The analysis of technological waste as an alternative wearable art material

Industrial revolutions have been the consequences of technological advances and led to significant conveniences in daily lives. However, these developments introduced the problem of technological waste, which led to environmental pollution. Fashion, which developed after the first industrial revolution, was a response to individuals' desire to acquire the new, and the excessive production and consumption increased in all walks of life. However, excessive production and consumption and technological advances, and the natural result, waste became a significant problem in the 21st century. Several studies have been conducted on outdated material, manufacturing and technological waste. It was observed that certain artists and philosophers employed waste material in their works. It is known that artists and designers who create wearable art resort to such material. Historically, the wearable art movement has been transformed and is still alive. In the field of wearable art, artists created works under the influence of several cultural, sociological, psychological and political phenomena. It is known that environmental movements that drew attention to industrial waste also affected wearable art. Artists employed beads, paper, plastic, scrap pieces, etc. in their works. The employment of these materials has raised interest in waste that is harmful for the planet and ecology for a long time. Thus, it could be suggested that the present study, where the significance of technological waste as an alternative material in wearable art was investigated, is different from previous studies on wearable art. The aim of the current thesis is to raise awareness about the liberal consumption of technological products, the chemical substances that leads to destruction of the nature, the waste of energy and water due to the rapid technological advances, consumption frenzy and fast fashion, which are considered as significant contemporary issues, in addition to the diversity of waste material available for wearable art. The literature review conducted on the YÖK Database revealed that theses have been conducted on wearable art; however, the conversion of technological waste into wearable artworks has not been addressed. The present thesis is significant since it includes a comprehensive discussion on the industrial revolutions, indicates environmental pollution and technological waste, and developed recommendations based on cables in wearable art. The research conducted based on the topic of the thesis revealed experiences on the transformation of technological waste into wearable artworks and textile techniques were employed in these experiences. The study aimed to scientifically and artistically contribute to the ever-changing field of wearable art and raise awareness about environmental pollution caused by the industrial revolutions using cables as alternative material. Keywords: Industrial Revolutions, Wearable art, Technological Waste, Steampunk, Futuristic Fashion