Clothes rental for children is one of the latest chapters in how “libraries of things” are becoming an increasingly common way to save money, space and waste. The theory is simple: instead of buying a household item or a piece of clothing or some equipment you might use once or twice, you take it out and return it.
The London-based Library of Things opened three new locations across the city this year and are planning two more. Co-founder Rebecca Trevalyan says their mission is to make “borrowing better than buying”.
“We really want to make rental go mainstream, make it more affordable, convenient and socially rewarding than buying something from Amazon,” she says.
There are many success stories of previous borrowers from her locations. One person hired a metal detector to hunt down the wedding ring they lost when camping in Sussex and found it within 20 minutes. Another rented a planer at £11 a day to fix two doors in her flat after being quoted £245 for a handyman to come in and do the three hour job.
In Wales, Benthyg Cymru runs a network of more than two dozen libraries across the country. And Edinburgh’s Tool Library has thousands of options to choose from. In Bath, you can book in a cargo bike delivery and collection to pick up your item from its Share and Repair shop.
All libraries have a selection of items that people may normally find too bulky, expensive or not useful enough to buy. Some are keen to try something to see if it’s worth the investment. The number one most popular thing to borrow is a carpet cleaner, followed by a cordless drill and a hand sander, according to Trevalyan.
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One in 10 people now chooses to rent rather than buy brand-new, a rising number since 2022, according to figures from Barclaycard Payments and economic analysts Development Economics.
Linda Weston, managing director of Barclaycard Payments, says the rising cost of living and a move towards more sustainable habits are shifting shopping habits. “Our data shows we’re increasingly opting to shop second-hand, or rent items for a short period of time, rather than buying outright. The trend is permeating a range of sectors, from childcare to pet care and from fashion to fitness.”
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By itself it may be okay, especially for things like a metal detector, but the implications and the quote is downright dystopian. Gonna be renting our toothbrushes soon because we can't afford the downpayment on them.