Welcome to Wardrobe of Friends
The home of circular style. Read on to find out more about joining our RESALE community.
Hello to all subscribers old and new,
First of all, thank you so much for your interest in becoming part of our RESALE community !
I wanted to start off with a brief introduction to Wardrobe of Friends, I also realise this is sort of the first official launch post explaining the business model and why I decided to invest in a new start-up.
What is Wardrobe of Friends ?
A rental platform and pop-up event business celebrating directional brands and designers where you can trial the style of almost any garment with multiple and flexible rental options. From wardrobe staples like Sunday style cosy knits to an oversize organza dress perfect for festive parties, variety and accessibility is at the core of our offering.
How does it work ?
We are a fully managed rental service meaning every item we rent is sent directly from our personal collection. Once we launch there will be a few ways to shop with us including; one-off rentals, a subscription service and self-gift pass. Each rental option offers various discount reductions off the original retail price and different rental periods that you can choose to suit your needs. There will also be an opportunity to book appointments to try garments at our Manchester pop-up shop once a month and in the future, we hope to take Wardrobe on Friends on tour by collaborating with like-minded venues across the country.
Why rent ?
Honestly, why not ?! Unfortunately as costs continue to rise for basic living, we appreciate everything that isn’t a necessity takes so much consideration and thought, often with your self importance being forgotten. Personally I know, I’m not alone when I say I wish I could support that brands I love more often but my disposable does not stretch as far as it used to. There will always be key pieces I will invest in but impulsive, fun buys are far and few between.
Space and storage are also concerning issues in our homes, by rotating items it reduces the risk of excess clutter and means you will actually wear more of what is in your wardrobe.
Whilst renting doesn’t solve all sustainability issues, it does provide an option to make conscious consumer decisions by not purchasing fast fashion if there is an affordable way to access more well-made clothing from responsible brands.
And so, how can you help build our collection ?
I am SO excited to start and also be a member of a style sharing community ! There are many ways in which you can join Wardrobe of Friend’s circular style but today I’m mostly focusing on our RESALE community.
In addition to working with brands directly, I had an idea that the best way to build an interesting and diverse rental collection that offers a broad size range is to source from an existing style community ! Who knows what incredible pieces could be hiding in your wardrobes from past season and archive collections that someone may have missed out on first time round ! This is the beauty of renting, the exciting opportunity of rediscovery combined with an affordable way to shop.
We value brands that try to be sustainable. Independent designers that incorporate a traditional craftsmanship into their production, make in small quantities or offer a made to order service. In particular we prefer clothing made from natural or recycled materials. We have created a brand list below, however if you have any pieces you feel fit our brand ethos please continue reading on how to submit. We are also interested in high-quality vintage pieces.
Brand Wish List
Meadows
LF Markey
Paloma Wool
Sideline
Toast
Plumo
Stella Nova
Bobo Choses
Damson Madder
The Tiny Big Sister
Aligne
Sissel Edelbo
Maravic
Wardrobe Wish List
Clothing (no underwear, swimwear, hosiery)
Footwear
Bags
Accessories
Jewellery (no earrings)
RULES
All pieces must be in new or nearly new condition
Free from any imperfections such as stains/marks or missing or broken parts
Whilst we welcome tall and petite lengths, we do not accept items that have been custom altered
Sellers must be willing to sell items at a 50% to 75% discount from the original retail price
Please note that whilst all submittals will be reviewed, not all will be successful. We will only purchase items we will feel share our brand ethos and are fit for rental.
How to submit
Please download our RESALE form here. Please complete, attach the form along with 3 clear, unedited images of the items you would like to sell and reply directly to this newsletter or email me at rachael.otterwell@gmail.com with subject RESALE community submission
A few tips
Please try to include the brand name and correct product name, for example - Toast - Jessica Dungarees - Ecru
Any helpful fit notes
If possible please include an image of you wearing the item along with 2 or 3 still life images
The deadline for this season’s RESALE submit is Sunday 17th November.
After service
All submittals will be reviewed within 48 hours of being received and we will respond to confirm if we would like to purchase or if your submittal is unfortunately unsuccessful.
Once the purchase is agreed, please send your items to the address provided. The seller is responsible for the postage. We recommend using a reliable, tracked delivery service.
Once the item arrives and is quality checked, we will make payment via bank transfer for the items within 48 hours. Please note you will need to provide an invoice for the items you are selling.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read our intro post. I really hope you like the sound of what’s in store and you’ll join our style sharing community in one way or another. Please stay in touch and follow our journey as we count down to launch day !
I’d love to hear your thoughts on our concept. Any feedback or suggestions you may have, please leave a comment below.
Rachael x