Maia Hirsch’s Double Life: Engineer and Fashion Designer

Maia Hirsch has a deep-rooted passion for fashion, particularly for luxury brands like Chanel, Hermès, and Dior. Yet, this 24-year-old mechanical engineer from northern Ithaca is more attracted to the intricacies of scientific systems and robotics than to high-end materials or textile trends.

In 2020, during the pandemic, while studying abroad in Florida, Hirsch enrolled in a fashion design course at the University of Miami Marangoni School. It was a therapeutic escape from the uncertainties surrounding her—something enjoyable amid all that chaos.

Fast forward to now, and she’s gearing up to showcase her tech-infused fashions at New York Fashion Week in 2026, where her innovative designs will grace the runway at Dramama in Times Square.

Currently pursuing a doctorate in robotics at Cornell University, Hirsch expressed her excitement: “I’m very honored to break the mold of what it means to be an engineer and a roboticist.” She believes that entering the fashion world—a high-visibility industry—can help science gain a foothold in cultural spaces that were previously out of reach.

As she prepares her “Blooming Dress,” an interactive piece that features battery-powered flowers that react to touch, she aims to fuse technology and fashion. This dress will debut during SFWRunway’s “Future of Fashion” show.

The dress is made with cotton and organza, incorporating touch sensors and actuators that prompt the flowers to bloom with just a handshake. “There’s a tiny touch sensor that fits in the model’s palm,” she explained, “and when they touch something, it activates the mechanism, causing the dress to open up.”

Hirsch is also unveiling the “Gazing Dress,” which incorporates fiber optics and stretch sensors, allowing the attire to glow based on the wearer’s movements. “It’s going to be really beautiful,” she said, excited about showcasing her work on live models, not just mannequins.

Before runway day, Hirsch spent countless hours sketching and refining her designs, often facing technical mishaps along the way. The resources at Cornell’s elite maker lab, equipped with cutting-edge tools, have helped her bring her creative ideas to life.

The overall process took over four months to complete and involved substantial investment in terms of time and funding, but for Hirsch, it’s worth it to pave the way for more women in a field that has traditionally been male-dominated.

“I believe in the saying, ‘You can’t be what you can’t see,'” she said, sharing her hope to encourage other women to embrace both engineering and fashion without feeling they have to choose one over the other.

While the number of women in STEM has grown since the 1970s, they still only occupy about 30% of these jobs in North America. Hirsch wishes to draw inspiration from innovative designers like Iris Van Herpen, who are known for their futuristic take on fashion.

Van Herpen is celebrated for her ability to blend nature, architecture, and technology into wearable art. Her designs have caught the eye of many celebrities, making her a notable figure in this avant-garde realm.

Hirsch expressed her hopes of creating a similar buzz at NYFW, although she noted that her pieces aren’t quite ready for the red carpet. “These are delicate designs; they’re not meant for daily wear,” she admitted, pointing out challenges related to weather resilience and storage.

Even with some uncertainties, this fashion visionary feels proud to be leading the way into a new era of style. “Fashion shouldn’t just be worn, it should be experienced,” she said, emphasizing how mechanical engineering enables the creation of unprecedented pieces that elevate fashion beyond its traditional boundaries.