A Year Later, How Are Fashion Rental Companies Doing?

Christine Hunsicker is the founder and CEO of logistics company CaaStle that grew out of the success of her previous company, clothing-subscription brand Gwynnie Bee (which is now a subsidiary), and now powers services for rentals like ELOQUII Unlimited, Vince Unfold, and Banana Republic Style Passport, among others. According to Hunsicker, the rise of video conferencing presented a new need for the market: “We’ve found our members gravitating toward tops [even if] they may have selected more dresses in the past,” she says, also listing comfier, less structured wardrobe essentials like cashmere sweaters as the top-requested styles. Melissa Gonzalez, fashion retail expert and CEO of The Lion’esque Group, confirms that people still think of their outfits, but with the computer angle in mind. “From the waist up, we’re staring at each other more than we ever have, so I think there’s a desire there to make it fresh and feel good about that stuff again,” she says.
By: Irina Grechko