Tangled Apple EarPods, but make it fashion

Though it seems like most people have fully embraced AirPods, let us not forget our roots, and the fact that all of us were once victims to the wired, messy cable life. These tangled Apple EarPod earrings by artists Aleia Murawski and Samuel Copeland serve as a humbling reminder of from where we came. The statement piece, first put on our radar by XOXO Festival co-founder Andy Baio, sells for $40 on the duo’s merch shop, Beef’s World. The story behind the earrings tells the sweet moment when the artists were inspired by a stranger on the subway listening to music on his tangled headphones.

On the item listing, the duo describes their creation as Chaotic Spiral Headphone Earrings, which is a fair way to describe them. May be a wireless moment, but here’s to embracing the chaotic, tethered spiral of a tangled headphone past — inspired by this guy on the train in front of me who was listening to music with his headphones all knotted up in a loop. It spoke to me, and normally I don’t have the guts, but I tapped him on his shoulder and asked him if I could take his photo and that I wanted to make earrings inspired by this look- He was at first, confused and quiet and I started to regret interrupting him and felt embarrassed. But then him and his friends all burst out laughing and loved the idea.

They offered me a beer and it was one of those rare moments when the world feels small and silly and special. Tangled wire pod earrings, inspired by a cool stranger. ♥️ Edit: was initially making these for fun /personal project but id love to make a pair for you!! Will take a little to make but thank u for ur support and patience ~ linked above <33 A post shared by aleia (@aleia) on Nov 29, 2019 at 1:23pm PST Along with these beautiful chaos earrings, Beef’s World also sells Mini Magic Wand earrings, if you’re into bold fashion statements.

Murawski and Copeland also have a delightful photo and video series in which they chronicle the rich inner lives of snails, which is well worth following on their Instagram. Headphones as earrings is a concept that’s been thoroughly explored in various ways: there are different variations on Etsy, real Bluetooth headphones that also double as earrings, and one guy who even used his gauge piercings as AirPod holders. Personally, I don’t think I can ever give up my wired EarPods for AirPods, because I lose everything I touch. I’m like David Blaine, but the disappearing items are unintentional, and I will never see my possessions again.