Oxfam Rental, described as Britain's first charity-backed clothing rental service, lets customers rent donated and retail-partner clothes for a fixed ten-day period, with prices starting at around £22. The service is currently in its 'soft-launch' phase.
In a test of the service, a journalist rented outfits for seven days. The clothes, which included items from the designer section such as a Stella McCartney jacket and a blue skater-style dress from Balenciaga, arrived in good condition and were immaculately cleaned.
Cheaper than competitors
The main benefit of Oxfam Rental is its price compared to rivals. While sites like By Rotation and Hurr rent designer items for a fraction of the purchase price — for example, a £245 Rixo dress on By Rotation costs around £30 for a minimum 3-day rental — Oxfam's items start at around £22 for ten days. Rented pieces included an LK Bennett black pleated trousers for £22, a sequined Hugo dress for £30, and a Niccoline long blue coat for £30.
The service is positioned against a backdrop of clothing waste. According to Oxfam's 2026 State of Style report, the average UK wardrobe contains 80 items, and 32% of them haven't been worn in the past 12 months.
Limited choice in soft-launch
The website is easy to browse and filter, but the selection is limited. While By Rotation boasts a collection of over 120,000 dresses, Oxfam's site had 323 dresses, which dropped to 138 after applying size filters. Trousers had 47 options total, reducing to 11 with filters, and knitwear had 29 styles.
There are plans to add more clothes to the rotation, especially seasonal pieces like knits and party options, according to the service. The ten-day fixed rental time is a limitation, as there is no way to rent an item for less money or time.
Charity mission and early days
Julie Tyrrell, Oxfam's head of retail sustainability, said: 'A great outfit shouldn't have to be a one-night wonder. Rental gives people the chance to wear something special, then pass it on for someone else to enjoy.'
She noted that the service hasn't fully taken off yet: 'We've had over 40,000 visitors to the site since launch and people are renting from us, although it is early days and bookings are still relatively low. We're not expecting everyone to change their habits overnight.'
The service is best suited for those looking for an item for a specific event, like a job interview or a big night out, without breaking the bank. Returns are free, with a label generated from the Oxfam website, and items can be sent back unwashed.
