How To Turn Old Tech into Wearable Art: Inside the Retro-Tech Fashion Movement
Discover how discarded gadgets like flip phones and keyboards become fashion statements in the retro-tech upcycling trend.
Matilda
How To Turn Old Tech into Wearable Art: Inside the Retro-Tech Fashion Movement How I Turn Old Tech into Wearable Art: Inside the Retro-Tech Fashion Movement When I first saw Julia Fox flaunting a flip-phone buckle, wired nail extensions, and a Discman-turned-mirror on Instagram, I knew something magical was happening. It wasn’t just fashion — it was a cultural throwback, a nod to a time when tech was tactile, clunky, and full of charm. What started as aesthetic experimentation quickly became a creative obsession for me: reimagining old gadgets as wearable art. Image: Getty Images Why Old Tech Speaks to Me There’s something deeply nostalgic about early-2000s electronics. They weren’t sleek or invisible like today’s tech — they were bold, interactive, and filled with personality. I’m not alone in feeling this way. Creators like Gab Bois have embraced the Y2K aesthetic by transforming old camcorders into clutches or Nintendo DS consoles into makeup kits. These pieces don’t just sit in storage; they find new life as fashion statements. As Gab Bois puts it, “Tech…