Avenue Magazine

This past December 2023 I had the pleasure to be interviewed by Rebecca Friedman from the Avenue Magazine for their February 2024 issue. Avenue is a local publication based here in New Orleans. Rebecca and I had a wonderful phone interview were I was able to share how and where I learned millinery, what my design aesthetic consist of, all about my Mardi Gras hat collection 2024 and so much more.

I hope you take the time to read all about my millinery process.
You can read more here.

Garden & Gun Article: Meet the Mardi Gras Hatmaker

A New Orleans milliner followed her dream after a mentor said,
“Don’t let the thinking get in the way of the doing”

By MARY CATHERINE MCANNALLY SCOTT

In the hazy late-night hours, Maria Etkind talks to her hats. 

But there’s no “mad hatter” here. Rather, Etkind, a milliner based in New Orleans, knows herself well enough to wait until morning to make a final call about a problematic hat. “We’ll see about you tomorrow,” she’ll say. As she sleeps, the harsh judgment often disappears. She says: “Almost always, in the morning, it’s beautiful again.

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Maru Lune is in full bloom

Maru Lune does 1920’s

This year I had the pleasure of collaborating with Leah Blake from Century Girl Vintage. She is the owner of the BEST curated women’s vintage shop in New Orleans and a dear friend of mine. On one of the most anticipated springtime events in New Orleans, Art in Bloom showcases spectacular floral designs created by garden clubs, floral designers, and creative talents from New Orleans and beyond.

This year’s theme, In Full Bloom, celebrates, through floral expression, a renewed joy for togetherness. In addition to fabulous floral installations on view for five days at NOMA, Queen Nefertari’s Egypt will also be on display during Art in Bloom. Nefertari, the royal wife of Pharaoh Ramesses II, is linked to some of the most magnificent monuments of ancient Egypt.

For my hat concept I new I wanted to create some sort of turban in gold. I wanted my turban to be inspired by Queen Nefertari’s Egypt exhibit. I hand dyed silk abaca and blocked the turban using a new donut shape blocked that I got in Australia. At first I wasn’t sure about the how to place the turban on the the head. It initially looked clunky and heavy. I of course had to ask one fo my friends for advice. P suggested I wire the turban and put it on a headband to make it a “halo” He couldn’t have been more right!

A halo is a a circle of white or colored light around the sun, moon, or other luminous body caused by refraction through ice crystals in the atmosphere. I named the halo “Maru Lune” the name is my nickname ‘Maru” and “Lune” is french for moon.

The dress of devoré silk velvet bloom in shades of gold and pink, trimmed in gold lace; together with a gold net scalloped cape with large velvet appliquéd flowers, both 1920’s’

We also added 2 golden fronds to the mannequin to give her a little more drama. Thank you Kim Starr Wise florals for helping us out!

I can’t say how lucky I am for her friendship and her ongoing support! Can’t wait to work on another museum exhibit soon!