5 Fashion Experiences That Create Memories, Not Waste, This Black Friday

Are you hoping to avoid another ugly sweater under the Christmas tree this year? You’re not alone. According to Oxfam, 10% of us threw away an unwanted Christmas gift last year and a further 6% handed them back to the gift giver! A poll by the British Post Office found that 21% of unwanted Christmas gifts were clothes and shoes.

With many of these unwanted gifts ending up in landfill or being incinerated, it’s time to look for more low-impact way to show we care. This Black Friday, save getting their size wrong or misjudging their taste, and look to one of these original ideas that will be more ‘memorable’ than ‘returns-label’ with a focus on experience.

Experiences may not be available in all locations, but let these suggestions inspire you to seek out local options too.

Fashion Museum Membership

A gift for them, and a gift for the arts. An annual membership to a museum with an excellent fashion collection will give them memorable outings as well as that altruistic feeling of supporting some of our important cultural institutions. There are some excellent exhibitions programmed for 2025 as well.

· The Met in New York will open Superfine: Tailoring Black Style as its major fashion exhibition in May. Membership starts from $110 and will give them free entry for them and a guest, express entry through the members’ entrance, 15% off in the Met store and other perks.

· SCAD Museum of Fashion and Film in Atlanta, Georgia, is currently hosting an exhibition dedicated to the work of Cameroonian fashion designer Imane Ayissi until the end of February and a look at the work of costume designer Sandy Powell until mid March next year. Membership starts from $50 and includes free admission, members-only receptions, 10% off the gift shop and 10% off tickets for guests of members.

· The V&A Museum in London is currently hosting an exhibition exploring the work and style of supermodel Naomi Campbell until April and will open a Marie Antoinette Style exhibition in September 2025. Membership starts from £50 and includes free admission with no need to pre-book, access to the members’ room, members’ events and a 10% discount in the gift shop.

· MoMu in Antwerp, Belgium will display an exhibition titled Fashion & Interiors: A Gendered Affair from March until August next year. Membership starts from €45 and includes free admission to MoMu and several other museums in Antwerp, an exclusive tour from a curator and 10% off at the gift shop.

Upcycling vouchers

Instead of something new, give them the opportunity to breathe new life into something already in their wardrobe. Whether it’s completely transforming an old work shirt into a more casual top, or adding some embellishment to turn a denim jacket into something unique, it’s a fun way to give them that new-clothes buzz in a low-impact way.

· Levi’s gift cards can be used at one of their tailor shops, found at stores allover the world, which offer tailoring and customisation, including a fun range of badges and pins.

· Circular Fashion LA offers a ‘repair and re-fit mail-in kit’ starting at $35 to be able to send in your loved items for a refresh, including a dyeing service to swap up your colors.

· For a more high-end experience, British sustainable denim brand Fanfare offers a jeans personalisation service currently on offer for £90 ($114) including a consultation to turn your well-worn jeans into a work of art. Buying for someone whose style has a little more edge?

· Nena Barcelona makes eclectic and bold fashion from upcycled vintage and if you send them something from your own wardrobe to be made into one of their designs, it’ll cost 15% less.

An appointment with a personal stylist

A consultation with a stylist can help inspire new ideas in their wardrobe and open them up to new possibilities. Many stylists today offer video call appointments so you can be based anywhere in the world and have a focus on building a sustainable wardrobe that works for you, rather than filling it with new things.

· Lakyn Carlton is based in LA but runs all of her consultations virtually. Services start from $149 and she’s confident working with all genders and sizes. Carlton promises on her website that you’ll be able to “say goodbye to disposable fast fashion and hello to a wardrobe that’s stylish, sustainable, and – most importantly – you.”

· Alyssa Beltempo’s philosophy is about “choosing creativity over consumption” which she shares on her popular YouTube channel. A yearly subscription to her member’s platform costs $215 and includes discounted virtual styling sessions, an exclusive monthly live session, discounted access to her Shop Your Closet Live events and access to a discussion forum to share tips and ideas with other members.

· Sophia Lorimer offers gift vouchers which can go towards a 90-minute online wardrobe makeover session to inspire your style and help maximise storage solutions. Her sessions don’t include color analysis, as she’s a firm believer in wearing what makes you feel good, rather than following rules.

A fashion rental subscription

Keep them looking fashion-forward all year round (but only if they promise to give it back when they’re done.) A subscription to a fashion rental platform will gift them a way to try new styles and have something special for every occasion, without it sitting in their closet unworn for the other months of the year.

· Rent The Runway is offering up to 40% off their plans for Black Friday. Discounted prices now start at $79 per month for five rental items.

· Nuuly, the fashion rental platform from the company behind Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters and Free People, offers many other brands to discover as well. You can buy gift cards ranging from $25 to $1500 to put towards their subscription.

· Wear My Wardrobe Out is a rental site with a twist for those looking for unique gifts in the UK. The site offers original vintage pieces for rent and their gift cards can be redeemed against rental items or their sewing and making workshops.

· GlamCorner, based in Australia, offers rental subscriptions from AU$79 per month. This one’s a great gift for anyone who’s expecting as they have an extensive maternity section.

Fashion making workshops

They’ll cherish something so much more if they’ve made it themselves. Workshops are also a great way to support independent creatives this festive season.

· Air BnB Experiences is a great place to look for unique workshops all over the world. You could find something close to them or perhaps treat them to something special to do on their next vacation. From creating an African wax print bomber jacket in Johannesburg, South Africa, to making your own leather bag in Bologna, Italy, custom jewelry making in San Francisco or dyeing t-shirts with leaves from the rainforest in Hawaii.