• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

EarthyB.com

  • Sustainable living
    • Clean living
    • Environmental solutions
  • Green at home
  • Eco-products & services
  • About

How to rent baby clothes (and why)

Blog / Circular economy / How to rent baby clothes (and why)
rented baby clothes hanging on a line

Most links are for reference only. However, EarthyB occasionally includes affiliate links and may earn money if you buy a product from these links.

Toddler wearing rented baby clothes with text that reads "How to rent sustainable baby clothes (and why)"
Pin titled How to rent baby clothes and why with baby shoes hanging on a line with pink background
Pinterest pin that reads "Dress baby in sustainable brands for less this holiday" with image of warm hat and baby shoes

When my son was born ten years ago I was shocked by how fast he outgrew his clothes. He outgrew the cute little sweater I bought for $40 before he even had a chance to wear it. Same with the teeny tiny shoes he never wore. Then there's the dark blue shirt he wore once to a wedding, only to be donated a month later. Seeing all the outgrown baby clothes is one of the many reasons I became interested in environmental solutions. I knew I wasn't the only parent frustrated by how expensive (and wasteful) nice baby clothes were. So when I learned you can rent baby clothes through Borobabi.com I had to learn more.

I was introduced to Carolyn Butler, the Founder and CEO of Borobabi, at the Circularity 20 online conference in August. Even though my own kids are too old to use Borobabi's baby clothes rental service, I know a ton of parents will be excited about this one. So I chatted with Carolyn and she helped explain how her clothes rental service works, and why every parent should try it.

Carolyn is a former chemical engineer turned Columbia MBA entrepreneur, and parent to 1-year-old daughter Avellina. Before she started Borobabi she worked more than 15 years creating business strategies, perfecting lean manufacturing solutions, and in supply chain logistics for large chemical companies. All this led Carolyn to venture into zero-waste design and Borobabi's baby clothes rental service was born.

Get 20% off Borobabi with code: EARTHYB20

The following is my Q&A with Carolyn. The questions are mine and the answers are hers, edited for space and clarity.

What inspired you to start a baby and children’s clothing rental company? 

I saw first-hand in my old line of work that manufacturers and multinational corporations don’t put enough energy or resources into managing the lifecycle of the products they produce. I also saw how loosely the government regulates toxic chemicals in the products we all eat, use, and wear. Linear business structures put out products, and only seek to increase their profit.

When I began my studies at Columbia, I was determined that moving forward, I would only be involved in a new circular economy that addresses the entire life cycle of a product. One day, as I was folding piles of brand new baby clothes – which my infant daughter never wore – inspiration struck. I called my cousin Meris Butler, a fashion designer, and the words couldn't come out fast enough. It was time to evolve.

What’s the financial benefit to parents to rent baby and children’s clothes rather than buying them? 

Our monthly rates reduce the cost of regularly priced items by up to 75%. Parents these days spend up to $750 dollars per year on clothing in each of the first five years of their children's lives. Often those outfits are only worn 3-5 times in a few months, if ever even worn at all. 

At Borobabi, we break it down and flip the script by showing parents how many times their kids are actually wearing what they're getting, and proving that they only need to pay for what you use. Most families cut high-quality organic clothing from their budget because it costs quite a bit to produce sustainable clothing. But our renting model allows families to have it all – safe, organic, and sustainable clothing – at the same prices they're used to paying or less.

What’s the environmental benefit when parents rent baby and children’s clothes? 

We've found many consumers do know at least a little something about environmental impact when buying kids' clothing. Many have heard the phrase “fast fashion,” but don't fully understand its environmental impact. Fast fashion's staple of synthetic materials or synthetic blends are not only bad for infant skin, they're sourced from oil, contribute to microplastic release during usage and accumulate in the environment.

At Borobabi we have strict criteria for partnerships – all our brands manufacture ethically and sustainably, utilizing natural materials and regenerative agricultural practices. We utilize our clothing to its fullest potential through rental, reducing the need to manufacture new clothes. And our end-of-life materials are all recycled locally, back into fibers for new clothing or safely composted – completely diverting landfills. Boro-Parents make a tangible difference, on average saving 5 pounds of CO2 emissions, 26 gallons of water, and a 1/2 pound of cotton for each item they rent per month!

What happens to the clothes that come back that are damaged and you can’t rent or sell?

We love to tell parents “send it back, any condition, we never charge.” At Borobabi we are all parents and understand things happen. We are committed to extending the life of a garment, and our team goes the extra mile to remove stains and repair clothing that's returned to us. We clean to the highest standards using infant safe EWG A rated detergents and state-of-the-art UV-C sterilization technology that kills viruses and bacteria. We have a rigorous inspection process to assess “like-new” quality before allowing the item to be re-rented.

