Fashion To Go
Boutique owners take to the streets with mobile shops
If people were flocking to food trucks, why not put clothes on a truck?
“We found a truck operating in Los Angeles, but at the time there was really nothing like it on the East Coast,” Whitaker says. “But the food trucks were really gaining in popularity across the country, so we decided to go for it.”
Drift is stocked with fashionable yet functional apparel and accessories all for under $50. It is designed to be available for private parties as well as business-to-business gatherings and charitable or community events. Whitaker says for the first couple of years she and Cherry never turned down an opportunity to take part in an event.
“This allowed us to meet so many amazing people within our community as well as expand our customer base,” she says.
Whitaker says she and Cherry are now focused on getting back to basics: booking private parties and pairing up with local businesses. The best part about the job is meeting new people and making women feel beautiful, Whitaker says.
“Shopping can be intimidating, but we provide an intimate experience where people often feel more comfortable,” she says. “We have the opportunity to show women new styles that they might not typically choose, yet look great on them, and helping someone feel better about how they look is so uplifting because women are so hard on themselves.”
Whitaker knows that many women are also on a budget and don’t often spend money on themselves. That’s where the $50 limit comes in. She feels strongly that women shouldn’t have to spend a fortune to look good and follow current fashion trends.
“Because I’m a mother of two young children, I look for clothes that are comfortable and easy to dress up or down,” Whitaker says. “I look for things that can be staple pieces as well as some fun, trendy pieces that aren’t super expensive.”
Drift is now one of at least three mobile boutiques in the area. The Fresh Truck, owned by Jason Lee, is stocked with limited-edition art, clothing, hats, and designer toys ranging from $10 to $200 according to Lee.
Mushpa y Mensa is the creation of Cara Elaine Reynolds (Mushpa) and Maria Emilia Borja (Mensa). They describe their truck as an eco-boutique stocked with jewelry created from recycled materials and hand printed, one-of-a-kind, organic cotton T-shirts.
Whitaker views the arrival of The Fresh Truck and Mushpa y Mensa as strength in numbers, rather than competition. They each have something unique to offer. She is hopeful that the trucks might be able to band together and set up shop in areas such as downtown or at the college campuses when they don’t have other events on the books.
“One of the frustrations we’ve faced is the inability to open up during times when we don’t have events scheduled,” Whitaker says. “But with the addition of these new trucks we’ll see if Wilmington wants to evolve with us and we’ll see where it goes.”
At the end of the day, Whitaker and Cherry are just trying to provide a casual and laid back shopping experience on wheels. As the artwork on the truck says: “We go with the flow.”
To view more of photographer Katherine Clark’s work, go to www.katherineclarkphotography.com
