Fashion trucks: The next big thing? - Houston Chronicle

Houston's shopping scene is taking on a new dimension.

Mobile boutiques known as fashion trucks, much like the food trucks found around town, are bringing an eclectic mix of clothing, shoes and accessories to sites in West Houston and throughout the city.

These stores on wheels can be found by restaurants, landmarks and at special events. Their locations change from day to day. Prices range from what you would pay in a department store to more for higher-end products.

"It's just a different experience," said Vanessa Test, owner of Height of Vintage, which sells clothing and home décor from yesteryear. "All of the trucks out there now, we all carry our own unique things.

"This is what makes Houston a cool city."

Owning a boutique has been everything Sarah Platt hoped it would be.

"I love buying things and watching people's expressions when they like something I bought, just the joy of that," said Platt, who brings her Urban Izzy truck to My Food Park HTX at 800 Texas 6 S. in West Houston's Energy Corridor.

Coryne Rich, owner of Shoe Bar Houston, said the arrival of fashion trucks like hers is an important milestone.

"There's something every few years that changes the face of retail. The last time it was Internet. I feel the mobile movement is the next big thing," Rich said.

Not only do the Houston truck owners maintain their own schedule of appearances, they get together about every other month for "fashion truck festivals."

The next festival will take place 4-10 p.m. Black Friday, Nov. 29, at Liberty Station, an outdoor patio bar at 2101 Washington Ave.

Trucks scheduled to be there include Height of Vintage, Shoe Bar Houston and Urban Izzy, along with Park Boutique, holding its grand opening.

"We'll have food trucks and live music, too," Test said.

Urban Izzy

Platt has been working for years in real estate and as an assistant manger at a Houston-area boutique. But the Heights resident's goal all along was to own her own clothing boutique.

"I was driving one day when the light bulb went on," Platt recalled.

She could start with a mobile boutique in the style of a food truck.

After researching her idea, Platt found others were doing the same around the country.

"I was like, 'Wow, these trucks are out there, and they're adorable.' "

Urban Izzy is named in memory of Platt's late grandfather, Isadore Platt.

"He's someone I really respect and who loved retail, too," she said.

Platt describes her clothing selection as eclectic.

"I try to keep stuff you wouldn't find at other boutiques. There's some classic stuff, too. You have a little of everything. Some things are only there once."

Platt also carries artwork created by local residents.

She sets up throughout the greater Houston area, from southwest Houston to The Woodlands to Memorial. She has parked at a festival for Westbury High School and also on the campus of Rice University.

"The students loved it," she said.

Park Boutique

A new fashion truck, Park Boutique, will open for the first time during the Nov. 29 Fashion Truck Festival.

Pearland resident Lillie Parks is launching the business with her sister, Viola Kincade, and business development director Hannah McConn of Humble.

"We sat down, and we talked about something we could do collectively," Parks said.

"I'm currently in law school, and I want to practice fashion law. I wanted to get experience in the fashion industry."

McConn, also a law student, has experience creating business opportunities in Third World countries.

The boutique, McConn said, will feature familiar brands, along with more cutting-edge products from the fashion runway. It will be setting up mainly in the Inner Loop area.

"We also have an app that we'll be developing," McConn said. "You'll be able to find out where we'll be on a particular day and look at our fashion."

As a shopper, Parks said, she's already a fan of fashion-truck shopping.

"I love it. It's a cool experience. It's not cluttered. You can see everything."

Eventually, McConn added, Park Boutique will carry products made by women in Africa seeking to gain financial independence.

Height of Vintage

Test launched Height of Vintage about five years ago as a Web-based business. She came up with the idea of transforming it to a mobile business last April.

"I thought it would be cool to have a shop I could take with me," she said.

She found a pop-up camper on Craig's List and took her business on the road.

"A lot of people love the idea of the camper being turned into a shop. I love it when I get, 'Oh, this is amazing. It's so cool.'"

Like her business' name suggests, it specializes in vintage clothing for men, women and children.

Also offered are home décor items, records, jewelry and accessories. Most of the merchandise dates from the 1950s to the '90s.

"Vintage is coming back in style," Test said. "I try to have something everyone would like. It's not just for women."

Test said she has been enjoying her business venture but that it is a lot of work.

"The set-up and break-down isn't something I thought of at first. It actually takes a lot of time."

Currently, Test sets up mainly in the Heights and Montrose areas.

Aside from the cool factor, the biggest advantage to operating a mobile boutique is the financial savings, Test said.

She already has recovered the cost of the camper. Her main overhead expenses are electricity and insurance. She said she spends much less than she anticipated on gasoline.

When she sets up, few locations charge her to be there. She has gotten help running the business from friends and from her husband, Hugo.

Shoe Bar Houston

Before Rich launched Shoe Bar Houston last March, she spent more than seven years in sales and marketing for a commercial landscaping company.

"It was a family owned company, and I had reached the end of what I could do for them," said Rich, a Heights resident.

"I knew I wanted to start a business, but I didn't know what it was. I loved shoes and traveling, and I thought I could make the most from shoes."

To compete, Rich decided, she would have to do something unique.

"A friend of mine said, 'You've got to get in the game. What if you did something like Mary Kay parties?' That's when I had my light bulb moment."

She wouldn't have parties in private homes, but she would create a shop that can come to the customer.

Today, she said, Shoe Bar Houston is all about the shopping experience. The store is in a trolley-like vehicle that Rich shipped in from Pennsylvania, but the inside is all elegance.

"When you step inside, I want you to feel you're in a beautiful little shoe boutique," Rich said, adding that she has decorated her interior with glass shelves and a chandelier.

The shoes, including numerous designer products, include high heels, boots, flats and sandals. Rich also carries jewelry, purses and shoe products.

"It's a very satisfying experience to own your own business and call the shots," she said.

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