Coding Fashion: Engineer Creates Magical Dresses

Christina Ernst, a 28-year-old software engineer based in Chicago, is revolutionizing the intersection of technology and fashion through her innovative 'fashioneering' projects. When not working at Google's West Loop office, Ernst dedicates her time to creating whimsical garments that incorporate coding and circuitry, attracting hundreds of thousands of followers online.

Ernst's creations range from self-twirling dresses with robotic arms to corset tops illuminated by flickering, faux candle lights. Her most viral project, a Medusa costume featuring undulating robotic serpents programmed with AI facial recognition, exemplifies her ability to merge complex technology with fantastical fashion concepts.

Through her website and social media accounts, collectively known as She Builds Robots, Ernst provides tutorials and demonstrations of her work. Her primary goal is to inspire young women to enter STEM fields by showcasing how technology can be applied creatively to areas traditionally seen as separate from engineering, such as fashion and art.

Ernst emphasizes the importance of persistence and experimentation in her work, often going through multiple prototypes before achieving success. By sharing both her triumphs and failures, she aims to demystify the engineering process and encourage others to embrace trial and error in their own projects.