Moss Bros subscription service launches

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
May 5, 2021

Menswear retailer Moss Bros has begun its new monthly subscription-based clothing rental service and hopes the ‘Moss Box’ venture, the first such menswear scheme in the UK, can become the 'new Netflix' of clothing.

Its partnership with US-based B2B rental tech platform CaaStle was first announced last month. The £65-a-month service allows customers to take two items at a time and swap them for others as many times as they like. 

They can select from about 180 products including shirts, jeans, shorts, jumpers, suits and jackets from brands including French Connection, Barberis and Ted Baker.

Additionally, If a customer finds what Moss Bros calls “a keeper” they can buy it at a discount of up to 50% off the retail price. The company also said users wouldn’t be penalised for returning items that showed normal wear and tear.

Moss Bros chief executive Brian Brick said the idea for the service was driven by the rising popularity of the rental market: “I had the idea about four years ago because I felt we were seeing generation rent: Airbnb, Zipcar, Rent The Runway. 

“There was a generation coming through that didn’t want to gather and collect things. I thought if people didn’t own their wardrobe but revolve it, would that be something they wanted?"

He added that the Covid-19 pandemic has also seen a shift in trends towards sustainable fashion and a move away from the fast-fashion culture of the past, as stores were shut.

Speaking to the PA news agency, Brick also said: “I think the biggest change is going to be from fast fashion to slow fashion. I think this whole fast fashion is going to be beaten back by sustainability. When people started talking about sustainability in some cases, I think it was a little bit of marketing speak, but I think it’s real now”.

Moss Bros also sees a move away from its traditional heritage of formalwear and moving into the casualwear market, with the retailer expecting to see a new dress-down culture in offices. “I think there will be less people wearing suits for business”, added Brick.