#Japan #Tokyo #Avanti #Cotton Bank #T-Shirt Art

Avanti and the 37th T-Shirt Art Exhibition

Avanti Co., Ltd., based in Shinjuku, Tokyo and led by President Hideko Okumori, is proudly sponsoring the 37th T-Shirt Art Exhibition to be held from May 1 to May 6, 2025, at the Sand Beach Museum located in Kochi Prefecture, Kurushio Town. Avanti will be responsible for producing the T-shirts that will be displayed at this unique event, while also unveiling its Cotton Bank initiative focused on nurturing domestic cotton production.

This year marks the 37th installment of the T-Shirt Art Exhibition, a groundbreaking event that challenges the notion that art belongs solely indoors. It takes place across an entire sandy beach, transforming it into an open-air art gallery. The exhibition will feature a stunning total of 947 T-shirts, each adorned with works created by artists from all over the country, fluttering dramatically against the backdrop of the sea. Visitors can engage with an ever-changing landscape of art, where T-shirt artists, attendees, and nature collide, offering an immersive experience as the scenery evolves over time.

The T-shirts on display are crafted from 100% organic cotton, reflecting Avanti's commitment to sustainable fashion. This partnership with the Sand Beach Museum dates back 26 years and embodies Avanti's ethical approach towards the fashion industry's environmental impact. In recent years, they have shifted to using organic cotton for the T-shirts displayed at the exhibition, aligning with their philosophy that the responsibility for creating products extends beyond just making them. Today, Avanti works closely with the museum as part of the Avanti Cotton Club, dedicated to advancing the cultivation of domestic cotton.

Sustainable Practices After the Exhibition

After the exhibition concludes, the T-shirts will return to their creators, promoting a cycle of sustainability. The Sand Beach Museum actively collects worn T-shirts for recycling through their partnership with PRISTINE's Re-COTTON Project. This initiative allows collected T-shirts to be transformed into raw materials through a cotton recycling process. To facilitate this, T-shirts are sent to the welfare workshop in Gunma Prefecture, Arisanchi, where they are prepared for recycling by removing tags and shredding them into smaller pieces.

Introducing CoTToN BANK

The Sand Beach Museum is also collaborating with Avanti on their initiative, CoTToN BANK, which fosters domestic cotton cultivation. Visitors to the art exhibition will receive organic cotton seeds along with guidelines on how to cultivate them. Participants can earn stamps in their account passbook by bringing harvested cotton (20g) or 500g of collected clothing to the museum. More information can be found on their website.

Event Details: 37th T-Shirt Art Exhibition

• - Date: May 1 (Thu) - May 6 (Tue), 2025, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• - Location: Sand Beach Museum, Inno no Hama, Kurushio-cho, Kochi Prefecture
• - Management: NPO Sand Beach Museum
• - More Info: Sand Beach Museum Official Site

About the Sand Beach Museum

The Sand Beach Museum operates as an outdoor art gallery without walls, inviting visitors to imagine a museum spanning 4 kilometers of beach. The sky overhead serves as the ceiling, with crystal-clear air framing a picturesque scene of the ocean, coastal pine forests, and verdant mountains. This unique venue encourages visitors to discover art in their own way, revealing a diverse collection that changes with the seasons and the passage of time.

About Avanti

Founded in 1985, Avanti debuted its self-branded line, PRISTINE, in 1996 with the ethos: “For a comfortable daily life, without overdoing it, yet without cutting corners.” Avanti designs and develops organic cotton products in-house, ensuring they are produced sustainably in Japan. Using organic cotton and biodegradable natural materials, Avanti emphasizes ethical manufacturing practices while preserving traditional craftsmanship. They have also earned CARE certification, recognizing their commitment to human rights and environmental sustainability.
Visit Avanti Official Site for more information.