Venue: ATELIER MUJI BANGKOK – MUJI Central World 4F

Clothing Basics Natural Materials: The Earth and Organic Cotton

MUJI has continuously created essential products for daily life — clothing, food and shelter — drawing from the wisdom of our predecessors and regional, cultural traditions whilst simultaneously adapting to changing times. Through the development of products that consider the global environment, animal welfare and the people and communities involved in production, we aim to enrich everyday life and contribute to society.

At the heart of MUJI’s philosophy is an approach to craftsmanship that honors plant- and animal-derived materials, harnessing the inherent qualities of natural resources. Since 1999, this has included creating products made with organic cotton. Cotton, for instance, is a fiber that regulates temperature and humidity with ease, withstands repeated washing, dries quickly and remains durable. It is a familiar material with ideal properties, offering comfort throughout the year.

But what exactly is the organic cotton behind a single T-shirt that we wear?
Where, and under what conditions, is it grown?
Most of us know little about the land that nurtures these fibers or the people who cultivate them.

This exhibition explores MUJI’s commitment to making, focusing on organic cotton fields in Ahmedabad, India. Through this lens, it reveals how even the simplest T-shirt we wear every day is deeply connected to the global environment, the livelihoods of its producers and the stories interwoven within that background. By understanding how each garment we hold in our hands is linked to the environment and to society, and by rethinking our own relationship to these materials, we hope to spark awareness of a more sustainable future. One in which people, nature and objects coexist in harmony and where happiness can be shared by all.

ATELIER MUJI

MUJI IS – Behind the ‘Wa-Ke’

MUJI started in 1980 as a private brand of the Japanese supermarket SEIYU, with 40 items. Today, it offers a wide range of products in the fields of clothing, household goods, and food, continuing to expand its presence both locally and globally, contributing to communities and societies. The fundamental philosophy of MUJI consists of three principles: “selection of materials,” “inspection of processes,” and “simplification of packaging.” These principles are communicated in the ‘wa-ke (reason/essence)’ which are embedded in the taglines of each product, spreading universality.
In this exhibition, we showcase representative products from the thousands offered by MUJI. We hope to convey MUJI’s philosophy, stance, and passion for craftsmanship, rooted in the fundamental ‘wa-ke (reason/essence)’ that guide us towards a pleasant future, beyond the context of the past 40 years.

*The production of words displayed here and used throughout MUJI owes much to the late copywriter Miyuki Tokunaga, who passed away in 2023. Since 2001, she supervised the Copywriting Workshop within Ryohin Keikaku (MUJI’s parent company), training and nurturing a culture of succinctly conveying perspectives and innovations in product development. She dedicated herself to an immense volume of work for countless products, contributing greatly to the words emanating from MUJI. We express our deepest respect and gratitude for her work with profound condolences here.
Rooting these “product notes” firmly in MUJI’s origins, and creating their narratives: to continue building her legacy, we sincerely hope to share her affectionate thoughts with many people visiting this exhibition.