In the event that the item doesn't meet our strict requirements, we disassemble the clothing, sort it based on material composition and send it for recycling through our network of local partnerships. These recyclers break down the clothing and spin it into thread for new garments, thus closing the loop.

The advantage of using natural materials is that, unlike synthetics, they biodegrade quickly in the environment. Our clothing is free from toxins and if we cannot recycle the garment, we can safely compost what remains.

How do you choose the clothing brands you work with? 

Our partner brands are serious about sustainability.  We've searched the globe for brands that begin with natural fibers, use zero toxic chemicals, and pay people a living wage to spin them into breathable, durable fabrics.

Style is important too — we look for cutting edge design, and today that's a lot less about frills and fuss, and a lot more about wearability, versatility, and softness. Particularly when it comes to children's designs! We look for timeless pieces that can be dressed up or dressed down. They can be worn at the park or to a nice event on the weekends. Kids look good, and feel good, wearing them every day.  

Are there plans to expand to rent clothes for older children? 

Right now, our focus is ages 0-6 because these are the years our children grow the fastest, and they get the least amount of wears. In Fall 2021, we will introduce the first fully circular American maternity line. Made in the US start to finish – so that will expand our market.

Will we carry older children's clothes?  We'd love to – as the business grows – we aim for people to catch on, and the rental market to grow along with us.

Can you explain how parents can rent baby and children’s clothes with Borobabi?

Joining Borobabi is simple. This is how it works:

  • Pay per month for the clothes you select and pay only while you use them.
  • Our reusable Borobabi bag shows up at your doorstep, with the shipping label for the return already right inside. Zero packaging, zero waste.
  • When your pre-loved items come back to us, Borobabi scans them back into our system, your charge is discontinued, and your newly selected items are shipped back out! No gimmicks, no minimum spends, no limit on number of items.

We're also working on an upcoming additional offering, a monthly subscription of curated items, built to fit your taste!

Toddler wearing sustainable baby clothes rented from Borobabi

Borobabi is a great example of a circular economy company. Wondering how you feel about the future of the circular economy?

At Borobabi, we're all big supporters of the circular economy. We believe fully circular models are better for people, the planet, and for businesses too! The more transparent companies can be about what they produce, the faster it will catch on. Large established companies have a lot more work to do to retool, but innovative startups are uniquely positioned to bake the details into their plans from the launch. We do see this growing in the USA, and we want to drive it with good business sense.

Start renting baby clothes today

I wish this service had been available when my kids were little. I absolutely wanted to rent baby clothes. If you're ready to start renting children's clothes, use the code below and let me know how it goes.

Get 20% off Borobabi with code: EARTHYB20

Rebecca B. Kimber

I'm a sustainable living blogger, ISSP Sustainability Associate, and LEED Green Associate. I help readers find useful and inspiring circular economy products, environmental solutions, and sustainable home improvement ideas. I believe in living well and progress not perfection. I'm a Swedish California-girl, wife, and mom living in the Silicon Valley.
View all posts

Filed Under: Circular economy

Related Posts
  • Woman wearing circular fashion baseball cap looking at nature Casual circular fashion brands to live in

    I live in clothes from these casual and sustainable clothing brands. I mean, first and foremost, I need everything I…

    posted on May 31, 2019
  • Patagonia fanny pack made from upcycled rain jackets How one entrepreneur changed recycled clothing into upcycled fashion

    Christina Johnson grew up tinkering with scraps of textiles in her parents’ tailoring and alteration store. Even as a child…

    posted on March 5, 2020
  • woman sitting by beach thinking about circular fashion How to be part of the circular fashion industry using SellHound

    If you have a closet full of unworn clothes and shoes, this week's episode is for you. SellHound CEO Suzanne…

    posted on December 6, 2019
  • pink recycled plastic shoes The guide to sustainable and recycled shoes

    Stylish and comfortable sustainably-made and recycled shoes used to be hard to find. But making shoes from recycled materials, and…

    posted on January 9, 2020

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

EarthyB LLC
  • 101 S. Santa Cruz Ave. #1989
  • Los Gatos, Ca 95030
  • rebecca [at] earthyb.com
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • *Affiliate link.
  • As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
Sustainable living blog
  • Sustainable Living
  • Healthy Planet
  • Circular Economy
  • Shop
  • Green at home
  • About
  • Contact

Subscribe!

Copyright © 2021 · EarthyB LLC. Privacy Terms & Conditions

Affiliate disclosure: EarthyB LLC is an affiliate and may receive a commission if you purchase a product you find on this website. Read the full affiliate disclosure for more details.

Disclaimer: The information on this website is for personal interest only. EarthyB LLC does not verify claims made by affiliated companies or websites. EarthyB LLC is not liable for how you use the information on this or other websites and cannot be held responsible for damages, loss or guarantee any results. Any action you take based on what you read on this website is at your own risk.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok