If you’re a regular reader of ours, I think it’s safe to assume that you dream in green. What I mean is: that you try to follow a relatively ecologically-minded lifestyle. Maybe you shop at the bio store and regularly frequent our humble natural cosmetics company. But being friendly to the environment doesn’t just go skin deep, it also covers what you use to cover up. Shopping ethically doesn’t mean you have to end up wearing a brown potato sack. Sacrificing style for sustainability is a thing of the past, and in this series, we intend to show you just that. Each time we promise to bring you a green solution that will clear your conscience, all while giving you head-turning looks.

Now imagine if there was a way to have a limitless closet, filled with all the clothes you could get your greedy little paws on, without adding to the depletion of our precious environment. I think it’s every girl’s fantasy to have endless outfit options, and all of us have been confronted with the feeling of “ugh, I have nothing to wear”. You may go through your already over-stuffed closet, picking up the same items over and over again, a dissatisfied look on your face. In order to get a quick fix, you might decide it’s easiest to just run to your nearest H&M and pick up a couple items for super cheap. But really, what’s the quality in the fast fashion items you’ve just purchased? And what are they doing to the environment? Most of these items are 1. poorly made, and 2. will end up as waste within the next couple months. This seems like a very disappointing dilemma, indeed. Now, cue the introduction of Amsterdam-based LENA The Fashion Library, a shop which offers a solution that sounds equally attractive as it does ethical.

Their motto is: “Wear beautiful clothing, but not at the expense of people and the environment,” and their name explains it all. LENA is a fashion library, containing a wide variety of high-quality vintage clothing, styles from young and upcoming designers, and a range of sustainable brands. Just like at any other library, you register and get your very own LENA library card. This magical card grants you access to an infinite wardrobe, without the typical problem of having a wardrobe stuffed with clothes you’ll never wear.

Their system works on a subscription style basis, in which you get a varying number of points, depending on how much you pay per month. Each item in their collection is awarded a certain number of points (typically between 25-50, depending on the value of the item in question). So, in their most basic package, in which you only pay 19.95€ , you already get 100 points. The lending period is unlimited and you can swap and trade in your items as many times as you want. Honestly, it all just sounds too good to be true.

The ladies behind this wonderful project? Three sisters, Angela, Diana & Elisa Jansen, who were previously running a high-end vintage webshop. They were joined by Suzanne Smudlers and then the four beauties began their new adventure: LENA. All of them have a background in fashion or design, and thus they possess the keen eye necessary to ensure that what they stock in LENA combines cutting edge style with high quality. They were all united by their desire to fight the waste issue in the textile industry. For the future, they hope they can inspire a shift in focus in the industry from “ownership” to “shared access”.

While the incredibly successful shop has only one location right now in Amsterdam, they’re hoping to expand more globally, and we’re sure hoping that they do. I’m hoping the next stop is Berlin, because I’d be the first one in line.

What do you think of this concept? Have you heard of anything similar near you? Let me know in the comments below.