Featured in the Newcastle Herald 25th February 2025
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"ANOTHER dress hire business is launching in the Newcastle market.
Courtney Barber is the owner and creator of Dress Loop, which allows customers to rent party-looks in the hope of making a sustainable effort towards reducing fast fashion.
The Newcastle launch marks a rebrand for the business which was previously called the Momentary Wardrobe. First opening in November 2023, Ms Barber worked to slowly grow the brand from a storefront in Brisbane, but she has come to the Hunter to relaunch both her life and her business.
"The rebrand was due to our previous name not suiting our business anymore," she said.
"We needed something fresh and eye-catching. I've personally moved down to Newcastle to be with my partner, as I recently left the RAAF in Queensland to have a better lifestyle and run my business full-time."
While there are plans in the pipeline for a storefront, rentals of party and event attire are currently available online. The size range is 6 to 14, with plans for expansion, and brands include House of CB, Aje, Leo Lin and With Harper Lu.
"Dress hire is affordable and sustainable," she said.
"Where most people wear their party or event wear once, we rent out our garments 10-plus times. Our Sonya Moda blue shimmer maxi dress was the first we ever hired out, and it's been hired out 23 times and still in very good condition."
The growing awareness of fast fashion's high environmental footprint has seen more people shift towards renting garments, especially for events like weddings."
