Spotlight: Nuuly
What if refreshing your wardrobe could be better for the planet too?
Meet Nuuly, the apparel rental platform making fashion more accessible and sustainable — and the Seeing Green Solutionist of the Day for October 2.
The fashion industry is massive — over 100 billion garments are produced every year, and the sector is responsible for around 10% of global carbon emissions. Yet the average piece of clothing is worn just 7–10 times before being discarded. That wasteful cycle highlights why extending the life of our clothes is one of the most powerful steps we can take to shrink fashion’s footprint.
That’s where recommerce comes in. Buying secondhand, reselling, repairing, and now renting clothes has become easier and more stylish thanks to tech platforms that connect millions of consumers at scale. And rental, in particular, offers something distinct: access. Instead of owning everything, you can enjoy variety, novelty, and special-occasion outfits without adding to the pile in your closet.
Meet Nuuly
Our Seeing Green Solutionist of the Day, Nuuly, is helping bring apparel rental into the mainstream. Founded in 2019 and backed by URBN (the parent company of Anthropologie, Free People, and Urban Outfitters), Nuuly was built to democratize clothing rental. For a monthly subscription fee, members can choose any six items from hundreds of brands and thousands of styles — premium denim, vintage finds, designer pieces, or everyday staples.
What sets Nuuly apart is the simplicity: free shipping and returns, a reusable tote made from recycled materials, no late fees or damage fees, and all cleaning handled by Nuuly’s own facilities. If you fall in love with a piece, you can even purchase it at a discount. It’s fashion on rotation, designed to be friction-free.
Impact for People & Planet
For people, Nuuly’s model means more style at lower cost, with the freedom to experiment without commitment. For the planet, it’s about circularity: garments are professionally cleaned, mended, and recirculated to maximize their lifespan. Items that eventually reach end-of-life are reimagined through Re_Nuuly, an upcycling initiative with independent designers who transform retired rental items into new pieces.
Nuuly also makes sustainable choices behind the scenes. More than 70% of garments are laundered using energy- and water-efficient wet-wash systems with non-toxic solutions, reducing reliance on traditional dry-cleaning chemicals. The reusable shipping tote replaces up to 40 cardboard boxes in its lifetime, cutting down significantly on single-use packaging. And Nuuly is expanding its inventory of responsibly made garments, including organic cotton, recycled polyester, and TENCEL™ blends.
The Bigger Picture
Nuuly proves that rental isn’t just for ball gowns and one-off weddings anymore. It’s making clothing rental accessible for everyday wear, vacations, or even just refreshing your look without overbuying. With hundreds of thousands of subscribers and strong retention, the company is showing that rethinking access versus ownership can resonate with the mainstream — and lighten fashion’s footprint along the way.
As we rethink how we shop, wear, and share clothes, services like Nuuly point to a more circular, less wasteful future. The next time you’re considering a new outfit, ask yourself: could renting give you the style you want while treading a little lighter on the planet?