French Connection enters fashion rental as a stand-alone op

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
May 19, 2022

French Connection has become the latest retailer to join the blossoming rental service sector. But its entry is one with a difference.

The high street fashion and lifestyle retailer will become first major UK brand to operate its own dedicated standalone rental operation, directly serving its customers from its existing site.
 
It has partnered with Hirestreet to create the on-demand rental service on the French Connection webstore, powered by Hirestreet’s sister platform Zoa Rental.

French Connection Rental will offer customers rentable dresses, holiday outfits and workwear for between four and 15 days, with prices ranging from £45 to £205.
 
The collection will initially consist of 100 styles with a focus on events and weddings for this summer. It will allow customers to rent individual pieces from the collection, as well as purchase items from the rest of the site. This comes without the need for a subscription or separate account, which would make it accessible to more customers and age groups, the retailer said.
 
Hirestreet and Zoa founder and chief executive Isabella West said: “Growth in the rental market is outstripping traditional retail by 20 times, driven by consumer demand for sustainable, affordable fashion. 
 
West added: “This summer will be the biggest ever for rental in the UK. We first started working together via a Hirestreet partnership many years ago. [French Connection’s] stock has always performed very well in a rental model and launching their own-brand offer is a natural next step.” 
 
West noted that several other retailers have launched rental collections on the Hirestreet platform but said French Connection “is the first to offer items directly.” 
 
M&S, Oasis and Nobody’s Child are other names that have come on board with Hirestreet recently and could follow French Connection’s move to Zoa in the future.