Malaria Fighting Fashion

Malaria is one of the most deadly diseases known to humanity, over half a million people die from malaria each year and most of these are children under five years old. 90% of the world’s malaria infections happen every year in Sub-Saharan Africa and this point there is no vaccine or quick fix to help those infected with the disease but there are some ways that can help to prevent the spread of infection.

When three quarters of a community use specially treated mosquito nets properly the transmission of malaria can be cut by up to 50%, child deaths fall by 20% and the population of the mosquitos who spread the disease decrease by a staggering 90%. This all sounds like a brilliant and simple solution to a huge problem, however; the fact of the matter is that it is estimated that less that 5% of children in Sub-Saharan Africa currently sleep under any type of treated net.

Two students from Cornel University have stepped up to the plate to introduce their attempt to help halt the spread of this killer disease. Apparel design student Matilda Ceesay and Frederick Ochanda, both from Africa, have come together to create a hooded bodysuit that is embedded at a molecular level with insect repelling qualities that prevents the wearer from contracting the disease.

The material that they have manufactured is three times more powerful and remains effective for much longer than standard repellent nets, it is also safer and more durable than using a skin based repellent spray.

Not only are the designs grownd-breaking when it comes to talking malaria they are also stylish and directional, Ceesay notes that the designs are influenced mainly by her African heritage; “I began to imagine what would happen if a group of natives found a chest filled with underwear from the western world without ever having interacted with westerners. How would they recreate a chest filled with corsets, bloomers, girdles and night robes?' 

This interesting idea is manifested in the final design with creatively structured garments and a bold use of materials and colour.

Ceesay also notes that all of the materials that were used for the project were produced and hand-dyed locally in her home of Gambia. Ultimately the brilliant collection represents a shift in a cultural use of fashion; one which uses essential technological advancements to adapt every-day essentials to work towards solving a local and global problem.

About her special mosquito repellent hooded bodysuit Ceesay says 'I created this garment to remind people to not be complacent with the current treatments available for malaria. the world has been fooled into thinking diseases can only be treated by doctors; I hope to revolutionize the thought process behind finding medical solutions using this garment. This is a prototype garment but with enough research and interest, MOF technology could be readily available to everyone.'

The design team working on this project estimate that the technology will be market-ready in as little as two years!