New Orleans Teen Transforms Bus into Mobile Clothing Boutique
BATON ROUGE, La. – A budding entrepreneur from New Orleans has taken a unique approach to retail by transforming a used bus into a traveling clothing boutique. Valen Purvis, a student at Rummel High School, runs a mobile clothing store named Transit, a concept inspired by a family trip to Point Clear, Alabama.
During their vacation, Purvis and his parents spotted a bus for sale and decided to check it out. It was priced at $3,000, but Purvis managed to convince the owner to lower it to $2,000, making it a steal. After bringing the bus back to New Orleans, he renovated it by removing the seats, adding clothing racks, and incorporating a custom ceiling design inspired by downtown New Orleans.
In less than a year, Transit has participated in 20 to 30 events across the Gulf South, from Baton Rouge to Houston. Purvis curates his inventory carefully, choosing pieces he feels resonate with a luxurious vibe.
Looking ahead, he has plans to expand his travels to Florida, Alabama, and Oklahoma. Purvis sees his business as not just retail but as a way to connect with people and express personality through fashion. He aims to continue balancing his business with his academic aspirations and plans to study in a corporate setting while maintaining the independence of Transit.
Purvis sums it up: “It’s a bus. I mean, it’s going to take me somewhere, right?”
