Borne

Inspired by popular and successful social entrepreneurship brands Toms and Thankyou, this collective of Newcastle friends came together to create a great product of their own whilst raising funds for the UN grassroots foundation, NothingButNets. The NGO distribute insecticide treated nets, medications, testing kits, as well as education and training for healthcare workers.

“We all have an interest in innovation, in solving the world’s big problems. Mosquito borne disease is a big health problem, and one of the reasons why is the lack of funding preventing real meaningful change,” explains Timothy.

Our city has long been known as one rich in creative and surf culture, and the team wanted to capture this in their branding. They set about producing a product line that wouldn’t just look great and give their customers an opportunity to combat mosquito borne disease in developing countries, but would actually protect the wearer themselves from pesky insects right here in Callaghan. Borne Clothing’s appeal doesn’t just lay in its sleek design, but its anti-insect technology.

The shirts are treated with an anti-insect formula by Borne’s partner, Insect Shield. The formula contains permethrin, the same ingredient used in lice shampoos for children and flea dips for dogs. Unlike these products however, Insect Shield is odourless. It stays tightly bound to the clothing’s fibres for up to 70 washes.

The biggest challenge the team faced was that of comprehending and constructing complex supply chain logistics. “We could see the health impacts and marketability of our product – some of us on the team have a medical background, and Dan specialises in graphic design – but none of us had ever executed a business. We found it administratively difficult, and initially we got bogged down in the specifics,” says Timothy.

Although in their initial proposal Borne sought to manufacture their product locally, they soon learned that to do so would be prohibitively expensive. It became clear that if they wanted to sell affordable products, they would have to initially outsource their multi-stage manufacture process overseas. However, they knew they needed to ensure that each and every step of production was socially and environmentally responsible.

A friend of the team connected them to a local sustainability consultant, who counselled them on the best ways to approach the many hurdles which awaited them. After much research and many dead ends, the team has now developed an international supply chain that adheres to their strict ethical and social responsibility standards.

The project has brought the friends closer – since they commenced the challenge, several of the students have graduated from their degrees and one has even moved overseas. The work has kept them together, and Tim speaks highly of the fun they have had and the rich experiences they have encountered along the way. “You’ve got nothing to lose and a lot to learn,” he says of the Grand Challenge. “You’ll probably even learn a lot of lessons you didn’t know you needed to learn!”

The team has begun accepting orders from friends and family and are expecting the delivery of their first shipment of tees within the coming weeks. They are already looking to expand their product line and roll out their public marketing strategy: with a schmick website and social media presence offering customers a sneak peak at the stylish, ethical product line which awaits them.

The Borne team consists of:

• Timothy Keys (Project Lead) (Student)
• Bal Dhital (Student)
• Daniel Robson (Community)
• Patrick Prell (Alumnus)

Wondering where the 2019 winners are now? Ask them anything at the upcoming AMA.