One Fit Hire: The clothing rental that celebrates ‘beautiful bodies, beautiful minds’
Born from a personal struggle, One Fit Hire has become a beacon of change for plus size fashion and representation.
With conventional retail stores often limiting their sizes to a 14 and below, Kahu Henare – a proud Māori, Cook Island and Niuean entrepreneur – set out to bridge this gap in fashion after struggling to find a ball dress in her size.
“All of my friends were like smaller sizes than me and were able to find something, but there was just nothing for me,” Kahu says.
“I went home, talked to my mum. Pretty much said to her, do you reckon it would be a good idea to start? She was like, oh yeah you should definitely try it. So I was like, okay cool.”
In 2018, Kahu launched her plus size rental business, One Fit Hire from the comfort of her shared flat in Mount Roskill, starting with a single rack of clothes and fittings done in her bathroom.
Although her space was small, the impact of her services was deeply empowering. With many satisfied customers, her business picked up momentum as demand increased.
In 2022, Kahu opened a storefront in Newmarket and later relocated to Mission Bay where One Fit Hire continues to operate today.
Reflecting on her journey, Kahu embraces her humble beginnings that transformed her small business into a space that celebrates curvier women.
“When I was doing fittings in my bathroom… I never thought about making it a better experience,” Kahu says.
“I used to hang little bags on the windows for people to pick up [their dresses] and nowadays, I will never do that, but I guess at the time, it was just about providing that service more than making sure it’s perfect.”
Today, One Fit Hire stands as a testament to Kahu’s determination to empower women of all shapes and sizes. It’s more than just providing clothes that fit, but offering a range of bold, flattering styles at an affordable price.
The cheapest rental starts at $12.50 with nothing exceeding $100. Customers can book online for delivery or pickup, or can opt for a try-on instore for $20 – this fee is deducted from the total rental cost.
Though Kahu manages the store remotely from Australia, her aunty, Tania Henare helps keep the store running here in Auckland.
“It’s like coming into someone’s wardrobe and just going, hey, come into the wardrobe, and the experiences that we’ve experienced have been quite mind blowing actually,” Tania says.
Tania has witnessed firsthand the emotional weight many women carry when they walk in retail stores and can’t find anything in their size.
“I think they miss on the emotional side of what that does to young girls specifically. And even like new moms that can’t find a dress to fit,” she says.
“ So, I think the society doesn’t tap into that emotional side of how these girls feel when they get ‘there’s nothing here for you’, and I think we have something for everybody.”
One Fit Hire reflects that belief by offering sizes from 8 to 26 that doesn’t compromise on style and personality.
For loyal customer Joyce Roache, her experience with One Fit Hire has been life changing.
“I actually did feel really amazing because it’s hard to find an outfit to cater to my body size,” she says.
“I feel like being a brown girl, you kind of cover up and adjust certain things, but I feel like we need to embrace our curves and embrace who we are.
“I knew I was going to come back for more. Like the type of outfits she has – it’s not just for going out. There’s different options for like weddings, birthdays and functions.”
Over the years, One Fit Hire has become more than just a fashion destination for Joyce, it’s grown into a space of self-expression and sisterhood, fostering a tight knit bond with store owner Kahu and her aunty, Tania.
Satisfied customer Sherry Ng Lam resonates deeply with Joyce’s experience, describing One Fit Hire as having a true ‘family feel’.
“Every time I’ve come, it’s either Kahu or her aunty, or her cousin and they just make you feel so welcomed,” Sherry says.
“They don’t fake it, they’re so genuine. If I’m trying on something and it doesn’t fit me right, you know, they give me their real opinion and it just makes me feel good.”
And feeling good correlates with looking good – a sentiment Kahu believes is crucial in boosting self-esteem and confidence. Her years of experience in the plus-size fashion industry have deepened her understanding of how much clothing can affect a woman’s mental health.
Outside of her business ventures, Kahu is a full-time occupational therapist, specialising in mental health and addictions. She draws on her expertise as a therapist to improve her services for her customers.
“For me, it’s a lot about mental health and making sure that there is a space for people to go to be able to find something to wear,” Kahu says.
“Because at the end of the day, like, it does stop people from going to events and you know, people can’t attend their family gatherings and birthdays because they just can’t find something to wear.”
This commitment to creating a welcoming space for plus size women is reflected in the experiences Tania witnesses in store.
“We’ve had young girls who have no confidence. We have girls that come in that have never worn a dress since they got married – they’ve had babies,” Tania says.
“We’ve encountered transformations inside the store. It’s a really safe place to bring girls, ladies, grandmas even, and I think we provide that safe space and that’s what Kahu wanted from One Fit Hire – something that made women feel good.”
Inspired by the feedback from One Fit Hire, Kahu launched another side hustle, Tide by Kahu – a size inclusive clothing line featuring her own designs that caters more to corporate and resort wear.
Guided by her work in mental health and the close bonds she’s built with her clientele, Kahu remains determined in shaping a future where every body belongs.
According to Tania, this vision has always remained the same since the beginning.
“Kahu’s pathway is still the pathway that we take now, is that, beautiful bodies, beautiful minds, no matter what size, inclusive. I think that’s probably the biggest take, yeah for us.”
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