Suburban mom's invention debuts on Oscar night

Swag bags, those totes containing gifts for Oscar celebrities who really don't need them, usually don't inspire thoughts of green, environmentally friendly products.

But Ann Foley has a different idea. Foley, a DuPage County stay-at-home mom, has invented the Dry Greening bag. Similar to reusable grocery bags, it's a reusable garment bag for dry cleaning. And she has a chance to hand them to celebrities when the Oscars are awarded Sunday.

Foley's bag is a large tote where you can pop your dirty clothes and carry them to the dry cleaners. When you pick up your clean clothes it transforms into a garment bag that holds say 12 shirts so you don't need those filmy plastic bags.

Foley, who lives in Willowbrook with her husband, Brendan, and their three children, says her motives are more toward greening the planet than stuffing green in her own pocket. But she is good at promoting her product.

And she's turned the lowly $9.99 Dry Greening bag into a Swag Bag on the most glamorous night of all.

Not only will she give them away at the Billboard and Hollywood Reporter Oscar viewing and after-awards party, but her Dry Greening bag will be the swag bag. That means any invited guest who wants to take home handbags, booze or sunglasses will have to first stop and see Foley and pick up one of her bags.

So far the cleaner bags, which are available at drygreening.com, have sold best in California, where cities are banning plastic shopping bags, and also in Texas. Foley started the business in December and hasn't run a Chicago campaign yet.

The party at the Beverly Hills Hilton is considered the second best after-Oscars event as far as celebrities are concerned, said Mark Harris, chief executive officer for WOW! Creations in Glendale, Calif., which sells companies the right to hand out gifts and potentially reap publicity.

Is Foley excited about the chance to meet stars? Not really. The entrepreneur has met celebrities through her brother, comedian Matt Walsh, who lives in California and lands roles in movies.

"Once I meet a celebrity I can't watch him in movies any more. It's not the same," said Foley. "They're just normal people, it's not that exciting to watch the movies."

But there is one actor she would love to hand one of her bags to: Leonardo DiCaprio.

Not because she thinks he's a dreamboat, but because DiCaprio is known for his dedication to environmental causes.