An ethical business providing a rental marketplace for children’s clothing is among the companies hoping to catch the eye of the Dragons on BBC’s Dragons’ Den.
In tonight’s episode (January 27th), there are emotional scenes as mum-of-two Charlotte Morley - founder of Thelittleloop - shares her passion and makes the case for her business, which describes itself as “the UK’s first shared wardrobe for kids”.
So what exactly is Thelittleloop - and how does it work?
What is Thelittleloop?
Thelittleloop is a business providing a market for parents to rent children’s clothing, with a particular commitment to affordability and environmental sustainability.
On the company’s website, its founder and chief executive Charlotte Morley explains that she was inspired to set up Thelittleloop by her own experiences as a parent, as her young children gew out of their clothes.
The sheer expense of buying new clothes and the speed at which her children grew out of them also made her consider the environmental impact of so-called fast fashion, she says.
As a result, she decided to establish Thelittleloop as a “shared wardrobe”, allowing parents to ensure their children were well clothed without it - literally - costing the Earth.
How does it work?
Thelittleloop offers three subscription plans at different fees - so parents can choose the one that’s best suited to their needs and budget.
Each plan offers a different amount of credits, which can then be spent on particular items of children’s clothing. The amount of credits a certain item costs corresponds to its condition and its recommended retail price.
When children are finished with a particular item, it can then be returned to Thelittleloop - and the customer gets the credits back so they can spend them again on other items.
Thelittleloop’s subscription plans also include unlimited swaps and stain insurance.
How much does it cost?
There are three subscription plans available from Thelittleloop, which can be paid for either monthly or on a quarterly basis.
The Dinky Dresser plan is £18 per month or £50 per quarter, the Capsule Wardrobe plan is £27 per month or £75 per quarter, and the Super Closet plan is £36 per month or £100 per quarter.
With the Dinky Dresser plan, you get 100 credits (around six or seven items, on average), while the Capsule Wardrobe plan comes with 150 credits (about nine or 10 items) and the Super Closet plan comes with 200 credits (12-14 items).
