Rent the Runway held a pop-up event on Oct. 28 at The Collegiate Hotel in Auburn. The pop-up lasted from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Attendees could either pre-register for the event or scan a QR code to register on-site.
RTR is an online platform that allows users to rent or buy designer clothing and accessories. Customers can rent items for a one-time rental or as part of a subscription plan. RTR members can keep items for as long as they want and don't have to return all items at once.
With RTR, customers can explore trendy fashion and curate special outfits without permanent purchases. It is a budget-friendly way to access high-end pieces.
RTR has been on a tour throughout the southeast, popping up at many different college campuses, with Auburn being their final stop.
“The tour has been amazing. We started off at Vanderbilt at a tailgate. [We had] a very great response. Girls — young and old — coming up, dads, everybody from the tailgate,” said Christa Jackson, tour manager.
As the tour went on, Jackson said that more and more people heard about the pop-up and they were greeted with lines spanning off campus.
“The thing was to be able to be one-on-one and get feedback from a hands-on perspective, versus just doing it online — actually having some one-on-one feedback, conversations and input,” Jackson said. “Everybody's coming, they're getting the grab bags. They get to be interactive. It's really more about one-on-one and being interactive with their customer base.”
Jackson and her crew set up a RTR bus in front of The Collegiate. The bus was decorated with mirrors and clothing racks adorned with stylish pieces available for rent on their website. The crew also handed out tote bags filled with up to $75 worth of goodies to attendees.
Auburn students hold up their free tote bags from Rent the Runway on Oct. 28, 2024.
“I have a RTR subscription membership and I really enjoy it. I love that they’re doing pop-ups in college towns, that’s so cool and it’s such a cool way to get to know the brands,” said Laney Leach, senior in apparel merchandising and an attendee at the pop-up.
Leach explained that with her subscription, she gets 10 clothing items each month. She enjoys having the subscription for game day outfits and sorority events.
“[I rent] stuff that you can’t normally buy on a day-to-day basis. You can buy things for a lot cheaper and then send it back. Also with RTR, you can buy clothes that people have already worn,” Leach said.
RTR also recruits college ambassadors to help spread the word and make content for the company.
Zoe Slaughter, junior in pro-flight, is the ambassador for the Auburn pop-up. She’s been using RTR since the beginning of the year and fell in love with the platform.
“A lot of college girls use RTR, I have been using it and absolutely love it,” Slaughter said. “I just joined a sorority this year and [RTR] has probably been the best thing. We have so many different things we have to do, you run out of clothes. So, you just use RTR and you can wear things once and send them back.”
Although the pop-up was geared toward college girls, the company is open to women of all ages.
“The target audience for the colleges are sororities, but any woman who wears clothes can rent the runway,” Jackson said.
As the fashion industry evolves, RTR is at the forefront of innovation. By offering a sustainable and accessible platform for renting designer clothing, the company is redefining the future of retail.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
Sam Vise, senior in journalism, is the Assistant Culture Editor for The Auburn Plainsman. She has previously served as a culture writer and community reporter.
