Bev Church

What do four very busy women with major careers have in common this Mardi Gras? They all had an epiphany when it came to Mardi Gras beads and throws that are clogging up our gutters and causing major damage when it comes to the environment!  Three of these women, Allison Tiller, (Avenue’s own) Penn Iarocci (not pictured) and Dr. Melissa Montgomery created Epiphany Throws, which creates sustainable Mardi Gras throws as well as festive accessories. Their mission is to bring awareness to the environmental harm that traditional plastic throws create, while giving you an alternative. Their throws are made with recycled silk and cotton, bamboo and biodegradable seeds, and their retail accessories are made from upcycled Mardi Gras costumes.  They also sell in bulk and package their throws in burlap bags. Some of their items are made by Eden House residents and they use ethical sourcing, which means they pay fair wages to the people who create their beads, bracelets, hats, bags and throws. Because they’re creating items that you will want to keep, they’re reducing waste and creating biodegradable Mardi Gras throws! [caption id="attachment_201275" align="aligncenter" width="1439"] Starr Hagenbring, Allison Tiller and Dr. Melissa Montgomery wearing environmentally safe throws[/caption] You can find Epiphany Throws locally at The Historic New Orleans Collection Store, The Ogden Museum of Southern Art Store, Judy at the Rink and more, and online at EpiphanyThrows.com. Starr Hagenbring, Owner of Art & Eyes, had an epiphany of her own. She’s a member of Krewe du Vieux and Krewe of Tucks and decided to make all her own throws that people will want to keep.  She used to make jewelry and has lots of beads and findings to create earrings, bracelets, cool pins and objets d’art. Everything that she makes will be attached to a cardboard card in a biodegradable bag that says, “Made with Mardi Gras Spirit and Love with Recycled Objects!” She wants to encourage people to recycle and lists 10 ways you can help the environment. Hagenbring shares that Krewe du Vieux members are all helping to make 1950s-style ray gun necklaces out of Shrinky Dinks in keeping with their theme, and she’s encouraging children to get in on the act as well! These women are making a difference this year, and we encourage you to be a part of the solution. Thank goodness that recycling is returning, but we all must be part of the solution. Talk to your krewe members and Captains and see if they’ll try to help our fragile planet and clogged drains! [gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="98486,98485,98484,98480,98483,98481"]