A Dallas-based startup has created an app called Celeb that allows users to buy or rent clothing from one another.
Couple Shawna and Jaden Warren are the brains behind the idea. Shawna is a graduate of Baylor’s apparel merchandising program, while Warren is an attorney. Shawna first had the idea for the app during an assignment in a fashion forecasting class. In it, students were asked to predict fashion trends for 2024, with Warren predicting rental fashions would take off.
“Shawna predicted that bows would be trendy, and that clothing rental would be the future of sustainable fashion. She was right on both counts, but little did she know that she’d be working to make clothing rentals commonplace,” reads a description on Celeb’s website.
Celeb allows users to upload photos of items from their wardrobe that others can rent or buy. While Shawna initially tried other apps with similar features, like Fashion Pass and By Rotation, she says the user experience was lacking. She wanted to create something that made peer-to-peer garment rental simpler.
Celeb charges a 20% transaction fee on rentals and sales, similar to the rate found on other used clothing sites. Otherwise, signing up, listing items, and browsing the platform is free.
Jaden says anyone can use the app; both men and women.
“We’re like the size of a small boutique… Anyone can upload an item from their closet, anyone else can rent it out, and you can meet up with someone to hand it off,” said Jaden, per Dallas Culture Map.
While users can hand off clothing in person, the app also provides a shipping label creation service. If an item requires shipping, a label can be printed or a QR code scanned at the post office. Courier services are also integrated, enabling clothing delivery for those in the Dallas area.
The app is particularly valuable for short-term rentals for special occasions. These events, like weddings, often require some of the priciest garments. At the same time, these events can be rare or even just one time. The result? An expensive outfit is worn once before being relegated to the back of the closet.
Jaden says the average price for a dress or outfit is $400, while the average rental price is $50, a fraction of the cost.
Celeb has partnered with local Dallas company 27 Dresses & Co. The designer dress and accessory rental store offers their items on the app, along with styling services.
Celeb is available on iOS and can be downloaded from Apple’s App Store.