Tailgate with a touch of style | People

Are you an Alabama fan with a passion for football and fashion?  If you like to tailgate with something besides a clunky cooler, a Huntsville woman and her newly formed company may have just what you are looking for.

Haul Couture is Kim Whitaker's creation.  In 2009, this interior designer had an over-sized plastic bag that she hauled everything in, from lamp bases to fabric swatches around.

One weekend she used backing sheets to stack levels in the bag to take a meal to a family member.  She had a "light bulb" moment and decided the bad could be a viable product if it were pretty.

Connecting to a Guatemalan factory through a friend, the first round of bags were produced in November, 2009 and were shown at Randolph Academy's "Under the Christmas Tree" Market here in Huntsville.  The bags were a hit and Kim was thrown into a whirlwind which has grown into the Haul Couture company.

In July of this year, Kim and her employees started wholesaling the product at AmericasMart in Atlanta.  She also took her bags to the New York International Gift Fair in August.

Sturdy, Stylish, and Sassy these bags are more than something to carry around.  They are insulated so your groceries and food items are good to go. Hot or cold, and if something were to spill it's just a quick wipe with a wet cloth and you are on your way. They even have men's bags for the man in your life who needs a nice tote.

Now if you are looking forward to the BCS and love houndstooth, they have several Alabama bags.  They also have other styles for the other SEC team you support.

Check out the entire collegiate bags.

Haul Couture has been featured on the Today Show's Kathie Lee and Hoda's Favorite Things and Food Network's The Next Iron Chef.

Check out the video of them.

In January, Kim and her crew plan to head back to Atlanta and are creating new styles everyday.