HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – Growing up, Sharla Horton was always the first girl in school to try out new clothing trends, ranging from capri pants and platform heels to polo dresses or whatever was in at the time.

The 31-year-old fashionista has had a love for vintage clothing for as long as she can remember, but it was her late grandmother, a woman who always dressed beautifully, who inspired her love for clothes.

After visiting some of her favorite vintage clothing shops in London last fall, Horton knew she was ready to take the next step with her small fashion company, Little Bit's Vintage, which is named after a 7-pound chihuahua she inherited from her grandmother in 2011.

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center employee wants to transform Little Bit's Vintage, an online clothing store, into Huntsville's first "fashion truck." The traveling mobile boutique would allow customers to shop as they walk the city streets.

"I'd seen a few mobile shops online, but initially didn't give it much thought," she said. "I assumed that mobile shops were old bulky delivery trucks that were hard to navigate and wrangle. It didn't appeal to me."

Last winter, Horton came across A Hippy Heart Vintage, a Texas store that operates out of a vintage trailer. She immediately reached out to the owner, who was friendly and open.

Her interaction with A Hippy Heart Vintage led her to hundreds of other fashion trucks in vintage trailers. A few months ago, Horton purchased a 1955 red and white Yellowstone travel trailer on Craigslist, and the rest is history.

"I sell vintage clothing, and I have a vintage trailer, so it's perfect," she said. "Though I suspect she'll still see a campground every now and then."

With the recent proliferation of food trucks in Madison County, Horton believes a fashion truck would be successful in Huntsville, as they are gaining popularity in cities across the U.S. Like food trucks, mobile retail businesses must operate in city-approved areas and typically avoid parking near brick-and-mortar stores with similar products.

The American Mobile Retail Association estimates there are up to 400 mobile retail trucks operating in the U.S. It costs between $20-$30,000 on average to start a mobile retail boutique, the organization reports.

Horton said the city of Huntsville's mobile ordinances currently only cover food vendors, not retail. She recently submitted a proposal to city leaders, who are looking into the issue.



"It's vital that I go through the city for proper licensing for the truck," she said. "In theory, I could go set up at a flea market or at an unorganized event, but I want to do this correctly and take part in the exciting atmosphere in downtown Huntsville. I want to work with city leaders to provide a pathway for other mobile retailers like myself. "

Horton, who said non-food mobile retail is huge in cities like Austin, Charlotte and Nashville, believes traveling retail is the next step in Huntsville's growing cultural scene.

Downtown Huntsville, Inc. has held multiple food truck rallies in recent months, but Horton would like to see festivals and events that incorporate all types of mobile retail.

"Fashion truck festivals are gaining momentum across the country," she said. "Events like these are vital to mobile retailers. In five to 10 years, it would be wonderful to see expanded festivals, similar to our food truck events, happening more often."

Alabama currently has two fashion trucks: Birmingham Fashion Truck and Gypsy Blue, which is also based in Birmingham. Horton said the Birmingham Fashion Truck sets up shop in surrounding areas, including Homewood and Mountain Brook.

Aside from a couple of naysayers who don't think the fashion truck concept will work, feedback to Horton's idea has been largely positive, from Huntsville all the way to Los Angeles.

Horton recently participated in the Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment car boot sale and the Rocket City Blogger's networking event, which she hopes will strengthen her connections to the local community.

"I've got the truck, the clothing and the customers," she said. "Now, I just need a place to park it."

Send Lucy Berry an email at lberry@al.com.