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This chic side hustle is gaining traction: Renting out your clothes

The costs of social outings can add up, and some young adults are compromising by renting clothes instead of buying high-end luxuries.

,   and  Administrator
2 min read
This is a black and white image. I can see groups of people walking. I can see few people standing....
This is a black and white image. I can see groups of people walking. I can see few people standing. These are the dresses hanging to the hangers. I can see the shops. This looks like a bucket. These are the buildings with windows. This looks like a name board. I think this is the market. At the very right corner of the image, I can see the watermark.

This chic side hustle is gaining traction: Renting out your clothes

A peer-to-peer clothing rental app called Pickle is gaining popularity as users turn their wardrobes into income. Founded in 2022 by Brian McMahon and Julia O’Mara, the platform lets people rent out their own clothes and accessories without a subscription. With over 230,000 items listed across 2,000 brands, the startup is tapping into a growing trend of side hustles and sustainable fashion.

Pickle launched as part of a startup founded in 2021, which secured $20 million in Series A funding. The company operates with a small team of 11 to 50 employees but has quickly scaled its user base. Unlike traditional rental services, Pickle relies entirely on individuals lending items from their personal collections.

Users like Emilie Nasseh, a 30-year-old in Manhattan, earn significant extra income through the app. Her Chanel mini wallet, rented nearly every week for the past year, brings in up to $2,000 a month. Another user, Jill Lin from New York City, makes over $42,000 annually by renting clothes on Pickle and a similar platform, By Rotation. For renters, the appeal lies in access to high-end items at lower costs. Samantha Mason, 31, from Los Angeles, frequently borrows luxury accessories like Chanel bags and Miu Miu pieces. Lauren Baldinger, a 24-year-old in New York, both rents and sells her handmade beaded bags, earning between $200 and $300 on an average day. Experts link the rise of such platforms to economic pressures and changing attitudes. Thomaï Serdari, a marketing professor at New York University, points to a 'hustler mentality' among Gen Z, who are more likely to take on side jobs. Over a quarter of American adults now supplement their income this way. The co-founders also highlight sustainability, aiming to cut overconsumption by keeping clothes in circulation.

Pickle’s model offers financial benefits for lenders while providing affordable luxury to renters. Top users on the platform earn thousands monthly, and the service continues to expand its inventory. As economic challenges persist, the app’s growth reflects broader shifts in how people consume and monetise fashion.

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