The mosquito-repellent clothing brand was founded by Bal Dhital, Tim Keys, Pat Prell and Dan Robson in 2019, when three of the four men, then students, took part in the University of Newcastle's Grand Challenge.

"It had two key questions: the first, how do you tackle the challenge of mosquitos at Callaghan, because we all know it's an achievement to get from one end of campus to another without being bitten," says Mr Dhital. "And the second, how do you fix the fact that mosquitoes continue to pose a significant burden of disease to humanity across the world?"

The group came up with the idea for Borne, which uses a Fairwear Foundation-approved manufacturer in Bangladesh and donates 50 per cent of its profits to NothingButNets, a United Nations campaign on a mission to eradicate malaria.

"We thought it would be nice to have a product that benefited people here but also elsewhere," says Mr Dhital, now a junior doctor.

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Borne shirts are odourless, skin-safe, and treated with the non-toxic ingredient permethrin, an age-old ingredient used to deter mosquitoes and used in mosquito nets.

Each year 700 million people, roughly 10 per cent of the global population, catch a mosquito-borne disease, including malaria, Zica virus, dengue fever and more locally Ross River virus.

Mr Dhital says climate change will influence the patterns of who is most at risk, but about 400,000 people die of malaria each year.

"The awful part of that number is that two third of victims are children, and ... one child dies of malaria, an entirely preventable disease, every two minutes," he says. "It's crazy and we know there are tools that can stop it: bed nets are cheap and effective and accessible but the problem is as simple as getting enough money to buy enough nets for people."

Borne is part of the rising tide of the estimated 20,000 social enterprises in Australia that are tapping into a market of consumers whose values are increasingly driven by their wallets.

"In this growing community, with brands like Who Gives a Crap and Thankyou, there is power in everyday choices, and the thing you use daily can have a more significant impact than just being an everyday item," Mr Dhital says.

"Our market is streetwear and surfwear but our brand means more than just any other T-shirt, and it's more engaging than dropping a coin in a donation bucket because there's a tangible connection between the shirt you put on and the impact you are having."

Mr Dhital says Borne is starting to have traction, selling online and through local Hunter markets.

"We're starting to see people respond well to a product that, for the everyday Australian, you'd love to have a part of your summer day," he says.

"Everyone wants a mozzie-free summer and the feedback is they are working and that people are liking wearing them, and making a difference somewhere else."

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