Infected female mosquitoes carry life-threatening parasites and bacteria that can be transmitted to people. About 2.5 billion people in over 100 countries are at risk for mosquito-borne diseases. Capuchin monkeys, which are the inspiration for this design, rub themselves with piper plant leaves that contain chemical compounds such as viridiflorol and aromadendrene that repel mosquitoes and other insects. Our design is to create a fabric from the piper plant’s leaves using the process of retting, which involves soaking the stems and leaves to soften and separate the fibers. The fibers will be sewn into a fabric and used to make clothing that will work as a repellent.
