Platforms and the pandemic: A case study of fashion rental platforms during COVID‐19
Peer-reviewed research by: Taylor Brydges, Lisa Heinze, Monique Retamal and Claudia E. Henninger
Have you heard of the ‘platform economy’? Ever rented, or thought about renting, clothing through one? This article runs through some of the current challenges facing fashion rental platforms, and considers the impact COVID-19 has played in shaping their future. Check out the abstract below, and then click through to read the open-access article:
From Airbnb to Uber, the sharing or platform economy has reshaped many aspects of our economy and society. In recent years, fashion rental platforms have gained in popularity, fuelling the introduction of the platform economy in fashion. When the COVID‐19 pandemic hit, the impact on fashion rental platforms was abrupt, with demand disappearing seemingly overnight as events were cancelled and many people began working from home. Drawing on a case study of fashion rental platforms, we explore the immediate consequences of the pandemic on this segment of the platform economy, examining both the challenges these platforms face in the short term and the strategies platforms have adopted to try and weather the storm. We highlight how the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on fashion rental platforms thus far intersects with issues pertaining to value creation, precarious work, gender, and sustainable consumption. In doing so, we reflect on how fashion rental platforms inform understanding of the platform economy more broadly and conclude by suggesting themes for future research.
Click here to read the full open-access article, published in 2020 in The Geographical Journal.
Full Reference //
Brydges, T, Heinze, L, Retamal, M, Henninger, CE. Platforms and the pandemic: A case study of fashion rental platforms during COVID-19. Geogr J. 2021; 187: 57– 63.
This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
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