After gaining years of experience, webshop Doortje Vintage has decided to raise durable fashion to a higher level with LENA, the fashion library. It’s a place for consumers to share clothes with one another. LENA is scheduled to open its doors in the middle of Amsterdam in October.

Today’s fashion industry is predominantly aimed at mass consumption and plays a huge role in the scarcity of raw materials, the use of child labor, and the ever growing amount of waste. The women behind LENA, Angela, Diana and Elisa Jansen and Suzanne Smulders set out to challenge this: “We aim to let people consume consciously. We have been doing this for years with Doortje Vintage and now is the time for a new step.” LENA provides for the consumer who likes to switch their closet often and quick, but places this in a durable context in which ‘possession’ makes place for ‘use’. LENA is also a place where fashion equals creativity and fun, where you can experiment endlessly.

Durability, style and quality are key for LENA’s collection, that consists of vintage, durable labels and clothing donated by consumers. LENA works with an extensive subscription system, much like a library. Suzanne Smulders: “We want to make durable fashion accessible for everyone, so we also offer single tickets. If you’re not able to say goodbye to a piece of clothing, there’s also the possibility to buy. A ‘try before you buy’ system to stimulate conscious shopping.”