Lets Take Two Clothing
The Melbourne fashion scene has felt a sustainability gap ever since locally made clothing brand, Arnsdorf, sadly closed their doors in May 2024. Their minimalist storefront on Brunswick St, Fitzroy has been vacant ever since. But luckily a new Rent-A-Rack service, Let’s Take Two, has re-opened the doors and filled the space with preloved gems all waiting to find their new home.
Rent-a-racks (or rent-a-rail) are not a new concept in Australia, but they have been slow to catch on in a market filled with op shops, consignment and vintage stores. With Australia’s second hand clothing market predicted to grow to $1.529 billion by 2032, many people are looking to green up their buying. In particular, people are searching for that unique thrift find that will have their friends asking “where did you get that?”
In comparison, people are also looking to move on those pieces in their wardrobe that no longer suit their lifestyle. This is where Let’s Take Two steps in, housing a beautiful space where their garments shine without the need for a seller to be on standby.
Carman Lee is the perfect custodian of the garments. Her love of fashion led her to work in sourcing for well known Australian brand, Quiksilver. Seeing hundreds of garments daily has given Carman an unique understanding of the way a garment is constructed and the hard work that goes into it. She can help customers find a quality piece or guide them to the best price for their item. Her passion to curb the substantial waste in the fashion industry led her to establish Let’s Take Two, to help sustainable champions to keep their garments in circulation while making a little extra cash.
Unlike consignment stores, Rent-a-Racks allow the customer to take control of their items when selling. Using the Zellr software via the Let’s Take Two Website, customers can reserve their desired location in the store, select their own prices, print their own tags and monitor sales. All advertising, upkeep and garment care is done by Let’s Take Two. Kind of like a permanent market stall, without the need to be in attendance all day or drag racks back and forth. “Many customers take joy in decorating their tags and coming in to carefully display their preloved gems,” says Carmen.
Let’s Take Two has been a huge hit with the community. Carman describes how customers are drawn in by the window – which she changes each day according to the weather, the unique assortment of preloved gems and it’s focus on sustainability. She sees tourists and locals alike all stopping by and enquiring as to what the store is about. Carman then explains the easy process and customers are thrilled to find a new space to sell their gently worn items.
Regular customer Donovan, of Donovandripsvintage is a huge fan of the new rent-a-rack store. “I love fashion, I love clothing. It feels like heaven to me.” He regularly drops off clothing to Let’s Take Two and is impressed by the service Carman provides. “It was really easy and I don’t have to worry about it. It’s well looked after” he says of his in store experience.
Let’s Take Two provides a unique benefit to the Fitzroy community. It allows those who are sustainability minded to not only snap up a bargain with a low environmental footprint, but for sellers to shift their unworn pieces without the annoyance of holding an early morning market stall.
The Melbourne community will continue to embrace Rent-a-Racks stores like Let’s Take Two as they help fill a niche that many people are looking for; a place to sell where they can set the price, or a store that is like peaking into many individual wardrobes at once.
Follow Lets Take Two on Instagram at: @letstaketwoaus
About the Author:
Jenna Flood, known as the Ironic Minimalist
is a slow fashion stylist based in Melbourne,
with a Master’s Certificate in Styling from the
Australian Style Institute and is a specialist in
sustainable dressing and living.
