Sierpinski Triangles Women's Polo: Trio — Bright Lichen

Triangles inside triangles, all the way down.

Take a triangle and cut a smaller triangle out of its middle; three smaller triangles remain. Do the same to each of those, then again, without end. Every corner of the result holds a half-sized copy of the whole, meaning that the small details echo the larger design.

Wacław Sierpiński described this shape in 1915, and it became one of the first fractals mathematicians learned to recognize.

But its beauty was recognized long before its mathematics had a name. Centuries before Sierpiński described it mathematically, medieval craftspeople laid a version of this pattern into the mosaic floor of Italy’s Anagni Cathedral.

This pattern has a practical side, too: engineers use its nested triangles to make antennas that pick up signals at different frequencies.

Who it’s for

Fractals do real work: antenna engineers use Sierpinski shapes to make one antenna work across several frequency bands, and programmers meet the triangle as the classic lesson in recursion. A subtle nod for electrical engineers, software developers, computer scientists and math teachers.

For the office, campus, field days and weekends: smart enough for a meeting, easy enough for a Saturday.

The Women’s Polo

• 95% polyester, 5% spandex: light, quick-drying and holds its shape.
• Three-button placket, welt collar, double-needle sleeve and hem finish.
• Wash cold by hand or machine, below 45 °C. No bleach, no tumble dry.
• Not quite the right fit? Tell us within 30 days and we’ll make it right.

Size guide

Measurements around the body, in cm (inches). Allow 1–3 cm either way.

Every Zenzicube design is grown from a real piece of mathematics. Find more in the Mathematical Menagerie.