Orbiting the Self was originally created as the capstone project for Sophie’s Bachelor of Science degree, with support from the Atlas Institute, and responds to the gap in fashion-focused wearable technology. The piece reimagines the solar system as an abstract self-portrait, embroidered across the back of a thrifted denim jacket to suggest that the self mirrors the cosmos.

The jacket cycles through four states of existence: vibrant under UV-activated paint, glowing with phosphorescent pigments, illuminated by framing fiber optics, or fully deactivated. A LilyPad microcontroller powered by a rechargeable lithium battery controls pin LEDs that are heat-shrinked onto fiber optics, which outline the planet patches embroidered onto the jacket. The microcontroller and battery are housed in the jacket pocket for easy access, while all wiring is routed beneath a removable fabric lining—balancing functionality with an aesthetically conscious finish. This shifting presentation mirrors the interplay between personal identity and cosmic scale.

Exhibited November 2023–January 2024 at the Aeronaut Cannery in Everett, Massachusetts, and January 2023-May 2023 at Artisans Asylum in Allston, Massachusetts

Completed May 2020