Electronics and fashion are something that don’t necessarily go together but there are designers out there getting inspiration from the need to reuse and recycle. Companies are always creating new features for electronics, so you end up throwing out your perfectly good camera so you can buy the one that came out this year that can do 3 new things that the old one couldn’t. I see keyboards and computer monitors on the sidewalk all the time which exemplifies advancements in modern technology is creating a need for electronic disposal or recycling because dumping makes them leak contaminants like mercury, lead, or flame retardants. When asked on disposal of outdated electronics, most students at Oakland High don’t know how, but they know that recycling is important.

“When I have to get rid of electronics I would just leave it at home but I would do something more efficient if I knew how!!” – Jessica K.

“I don’t know what to do with old electronics but recycling is a great thing and it’s good for the environment.” – Baltazar A.

However, this problem has become an inspiration to fashion and jewlery designers. Most electronics such as computers, keyboards, and remote controls contain curcuitboards which can be taken out with a screwdriver or hammer. Circuitboards have inspired jewlery design and is simple to make so even amatuer desigers can experiment. It’s a great way to recycle and will help keep electronics from being crammed into landfills.

Watch parts have also been a popular element to use for jewlery design. The gears and wheels inside are glued together into patterns in necklaces, rings, and more. This can be done by beginner designers too because all you have to do is take apart watches and just be careful not to crush the insides in the process. Digital watches contain small circuit boards and conventional watches contain mechanical gear such as wheels and hands.

New technology means that we have to be consistently throwing out old electronics so there is a need to recycle. Designers have come up with simple unique ways of reusing electronic parts that the average person can also recreate.