Library Introduces Festive Outfit Lending Service

Lizzie Dibble stated that individuals visiting her sustainable fashion initiative at Oswestry Library in Shropshire have the option to borrow an outfit, mirroring the process for borrowing books. She explained, “You can loan it for three weeks at a time, exactly the same as a book. You can renew it, exactly the same as a book.” This service offers a solution for individuals attending multiple Christmas parties who may lack sufficient attire or the financial means to purchase new garments. The library indicated that its expertise lies in “the one thing we really know about… is how to manage lending resources.” According to its website, Ms. Dibble’s broader “With Love From” initiative aims at “creating a shared wardrobe of occasion-wear for a community of conscientious shoppers.” Typically, participants who contribute an outfit receive points that can be used to “pay” for loans; however, the current Christmas outfit pilot at the library is accessible to anyone possessing a library card. A collection of 200 festive items, encompassing footwear, accessories, and clothing, has been made available. A potential concern raised is the possibility of damage, such as a red wine stain on a garment. Ms. Dibble addressed this, stating, “I feel like it’s very similar to books… You might spill your cup of tea over your book.” She further explained, “So we’ve got this system in place, so that we can keep those items in circulation as long as possible. But when they are too tired or damaged, we have an outlet for them, so that they’re not being sent straight to landfill or sitting in somebody’s wardrobe collecting dust.” She elaborated that for items donated or returned to the library that are “a bit tired or damaged, we’re linking up with schools, colleges and universities.” This allows “Any local fashion design students or enthusiasts can access those items, cut them up, make them into something new.” The “With Love From” initiative, characterized as a “shared wardrobe,” promotes contributions of occasion wear. Siobhan Shaw from the library acknowledged Ms. Dibble’s significant effort, stating she had “put all this hard work into building the wardrobe from scratch.” Ms. Shaw added, “We’ve actually just focused in on occasion wear… we think that people might borrow for Christmas.” She further explained the pilot’s purpose: “We’re just gonna see what the appetite is really and see if people enjoy it, see what people’s comments are, see if they get on all right with the borrowing process… and then think about expanding.” Ms. Shaw confirmed that individuals could “absolutely” try on outfits. However, she noted, “unfortunately we don’t have a [dedicated] changing room,” adding, “So it is a case of taking them to the loos, but we have got plenty of those.” For further updates, follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding its approach to external linking is available.