There is a growing trend in menswear: renting. Services like Rent the Runway have long served women seeking a dress for a special occasion or a blouse and heels to borrow for a few weeks, but emerging sites and well-known brands alike are shifting their focus toward men, who, for example, need suits for formal events and are more inclined to follow streetwear (and splurge on sneakers as a result).
These services aren’t, in my opinion, a way to capitalize on a growing consumer base but rather changes in the ways we shop as a whole. There are conflicting data sets aplenty that crown both men and women as the dominant shopper, but one fact remains no matter which end of the gender spectrum you survey: We buy way more when we’re online shopping. In fact, an upwards of 64-percent more than we do when we visit a brick-and-mortar. It’s oftentimes why brands try to push you to their site to complete your order, rendering their real-life store just a place to try things on and make returns.
Online shopping not only feels less real, but there are oftentimes deals and discounts that reward larger orders — free shipping, price slashes if you spend a certain amount and such. Bulk orders, though, increase the likelihood we, the consumer, are left with items that A.) don’t fit, B.) we don’t like or C.) we phase out in a month. Rental services can drastically reduce all three occurrences. How? By sending items they can guarantee will fit (or ones that can be swapped out immediately if they don’t), letting you test-run an item before you commit to its retail price and letting you come down on the item you’re currently infatuated with.
KYX
CourtesyThe theme of these services is accessibility. In an era where hype champions all else, clothes and sneakers sell out fast — or, supply chain issues keep them off shelves forever. For a monthly fee (from $69 to $299), you can rent 1, 2, 3 or 4 pairs (depending on your plan, which range from Level 1 to Level 4) of highly sought after kicks.
Your chosen level dictates a monthly budget, which you can spread out over four pairs if you want or dedicate to one super-rare pair — like Off-White Jordans or a rare pair of Dunks. When you rent your kicks, you get them for a month. Before that month ends you’re asked to select the items for your next order. And don’t worry about dirtying these, by the way. There’s a set of cleaning wipes inside every box and you’re asked to give them a once over before returning. BUT, KYX covers the heavy lifting — and at no cost to you. Plus, if you love the kicks you’re renting, there’s an option to buy them at a discounted price.
