pre-loved’ Collection
- Rent the Runway is partnering with Amazon Fashion.
- It will sell two collections, a used collection and a collection of new clothes designed by “top design talent.”
- The retailer has struggled to rebound since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rent the Runway has partnered with Amazon Fashion to sell a used collection and limited-edition rotating collections created specifically for the brand through the e-commerce giant.
The retailer, which rents out designer apparel, will use the Amazon Fashion storefront to sell a “Pre-Loved” collection and collections from its new “Design Collective,” according to a Jan. 12 release.
The pre-loved collection will include “hundreds of styles” from more than 35 brands, the release said. Categories include casual wear, workwear, more formal clothing the retailer calls “date night apparel” and seasonal items that include sweaters, tops, coats and denim. The design collective collection will be available through both Amazon Fashion and through Rent the Runway’s website. That retailer said it will give “top design talent” the chance to design limited-edition collections using Rent the Runway’s proprietary data.
The retailer in the release said the design collective will help it strengthen its reputation as a customer discovery platform for designers.
"Collaborating with Amazon Fashion brings Rent the Runway incredible brand awareness," said Jenn Hyman, Rent the Runway co-founder and CEO, in the release. "We believe strategic relationships like this can ignite a new engine of growth for our business. They also showcase demand for our products beyond our community and allow more customers to experience exclusive data-driven fashion from our top design partners."
The partnership is the latest action meant to help reinvigorate the Rent the Runway brand, which has struggled during and since the COVID-19 pandemic. The retailer reported about $36.1 million in losses in the third quarter of last year, which is an improvement from losses of $87.8 million in the third quarter of 2021.
As CNBC reported, the retailer has partnerships with ThredUp and Saks Off 5th to sell its used designer clothing, though the designer collective will mark the first time the retailer is selling new clothing.
“At Amazon Fashion, we continually expand our assortment through strategic relationships with brands to inspire and delight our customers,” said Muge Erdirik Dogan, president of Amazon Fashion, in the release. “Rent the Runway’s collection continues to grow our offering in pre-loved and designer fashion.”