Winter sports enthusiasts who ski and snowboard now have more options for renting luxury gear when they make their way to the mountains.
EcoSki uses a Rent the Runway model, allowing users to rent, buy, sell, or recycle pieces from upscale winter sportswear designers. The company was founded by real estate investor Rachael Westbrook, a mom who repeatedly had to buy new gear as her kids outgrew their old skiwear.
The global snow sports apparel market was valued at $2.4 billion per year in 2018, according to Grand View Research; the global clothing rental market is expected to increase 10% by 2025 to $990 million, per Technavio.
Rent the Runway is one of EcoSki’s top competitors — it started offering a limited collection of skiwear in 2019.
- It was valued at $750 million in the fall of last year and filed for an IPO on Oct. 4.
- The company had 126,841 active subscribers in the six months ended July 31.
The U.S. is Rent the Runway’s only territory, while EcoSki currently only ships in the U.K. The company has plans to expand in Australia, New Zealand, and eventually the U.S. and the Alps.
EcoSki will also focus on sustainability, featuring designers that use nonpolluting or responsibly sourced materials.
