New Orleans Entrepreneur Makes Mosquito-Resistant Clothes Stylish: When Fashion Beats the Bugs

The heat is on. Summer is officially here — and with the heat comes the bugs. Cities like Houston and Dallas are a hot bed for mosquitoes, ticks, and the dreaded Zika virus.

But expectant mothers everywhere can breathe a sigh of relief knowing there is a way to protect their unborn children. It’s not an injection or a pill, but rather an Italian-made maternity apparel line.

Buzz-worthy new clothing brand Per Vigore hit the market this spring, touting garments made from insect-repellent fabrics containing Permethrin — an FDA-approved chemical historically found in camping and outdoor clothing.

Per Vigore is the first collection of its kind and was conceived by New Orleans native, Parsons graduate, and Oscar de la Renta alum, Sarah Pottharst, when her sister-in-law became pregnant last year.

The fabrics are sourced near Lake Como in Italy though the same factory that services Stella McCartney and Marc Jacobs. Separates are cotton/stretch blends ranging from $95 to $300, and the line is available through pervigore.com.

Meet Pottharst in person in Dallas at 3003 Live Oak St., Unit 731, from 1 to 6 pm on Saturday, July 8. To RSVP, email support@pervigore.com.