Anywear is an app that allows college students to rent clothes to each other anywhere, at any time. Busy students can make money by lending out their clothes, while desperate students needing an item for their next event can rent them. To ensure accountability and trust on the platform, students can provide ratings to each other based on their rental experience.
Being involved in campus life comes with an unexpected cost for college students: clothing for special events. From end-of-semester banquets to themed parties, there always seems to be a call for specific clothing items that students do not typically need in their wardrobe. This leads to buying cheap, quick clothing fixes for their next event. But what if that Hawaiian shirt collecting dust in your closet could be given a new life?
Cash-strapped college students turn to affordable fast-fashion sites such as Shein, Forever 21, and even Amazon to satisfy their apparel needs. Students look for the cheapest option, particularly clothing they only intend to wear once or twice.
Katie, a junior at the University of Texas at Austin, is a member of one of her school’s dance groups. She and her teammates have to purchase clothing frequently for dance costumes. In an interview with Katie, she stated,
"Some people use Shein... I [usually buy] clothing items from Amazon and then return them after I am done. Very convenient even though it’s probably unethical."
Although affordable, these fast fashion giants are churning out thousands of new styles at the slightest twitch in the trend cycle. The fashion industry is one of the world’s largest polluters, and as consumers become more aware of their clothing’s negative environmental impact, they turn to more sustainable ways to shop. According to the 2019 McKinsey report, “The State of Fashion,” consumers have demonstrated an appetite for shifting away from traditional ownership to more innovative ways of accessing products, such as rental models.
However, existing clothing rental services are not targeted towards college students. Rent the Runway, perhaps the most popular clothing rental site, has an inventory consisting primarily of designer labels, with dress rentals costing $73.10 on average. The company also offers subscriptions starting at $94 per month. Competitors such as Nuuly and Armoire are similarly positioned.
In other words, how can students look cute on a budget while saving clothes from the landfill? With unmet needs at hand, I focused on these three goals to guide my project:
Anywear is a two-sided marketplace that allows college students to rent clothes to each other anywhere, at any time. Users looking to rent clothing can search for what they need and when. Additionally, users can create listings and lend out pieces from their closets.
Iteration takes time. A month after my initial sprint, I revisited this project and made some hefty changes. I like sitting with a project and getting a feel for what I like and dislike about my design decisions.
What does renting multiple items from the same lender look like? How will we resolve disputes between renters and lenders? Get into the details.
Phew that was a lot. Thank you for reading, and thanks to my teammates Megan and Haley and the delirious all-nighter it took to create Anywear!
