The Circular Fashion Worn to the Circle of Friends x Rent the Runway brunch

sharing the stories of the pieces that are cherished the most

Last week's events left many of us, myself included, yearning for deeper community connections. That's why I began hosting Circle of Friends gatherings - a space where people who care deeply about our planet and future can come together, share ways to keep resources circulating, learn from one another, and build meaningful relationships around these shared values.

Recently, Circle of Friends hosted a brunch with Rent the Runway to celebrate and discuss how we keep our clothes in circulation. The dress code for the event was circular fashion, something with a story: a garment you rented or borrowed, your favorite thrifted treasure, a family heirloom, a secondhand score, or a piece you creatively mended or upcycled. The ladies showed up!

I first used Rent the Runway 14 years ago, I was attending a sorority sister’s wedding and as a fashion student I wanted to wear a designer dress but on a college-student budget. RTR was a new start-up and I can remember the one-shoulder bodycon, silk, rouched Nicole Miller dress I rented- thanks to this taking place in 2010, the era of Facebook albums for every night out, I was able to dig a photo out of the archives (you’re welcome, see below.)

While my initial attraction to RTR was purely financial, at its core, RTR is a circular business. Looking back, it's remarkable how much has changed. At the time, as a Fashion Merchandising student, the environmental impact of the fashion industry was not addressed. Now, it's special to see how both RTR and myself have evolved, now advocating for a more sustainable, circular fashion system.

The Nicole Miller dress from Rent the Runway, July 2010

14 years later leading a conversation on circularity with Lauren, RTR’s ESG lead, something 20-year-old me couldn’t have even dreamed of.

Guests were asked to share “What story lies behind the circular fashion you cherish the most?” Here are some of their stories-

There were a handful of vintage scarves

Allie’s scarf from her mom, Rachel’s thrifted in Paris, Lou’s scarf that was a “honey, I’m home from a business trip!” gift for her mom from her dad .

and plenty of pre-loved purses

Melissa’s vintage Furla adorned with a secondhand Celine scarf she found in Japan, Leslie’s thrifted Coach bag with a bag charm she made herself from secondhand charms & metal, Anna’s vintage Gucci bamboo handbag. 

Pheobe, founder of Pojo Studio, in an Italian leather jacket, passed down from her boyfriend’s mother.

AMUR designer, Jacklyn, in her own designs: an organic cotton jacket and a dress made with recycled textiles.

Leslie, a designer for NFW, materials with plants- not plastic, in a beloved Stacey Nishimoto corset, white cowboy boots thrifted while she lived in LA, a Coach purse thrifted over 10 years ago with a bag chain she created using secondhand charms & metal, and her mother's gorgeous ring she gifted her for her 16th birthday.

Juliana in a vintage Agnes B. skirt that I thrifted and passed on because friends share secondhand, rings gifted from her mom, and a trench from a former boss. Allie, writer of Rodeo Break, in vintage Diesel denim, and a vintage Fiorucci jacket passed down from her mom.

Maddy, founder of Downtown Behavior Wellness, in all vintage, including a Dior blazer, reworked denim from With Love Lenny, and Chanel heels that are so perfect with a sock.

Anne, a previous CoF stoop series guest, in a sweater from her line Next Season, a circular knitwear brand that takes end-of-life sweaters, unravels, and turns them into new pieces.

Ellen, a textile instructor at FIT in a vintage powder blue leather trench she got on eBay for $30! She also teaches a visible mending course you can take here!

Anna, founder of Club Vintage, in pieces from her own curation.

I wore a Pam Love x RTR Suit set, a Philip Lim bag from RTR, my own Dries heels + my grandma’s necklace. Stacey in a vintage Chloé top she scored at a Vestiaire Collective closet sale, a perk of her job!

The amazing RTR team, in RTR of course! Thank you for wanting to bring people together to talk about circular fashion :)

Some learnings from my conversation with Lauren, RTR’s ESG lead:

• Rent the Runway is mending… a lot. Last year they mended 1.5 million garments They also proactively mend garments before they are even rented to ensure each piece has the durability for longevity

• Renting displaces the need for new production, which in turn reduces the overall average waste of a garment versus purchasing new.

• No company is perfectly sustainable, but it’s important to keep evolving, learning, performing LCAs (life-cycle-assessments), and continuously improving where you can.

Use code PUMPKIN40 for 40% off an RTR subscription!

Thank you for reading Circle of Friends, I’m so grateful! You can follow along on instagram for future Stoop Series interviews and if you want to attend a Circle of Friends event, please sign up here!