ACS is providing the operational infrastructure behind new online fashion rental pilot for Oxfam, helping bring a circular fashion proposition to customers across the UK.
Fashion rental and fulfilment specialist ACS is providing the operational infrastructure behind Oxfam’s new online clothing rental pilot, which launched on 3 August ahead of the charity’s annual Second-Hand September campaign.
The new online platform enables customers to rent distinctive donated garments for 14 days, with ACS managing garment preparation, cleaning, dispatch and returns. Menswear, including suits, tuxedos and occasionwear, is also supplied through a partnership with ACS.
Each item is hand-checked, ozone-cleaned, prepared and fulfilled through ACS before being delivered to customers and returned for future use, helping to extend the life of garments while supporting more circular fashion behaviours.
Anthony Burns, Chief Operating Officer at ACS, said:
“We are incredibly proud to partner with Oxfam on an initiative that demonstrates the power of circular innovation to deliver both environmental and social value. ACS and Oxfam share a commitment to creating a more sustainable future for fashion, while ensuring positive outcomes for communities.
“By providing the operational infrastructure behind Oxfam’s online rental proposition, we are helping to extend the life of garments, increase access to more sustainable fashion choices, and support the generation of vital funding for Oxfam’s important work around the world. This partnership is a strong example of what can be achieved when organisations come together with a shared purpose and a commitment to driving meaningful change.”
Oxfam has launched the pilot to explore growing consumer demand for accessing fashion through rental rather than ownership, particularly for occasionwear and event dressing.
The Oxfam Rental platform offers hundreds of garments selected from donated stock, including vintage pieces and designer labels that may be less suited to traditional charity retail channels. Launch styles include a Balenciaga dress with blue-and-white spots, a tailored yellow Stella McCartney jacket and a strapless black Dolce & Gabbana dress. Garments will be available to rent from only £22 for 14 days.
Check out The Oxfam Rental platform here
The charity sees rental as an additional route for donated stock, allowing garments to remain in active use for longer while generating funding for its humanitarian and charitable work.
Julie Tyrell, Head of E-Commerce & Retail Sustainability at Oxfam, said:
“We see pieces come through our shops that you simply won’t find anywhere else – and until now, the only way to own one was to buy it outright. Rental means people can access that wardrobe for the moment they actually need it and then not let it just sit in a cupboard afterwards.”
“This is another interesting option which gives people access to pieces that are genuinely different, without adding to that wear-once cycle. If our pilot shows people want to rent rather than buy for a single occasion, that’s a real shift in how clothes get used, not just where they come from.”
Customers can select rental dates online, with delivery and prepaid returns included. The service currently covers mainland UK addresses and forms part of Oxfam’s broader Second-Hand September campaign, adding a rental proposition to its network of more than 500 shops and existing e-commerce operations.
To learn more about how ACS supports rental, resale and circular retail initiatives, get in touch with our team and discover how we can help bring your circular ambitions to life.