Rent the Runway clothing now available on Amazon, including pre-wear items and exclusive • TechCrunch designs

Fashion rental market Rent Runway has been particularly hard hit by the pandemic, as most of its customers rent clothes to wear to in-person events. That surviving companyhowever, by cutting costs, renegotiating supplier contracts, and entering clothing resale market. Today, the company is expanding its business side once again by bringing some used and other exclusive items to Amazon in a new partnership with Amazon Fashion.

On Thursday, Amazon announced the launch of a Rent an Amazon Fashion Runway storefront which will feature a selection of pre-wear fashion merchandise from over 35 brands in a variety of styles. These items have been inspected, cleaned and returned but may have minor defects — though none of which will affect the physical integrity of the garment. Customers will be able to shop items for “weekend wear, work wear, evening wear, and seasonal essentials like sweaters, tops, coats, and denim,” Amazon said.

This isn’t the first time Rent the Runway has partnered with other retailers to help unload its used items.

Mode subscription service happy 2020 by partneringwith thredUP’s resale marketplace on pre-hire designer wear collections called “Revive with Rent Runway” as well as with Nordstrom shelf. Last year, Rent the Runway also started working with Saks Off 5th, which also agreed to sell used Rent the Runway clothing on its website. Additionally, Rent the Runway itself sells used clothing on its own website to non-subscribing customers.

Image Credit: Amazon x Rent Runway

As well as bringing used clothing to Amazon, Rent the Runway will also be offering a selection of merchandise from the “Design Collective” through Amazon Fashion. This limited edition fashion collection was created by design talent, including names like Thakoon and Peter Som, using Rent the Runway’s data and insights from its customer base. Other designers include Adam Lippes, Marina Moscone and more, and will be offering 1,000 styles in sizes 00-22 (although actual sizes may vary depending on availability.)

With this launch, Amazon Fashion will be the first retailer to carry new merchandise from the Design Collective, aside from Rent the Runway itself.

Some Design Collective items will also be available through Amazon Prime’s “Try Before You Buy” offer, which allows it to be tried at home and returned.

This move is yet another way Rent the Runway seeks growth in the post-pandemic market. Covid could easily destroy Rent the Runway’s business completely – and, for a time, things looked dire. In 2020, the company’s active customers decreased from 133,000 to 55,000. his losses grew and his stock plummeted. That was only a year after Rent the Runway’s IPO.

Remarkably, the business survived Covid and, in its most recent earnings, see growth again. In Q3 2022, Rent the Runway beat Wall Street expectations with quarterly revenue of $77.4 million compared to analyst expectations of $72.9 million. It grew its active subscribers 15% from the year-ago quarter to 134,240 and improved its financial outlook for the year to $293-295 million. (The company says Amazon partnerships are already factored into these projections).

“Collaborating with Amazon Fashion delivers incredible Rent the Runway brand awareness,” said Jenn Hyman, co-founder and CEO of Rent the Runway, in a statement. “We believe a strategic relationship like this can trigger a new growth engine for our business. They also showcase the demand for our products outside our community and allow more customers to experience exclusive fashion based on data from our best design partners.”

Meanwhile, for Amazon, the partnership allows the retail giant to dabble in another area – fashion reselling – without having to invest in opening up the resale market itself. Until now, Amazon has offered a way for consumers to browse certain used merchandise through theirs Amazon site Refurbished, but this does not include women’s fashion. Instead, it’s a way to shop for used consumer electronics, like cell phones and smartwatches, plus tools, cameras, gaming gear, and other home, kitchen, and entertainment items.

It has only a smaller investment in fashion resale through partners, including Shopbop and “pre-loved” edits What Goes Around Comes Around branded store with Luxury Stores on Amazon, focused on second-hand handbags, jewelery and accessories, and some designer clothes.

“At Amazon Fashion, we are constantly expanding our collection through strategic relationships with brands to inspire and delight our customers,” said Muge Erdirik Dogan, President of Amazon Fashion, in a release. “The Rent the Runways collection continues to expand our offerings in pre-loved and designer fashions.”

Starting today, customers can browse and shop from Rent the Runways brand stores via amazon.com/stores/renttherunway. Products qualify for free shipping with Prime and will allow returns through Amazon, not Rent the Runway stores.