Before Christine Kane and Deborah Bowles launched Show Tote, they had both experienced the same very modern event-day frustration: getting stopped at the gate because of a bag. Kane, a Southlake resident who has built her career in the music business, was turned away from a Taylor Swift concert at AT&T Stadium when her bag did not meet the venue’s size requirements. Bowles, who spent 25 years in the spirits industry and regularly attended concerts, sporting events, and large-scale gatherings, had the same problem at the Super Bowl.
For the childhood best friends, those experiences sparked an epiphany. Their solution was Show Tote, a collection of luxury leather and clear bags designed around the policies of stadiums, arenas, and amphitheaters across the country. Even better, the brand does the research for you: shoppers can search by venue on the Show Tote website and shop bags designed around that location’s requirements. For the two founders, the idea is simple: Create “the bag that gets you in” while proving that venue-compliant and stylish do not have to be mutually exclusive.
THE IDEA FOR SHOW TOTE CAME FROM… getting turned away. I had the wrong-size bag at the Taylor Swift concert at AT&T Stadium, and my husband had to walk it back to the car. so I thought, “This is not an acceptable outcome.” Deborah had a similar experience at the Super Bowl. We started asking why there was not one place where you could find the right bag for a venue without sacrificing style.
OUR FRIENDSHIP BEGAN… when we were 8 years old. We have been best friends since childhood, so we already know how the other person thinks — and we tend to finish each other’s sentences. That history gives us a level of trust that is incredibly valuable when building something together.
THE PROBLEM WE WANTED TO SOLVE WAS… the confusion. Does the bag need to be clear? Is the limit 4 by 6 inches? Is a larger clutch allowed? Every venue is different, and policies can be difficult to find. On our site, shoppers can search a venue and see bags designed to meet its policy.
THE SHOW TOTE DIFFERENCE IS… that we are solution-oriented first, but fashion still matters. There are plenty of clear bags available, but many of them feel disposable or purely functional. We wanted high-quality materials, thoughtful details, and bags people would actually want to carry beyond the event.
THE DETAILS WE OBSESSED OVER INCLUDE… credit-card pockets, lipstick loops, secure closures, removable straps, and small interior pouches so everything is not bouncing around inside a clear bag. The newer collection also includes elevated hardware, protective feet and charms. Every bag comes with a music-note charm as a nod to Christine’s background.
OUR COLLECTION INCLUDES… clear bags in several colors and leather styles designed around common venue-size policies. Some are small enough for stadiums with strict 4-by-6-inch limits, while others work for venues that permit larger clear bags. We are also adding sports and music charms, along with scarves in college and NFL-inspired colors.
THE BEST PART OF TALKING TO CUSTOMERS IS… realizing almost everyone has a bag story. People have walked back to the car, hidden bags outside a venue, or been told their purse was an inch or two too large. The frustration is incredibly common, which confirms that the need is real.
STARTING LOCALLY MATTERS BECAUSE… North Texas is filled with concerts, football games, rodeos, and major events. We have AT&T Stadium, American Airlines Center, Dickies Arena, Toyota Music Factory, and so many college and high school venues. It is the perfect place to build the brand from the community level.
OUR SOUTHLAKE CONNECTION IS… personal. Christine lives here and has been deeply involved in the school community, including serving as PTO president at Rockenbaugh Elementary. We want Show Tote to become part of the local game-day and concert-going routine, including clear options for Dragon Stadium.
THE MOMENT WE KNEW THE IDEA RESONATED WAS… when we started showing the bags to people and immediately heard, “I need one.” It is practical, but it is also emotional because no one wants the night they have been looking forward to derailed at the gate.
OUR GOAL FOR SHOW TOTE IS… to take away the stress. You should be able to search your venue, choose a bag you love, and know what to carry before you leave home. Going to the show should be the fun part.