Influencer expresses frustration over rise in clothing rentals in Oslo

In an apartment in Oslo, influencer Andrea Sveinsdottir scrolls through the rental app Tise, excited about finding second-hand bargains, especially summer dresses which she considers too expensive to buy new. However, she has become frustrated over the past year.

“It’s become very difficult to find items to buy because everything is for rent,” she complains, suggesting that people are opting to rent clothes that they would have previously sold. While she’s contemplated renting several times, she hasn’t followed through, believing it’s not worth it.

Sigrun Stenseth, the marketing manager at Tise, confirms that rental listings have increased, noting a doubling of such ads compared to last summer. However, she clarifies that, when adjusted for user growth, the actual number of renters hasn’t increased significantly. Stenseth mentions receiving feedback from users who find it bothersome to come across rental listings when they want to purchase items.

Similarly, Adéle Cappelen Blystad from Finn reports a gradual rise in rental advertisements over recent years, although rental numbers remain small compared to overall ads.

Professor Ingun Grimstad Klepp, an expert in clothing and sustainability, questions the idea of constantly replacing clothes and states that to benefit the environment, we need to produce and buy fewer garments. She acknowledges that while renting can be beneficial for certain short-term items like wedding dresses, it may lead to a larger carbon footprint for everyday clothes due to transport and cleaning.

With limited research on the environmental impact of clothing rentals, existing studies generally indicate negative outcomes. According to one 2021 study, renting was identified as one of the least sustainable methods of acquiring clothing, primarily due to high emissions associated with transport and laundering.

For Sveinsdottir, purchasing second-hand or new clothing makes more sense. She often finds that owning garments provides greater value than the rental model. The challenge lies in the low popularity of clothing rentals, which struggle to compete with the affordability of new clothing.

Moreover, the lack of regulation in the rental market makes it more risky for consumers, as noted by consumer lawyer Thomas Iversen from the Consumer Council. He emphasizes the need for better consumer protection for rental items, which will be addressed by an upcoming legislative review.