Anticipating his friend’s approaching wedding day, Allen Jerkens consulted with a tailor, received a 3-D body scan to get precise measurements and ordered a new suit – all inside a black truck parked on Hilgard Avenue.
In the truck, which was parked outside of the W Hotel in Westwood on Friday afternoon, the UCLA alumnus experienced firsthand the changes in the different types of products that are being offered in mobile businesses.
The appearance of the suit truck was a part of the hotel’s “Weekend. Starts. Now.” program, said Melissa Chinchilla, a concierge for the hotel. Each weekend the hotel invites local breweries and distilleries to offer complimentary alcoholic beverages to guests, and the truck was part of the W Hotel’s attempt to offer a variety of activities for guests. Other fashion trucks have been a regular sight at the hotel for the past few months, but the suit truck made its first and only scheduled stop in Westwood this weekend.
The black truck belongs to Arden Reed, a business that began as a website selling custom-made suits for men, but started tailoring and designing suits inside the truck last week.
“As an online-only business it was difficult to get people’s exact measurements, but the truck has made it so much easier,” said Carlos Solorio, co-founder of Arden Reed.
In the interior of the vehicle, four sample jackets lined the wooden railings on one wall, while shirts and ties in various colors lie folded on a bench for customers to choose from.
“It’s definitely more interesting than just walking into a Nordstrom and getting a suit,” said Allen Jerken’s wife, Kate Jerkens, director of sales and marketing for the W Hotel and UCLA alumna.
The truck’s features also include a full body 3-D scanner, which allows the tailors to take precise measurements of their customers.
Arden Reed’s prices can be significantly lower than the price of a typical custom-made suit, Solorio said.
Parked next to Arden Reed’s vehicle was a truck owned by Le Fashion, which sells vintage-inspired women’s clothing and accessories. Le Fashion has had regular business as a partner of the “Weekend. Starts. Now.” program, Chinchilla said. The pink Le Fashion truck parks outside the hotel on the second Friday of each month, and has proved extremely popular with guests, she added.
The truck allows for sales of more products than a typical brick-and-mortar storefront because of its mobility, said Jeanine Romo, a co-owner of Le Fashion.
The presence of mobile businesses have been increasing in the L.A. area, and in other large cities over the past few years, said, Stacey Steffe, the other co-owner of Le Fashion.
“You’ll see trucks selling shoes, trucks that have art galleries inside, some that do waxing. It’s pretty amazing,” she said.
Alton Gillard, public relations and social media coordinator for Arden Reed said he thought the amount of trucks selling women’s wear is far greater than those for menswear. Arden Reed is part of an effort to get men more involved and more comfortable in the fashion world, he added.
“When you think you look good, that whole ‘pop your collar’ feeling, it can change the outlook of your entire day. That’s what we are here to do,” Gillard said.
After today, The Arden Reed truck will leave Los Angeles today and move on to San Francisco and New York.
Thanks for covering our Tailor Truck! It was great meeting you!