Companies tap into trend of leasing luxury

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Portero has also turned to apparel brands and other companies to supply it with inventory. About 60 percent of the merchandise is now from companies; the remainder is from consumers.

Trend expert Syl Tang, who is CEO of Hipguide.com, believes that this idea of temporary ownership is limited to items with depreciating value like golf clubs and cars. Fashion, she says, is a different story.

"There is a limited audience honestly," Tang said. "Women I know who buy designer handbags covet them. They love, cherish, show them off. Then they wait for that Fendi baguette to become retro."

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