Vanessa Moyo and Diana Hernandez joined the runway showcase Enclothe through a cross-disciplinary project that challenged them to create wearable technology in collaboration with fashion design students.

Although the project was originally intended for seniors, Moyo and Hernandez volunteered to gain hands-on experience with team-based projects.

"It was nice to get some exposure," Moyo said. "We had to meet real deadlines, allocate tasks across the group and make sure everything functioned correctly. It gave us a sense of how team dynamics work in industry."

The Enclothe fashion show, organized by the Program in Apparel Merchandising and Product Development, brought together a wide array of disciplines, including healthcare, accessibility design and engineering. The event highlighted inclusive fashion and technological integrations, with students presenting their projects on a runway.

Moyo's project featured a 3D-printed butterfly attached to a handbag. Using a microcontroller, she designed the wings to flap using embedded wiring and sensors.

Hernandez worked on the Wave LED Dress. The dress featured an LED pattern across the bodice designed to strobe and flow in the shape of a wave, creating a motion effect on the runway.

"Coming up with the idea and finally seeing it come to life was my favorite part," Hernandez said. "You learn a lot in class, but you don't always get to apply it until senior year. The experience gave us a jumpstart."

One of the most significant learning curves, they said, was communicating with students outside the realm of engineering. "We had to translate what we were doing," Hernandez said. "It was a challenge, but a good one."

Moyo agreed. "In industry, you're often working on large projects with people who are just as technical or not technical at all but still critical to the process," she said. "This was great practice for that."

Both Moyo and Hernandez say the experience expanded their understanding of how engineering can contribute creatively to unexpected fields. Moyo said, "It was fun, chaotic at times, but absolutely worth it."