How women are earning up to $30,000 a month by renting out their closets
Kat Friday, a New York fintech employee, has turned the clothing rental app Pickle into a thriving business. Just eight months after starting, she earns about $7,000 a month, rents a warehouse, and is looking to hire her first employee.
When Kat Friday, an employee at a fintech company in New York, first encountered the clothing rental app Pickle, she did not believe it would lead to a thriving business. Today, just eight months after she began offering items for rent, she is already earning about $7,000 a month. Friday has become one of the leading lenders on the app, and to keep up with the volume of dozens of orders a week, she is renting a warehouse and is even looking for her first employee.
From renting a camera to a business of thousands of dollars
It all started in November 2025, when Friday decided to rent out a camera that was lying unused in her home for $150 a week. The rapid demand prompted her to upload clothes she rarely wore to the app, and later even to purchase popular designer items for rent. Like her, many users have discovered the economic potential of the platform; the app's founders say that one user even reached revenues of $30,000 in just one month.
The app, founded in 2021 by Brian McMahon and Julia O'Mara, offers a luxury clothing and accessory rental service directly between users. The company started as a local venture in New York and expanded to all states in the USA. The rapid growth also attracted the attention of investors: in March 2025, the company raised $12 million, and as of July 2026, its total funding stands at $20 million.
Gen Z prefers to rent rather than buy
The company's business model appeals mainly to young people from Gen Z and Millennials, who are interested in luxury fashion items but struggle to afford them. According to studies, Gen Z is expected to account for 40% of fashion consumers in the USA in the coming decade, while the global luxury market is expected to reach $700 billion. The app allows them to enjoy access to expensive items without the need to purchase them, while simultaneously generating significant passive income from their private closet.
The success is not limited to New York. Users like Martina Viacek, a Pinterest employee, report revenues of $2,000 to $3,000 a month from renting out wedding dresses and event clothing. For many young people, clothing rental has turned from a temporary service into a stable source of income, which is changing the way they perceive ownership of luxury goods.
