Wedding guests and brides opt for rental-wear and pre-loved fashion accessories to stay stylish

The appeal of pre-loved luxury is twofold: affordability and access to timeless designs (Images: The Clothing Rental)

In recent years, the wedding industry has witnessed a significant shift in trends, with brides increasingly opting for rental-wear and pre-loved luxury accessories. This evolving practice, gaining popularity across the globe, including in India, is driven by a blend of sustainability, practicality, and the allure of owning high-end fashion without incurring extravagant costs.

Whether it’s a designer lehenga for a sangeet, a heavily ornate sherwani for the groom, or a vintage luxury bag to complete the look, pre-loved and rental fashion is the latest wedding trend that you can’t miss out on.

Pre-loved luxury:

Owning luxury designer pieces has long been a hallmark of sophistication, but the steep price tags associated with iconic brands like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci have often made them inaccessible to many. Enter the world of pre-loved luxury, where brides can own high-quality, meticulously crafted items at a fraction of the price of new pieces.

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The appeal of pre-loved luxury is twofold: affordability and access to timeless designs. By purchasing second-hand, brides can invest in iconic handbags or garments that complement their wedding attire, without compromising on quality or breaking the bank. This trend not only allows for indulgence in luxury but also aligns with the growing consciousness around sustainability and reducing fashion waste.

Rental-wear:

Another emerging trend revolutionising the wedding industry is the rental of bridal and guest outfits. Renting offers the perfect balance of style, savings, and sustainability, especially in an era dominated by social media and the desire for ‘Instagrammable’ wedding moments.

Shilpa Bhatia, Founder of The Clothing Rental, sheds light on the mindset behind this shift:
“Younger brides, especially millennials and Gen Z, tend to favour experiences over material possessions. Renting a dress fits into this shift in mindset, where the experience of the wedding day itself is prioritised over owning an expensive gown that might not hold long-term value.”

She reiterates,“Brides have access to a variety of styles and designers that they may not have considered otherwise. Renting also allows the brides to experiment with trends or styles that may not have been feasible to buy outright. Many bridal rental services handle the cleaning, alteration, and delivery, making the entire process much more straightforward than purchasing a gown.”

Also read | Outfit ideas for wedding: Wear elegant Anarkalis, trending shararas or Indo-western to look stylish

Socially viable:

Social media has played a pivotal role in reshaping how weddings are planned and celebrated. The growing emphasis on curated pre-wedding shoots, reels, and picture-perfect moments has amplified the demand for variety in outfits. Brides and guests alike are increasingly inclined to avoid repeating outfits, further fueling the demand for rentals.

Anaisha Singhvee, Co-Founder of Kuro India, highlights how rentals have brought about a fashion revolution: "Both rental and preloved luxury are a sustainable platform for Indian Couture that have brought a fashion revolution and changed the way people shop .The demand for variety in outfits for social media posts encourages users to avoid repeating outfits, boosting rental demand. Frequent Renters rent outfits focused on special occasions (e.g., weddings, prom, formal events). Some consumers worry about cleanliness and quality of pre-worn garments but the brands ensure that the cleanliness quotient is met. That renting not only saves brides, wedding attendees lakhs and lakhs of rupees but also save a ton of closet space. We have seen our customers save the money they were going to spend on expensive outfits and invest it in mutual funds and SIPs, giving them a much higher return than spending it on a garment that they will only wear once."

Rental and pre-loved platforms also democratise access to designer couture, allowing brides and wedding attendees to enjoy the luxury of high-end fashion without depleting their finances.