Why start SHOO for Good?

Over time, we were inviting friends over for dinners in the garden less and less. A little pleasure in life—sitting outside to read a book at the end of the day—wasn’t happening anymore, either. My husband resisted barbecuing on summer evenings.

Thanks to climate change, mosquitoes are now thriving in places they never had—like my Santa Monica garden—and upsetting life as we knew it.

Candles, zappers, treated hiking clothes, sprays, and lotions can help but they aren’t perfect. I wanted an easy solution for me and my friends to take into the garden and beyond, that would allow us to enjoy special, outdoor moments, without being worried about being bitten alive. A solution that wasn’t ugly, sticky or smelly, and that didn’t require a shower at the end of the night.

I dreamed up a product that would do that: a chic, mosquito-repellant wrap that we could throw on before going outside, pack easily for travels, and toss over our shoulders at outdoor parties or weddings. It would be a soft, beautiful staple we’d take with us everywhere—just in case. It would allow us to enjoy the moment, bug-free, wherever we were.

It wasn’t until a bigger purpose became clear, though, that this magic wrap became a reality. 

Every two minutes, a child dies from malaria, a disease caused by a single mosquito bite. Children, refugees, and pregnant women are most vulnerable. Last year (2019), there were 219 million new cases of malaria worldwide with 435,000 people dying, mostly children. Sub-Saharan Africa is the hardest hit, but South Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East are also at risk.

Determined to make a difference, I joined forces with Nothing But Nets, the United Nations Foundation’s effort to fight malaria by raising awareness and distributing much-needed, life-saving protective bed nets to families in need. For every wrap sold, a donation is made. Your purchase will save lives in hard-hit regions of the world. 

We are making an economic difference in these areas, too, by creating fair-wage jobs for artisans and small-business owners. Our launch collection was made in Ethiopia by spinners using the finest, locally sourced cotton and weavers working on traditional looms. Their work—soft, gorgeous, and unique—can’t be replicated by machines.

We enhance these handmade wraps with Insect Shield® technology, which provides invisible, odorless, EPA-registered protection against mosquitoes, flies, and ticks. 

I'm hoping that, together, we can make a difference in the world.

So, go on. Grab your wrap, get outside, and enjoy life, bug-free. And know you’re helping save lives.