Flashy Eco-Fashion Looks Using Recycled CDs

From music and movies to marketing materials, photos, computer data storage and other novelty uses, compact discs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs have infiltrated our lives to such a great degree that they've gone from being the greatest high-tech method of data preservation to a potential household clutter-maker with a sizable eco-footprint. Remember when everyone had videotapes and diskettes coming out of their ears? Well, now round, prismatic CDs have taken over and can often be found rolling out of our shelves and spilling forth from our desks.

Each 1.2 millimeter thick piece of circular polycarbonate plastic - which is synthesized from bisphenol A (BPA), a component that has been suspected of being harmful to human beings since the 1930s - is commonly topped with a very thin layer of reflective aluminum. It's a relief that none of us use our old CDs as crumb-catchers for our edible snacks (or are tempted for any screwy reason to just lick them "clean") because the FDA released a report in January 2010 acknowledging that when we're exposed to BPA via food, there can be very serious health implications to our brain and other organs.

Image of Recycled CD Jewelry Courtesy of Art Dolls, Image of Recycled CD Chair Courtesy of Designer Belen Hermosa

With that being said, there are still several ways to repurpose scratched or unwanted compact discs without endangering our well-being ***as long as we use them in entirely non-food applications.*** Do-it-yourself fashion is a perfect application! Here are some interesting, clever and absolutely creative ways to inject your wardrobe with a little recycled CD pizzazz that will be guaranteed to help you turn more than a few heads when you walk down the street.

FIRST THINGS FIRST...

This Is How To Transform Old CDs Into Fashion-Friendly Bits That Can Be Glued Or Sewn Onto Clothing and Accessories.

Soak your old compact discs in boiling water prior to cutting them so that they are less likely to split or splinter. A good rule of thumb to follow is simply just to hold the edge of each disc with your fingers and dip the rest of it into the hot water for a few minutes before cutting it up into small square pieces with your heavy-duty scissors. There will be various different sized squares, and that's okay - there's no need for perfection here. (Conversely, if you prefer making angular "shards" instead, no one's stopping you! Cut whatever sized and shaped CD pieces float your boat.)

ON THE OTHER HAND...

If you'd just like to cut to the chase and use a CD or two that have already been smashed to bits (ummm, perhaps a casualty of a heated argument or strategically placed car tire?!?), here's a good quick project: adorn a hand-drawn t-shirt design with a foiled look. Fashion Girl suggests lightly sketching an outline of your basic art concept on the front of a tee, filling in the background with Aleene's Fabric Fusion glue and pressing shards of a broken CD into the design (so that it looks like a mosaic pattern). Noooo, it's not going to stay that way permanently. Once everything has dried completely, carefully peel each CD shard off of the design and behold - the mirrored aluminum from the disc will become a part of the t-shirt fabric! Even better, the whole thing will be safe to wash along with your other laundry items.

NOW...Sink Your Teeth Into These Cool Project Ideas!

First Image Courtesy Of ThriftandThread, Second Image Courtesy Of Giuseppe Zanotti, Third Image Courtesy Of Carin Wester

First off, let it be said that you simply must have the soul of a rock star in order to pull this raucous look off (along with a whole lotta patience) since you'll be glueing your little heart out. Make sure you use super-strength glue and wear gloves if you like the idea of keeping your fingerprints in tact. If you think that heels and shoes are the only fashion canvas that recycled CD bits-n-pieces are suitable for, expand your horizons for a moment. Basically, anything that doesn't have to be laundered is fair game, meaning that you could gussy up the front of a notebook with a recycled CD mosaic or glam-up your cell phone, pocket book, desk accessories...you name it.

Project #2: Human Disco Ball-Adorned Jacket, Pants or Heck...Why Not The Whole Kit-n-Kaboodle?!?

Brooklyn resident Jennifer La Mastra (pictured above modeling her dynamic entry in Portland's Junk To Funk Fashion show), created a flashy bra-top and matching empire waisted bell bottom pants studded with hundreds of recycled compact discs cut into varying sizes. If you question how comfortable this ensemble might be in real-world conditions, why not adapt the theme by injecting a little flash onto jacket lapels or denim jean pockets instead? Rather than gluing them on, this would be the right time to make a pin-sized hole in the top of each CD piece you're going to use and then sew them onto your garment with heavy-duty thread or filament. Patience is a virtue and a small price to pay for one-of-a-kind DIY fashion!

First Image Courtesy of Cut Out & Keep, Second Image Courtesy of RoxyGuitarz

Project #3: Create Homemade Jewelry That Will Help You To Sparkle and Shine

If you'd like to create recycled CD jewelry with a bit of character, Cut Out & Keep recommends microwaving an intact compact disc in 5 second increments until it takes on a crazed effect and darkens slightly. Then, you'll need to soften it so that you can cut it into the desired shapes that will be a part of your necklace or earring design.  The best way to do that is to bake the disc in the oven for just a few minutes at 400 degrees or dip it into boiling water for about the same period of time...then cut to your hearts content. Enhance your CD pieces with beads, craft paint, permanent markers, collage bits...just use your imagination and make sure that you tell everyone you DIYed it!