Where science meets style:
The idea started on an escalator.
At a neurology conference, Bingham Township resident Dr. Erica Austin spotted a woman with a violet streak in her hair and a bold, elegant outfit that defied the traditional academic mold.
It was a glimpse of what style could look like in science — and the beginning of a long-simmering idea.
That moment has since grown into Synaptex Studios, a clothing brand Austin is building around the intersection of neuroscience and fashion, and one she hopes will dress smart, creative people for work and casual adventures with a playful, polished style.
“These little creative ideas were percolating around about how do we represent art on our bodies and in fashion and how do we show our creative side on the science and medical side,” she said.
From envisioning EEG (electroencephalogram) readings as fabric prints to dreaming up neuron-lined cardigans and dresses, Austin kept returning to one thought: smart people deserve smart clothes.
“Eventually there were enough of these ideas bouncing around that they got so crowded. I just had to start the company, and it’s been a really slow road. Fashion is just a super challenging industry,” Austin said.
Austin, who is from East Lansing, built a life and career in San Francisco before moving back to Michigan and trading The City by the Bay for a more peaceful, quiet country by a different bay. She went back to school at 30 to become a neurologist and eventually found her way to Shady Lane in Leelanau County, a move she has no regrets about.
“We love it. It’s been amazing … we’re so lucky to be in the county to have so many beautiful things and just to have it be part of our days,” Austin said.
Synaptex Studios brings those long-percolating daydreams to life through a community of local artists. The patterns are rooted in real science and reimagined by a collective interpreting neural structures, brainwaves and synapses through their own creative lens — turning EEG readings into trim details and synapses into repeating motifs. Austin is working with collaborators including Emma Rossi of Leland.
The focus so far has been on multiple designs, including a neural floral pattern that makes it look like a brain. The current product range spans scarves, earrings, ties, and socks, with more expected in the coming months.
“It’s more subtle, elegant patterns,” Austin said. “We have another shirt coming. We have a wrap dress... A pattern on a shirt that is different shades of green that blend together.”
Austin has been navigating the uphill battle of finding manufacturers while focusing on nuanced ethical issues around producing a quality product. The clothing is expected to go online within the next three months, and Austin is looking forward to those months as the local company finds its true representation and vision.
Austin, a Michigan State University graduate, says she loves neurology as much as ever.
“What I love about neurology is there’s a lot of patient continuity. You get to know your patients and share parts of their lives with them … The brain is in charge of everything, and is the best subject of all,” Austin said.
That belief is baked into every stitch at Synaptex Studios.
“These aren’t novelty prints. They’re garments with structure, story, and intent. Every piece in the collection features a pattern drawn from fundamental neuroscience, paired with thoughtful silhouettes and clean lines. The kind of thing that looks smart because it is,” Austin’s website reads.
For more information, visit synaptexstudios.com.
