The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Rent the Runway has confidentially filed paperwork with U.S. regulators for an initial public offering (IPO), as it looks to cash in on the booming market for rental clothes and second-hand apparel.
The online clothing rental firm said on Monday the number of shares on offer and the target price range for its IPO had not yet been determined.
Founded in 2009, New York-based Rent the Runway allows customers to rent clothes and shop second-hand merchandise from over 750 designer brands.
It raised funds last year at a valuation of $750 million, below its previous valuation of $1 billion, Bloomberg News reported in June.
Demand for second-hand clothes has jumped in recent months as customers become increasingly conscious about their carbon footprint, boosting revenues at subscription-based styling service Stitch Fix and online resale shop ThredUp .
Denim maker Levi Strauss has also entered the used clothing market, while Etsy last month announced the acquisition of Gen Z-focused fashion resale firm Depop for $1.63 billion.
Online eyewear seller Warby Parker and Forever 21 owner Authentic Brands Group have also filed for IPOs this year.
Further Reading: Rethinking the Fashion Rental Model for the Post-Pandemic Era
Rent the Runway chief executive Jennifer Hyman shares her strategy for making the fashion rental model work as retail, restaurants and workplaces slowly begin to re-open.
Vying for attention from increasingly sophisticated consumers impacted by the downturn, fashion brands and retailers need to deliver exceptional in-store experiences. To discover how store interior design is innovating to increase sales and community engagement, BoF sits down with Invisible Collection co-founder Isabelle Dubern-Mallevays.
Nike and On are dominating the sneaker category today thanks to their focus on performance-driven products and discipline in their direct channels.
For 15 years, the canvas sneaker giant rode a wave of teen demand for its classic styles, only to find itself on the outs when customers moved on to more innovative footwear. Will its new products drive growth again?
BoF sits down with Lorenzo Cotti, CEO and founder of Integra Fragrances, to discover how olfactory strategies can increase brand equity and drive sales revenue while responding to growing consumer concern over air-quality.