Sparked by a well documented bout with a near-fatal disease, Pam Abma, along with Wyckoff resident Jeff Boucher, and a number of influential designers have taken malaria prevention to a new level, infusing common-sense prophylactics with an eye-catching hip hop sensibility.

The project they envisioned, then built from the ground up when Abma recovered from the battle with malaria that nearly killed her, is called Code Purple. From its inception, the project has mingled awareness, activism and fashion seamlessly for the purpose of saving lives in Africa. 

The product they've developed, The Moskeeto Hood-E, is a hooded jacket that repels insects, including mosquitoes that may carry and transmit malaria.

The sleeves of the jacket can be crimped shut, and the semi-transparent hood can cover the face entirely. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2010, an estimated 216 million cases of malaria occurred worldwide and 655,000 people died. More than 90 percent of those deaths occurred in Africa.

The idea of a sweater in Africa may seem as unnecessary as ice cubes in Antarctica, but the reality of Code Purple's flagship product is that it is not designed for warmth.

"They're lightweight, almost like gauze; this gives them the opportunity to stop malaria" by being wearable where malaria is worst, Abma said. "There's more that can be done for prevention."

This Thursday, Abma, Boucher and some of the group's designers will close out New York City's Fashion Week with a blockbuster party on the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. 

The event — part fundraiser, part fashion show— will benefit production and distribution of the product the group calls a "life-changing mosquito repellent garment."

That evening the Empire State Building will be lit up in purple in celebration of the initiative, said Abma, the owner of Abma's Farm here in Wyckoff.

You can purchase tickets to the event here. 

The driving force behind Hood-E is a partnership between Touch the World Ministries, ING Activewear, and several designers who helped create its vibrant apparel.

Boucher, who runs Allendale-based Touch the World, would steer the charity portion of the operation, according to Abma.

"Jeff gives us the knowledge that all of our money actually goes to doing good," she said.

According to Boucher, Touch the World would only collect a small administration fee. He added that ING's business model would operate similar to the Toms footwear company, which donates one pair of its shoes for every pair purchased.

Among the designers involved in the creation of the Hood-E was Guy Wood, with 5,001 Flavors.     

Wood's company made several prototypes, taking into consideration all the important protective and design elements that were needed.

"The end result was a fashionable garment that has the ability to save lives," said Wood. "We couldn't say no to this project."

Wood said that in 2011 his company decided to partner up with various organizations "whose missions were in tune with the basic concept of 'Look Good, Feel Good, Live Good.'"

"We loved the concept of fashion being used to save and change lives," he added.

Abma and Boucher hope that Thursday's culmination on the Intrepid isn't the end of the road, but just the beginning.

"It feels like a stepping stone to something bigger," Boucher said.

The group hopes to bring the Code Purple project to additional countries in the near future.

"We hope 'Going Purple' will be the next 'Going Green,'" Abma said.