Pangaia’s MoMA Pop-Up Pays Tribute to Yoko Ono

“A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.”

It’s a line Yoko Ono wrote in 1964, long before John Lennon quoted it in 1980, and the phrase gained mainstream relevance. But today—60 years later—Pangaia is bringing the notion to life. 

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The materials science company is powering an exclusive pop-up and limited edition capsule collection for the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Design Store in New York City.

Emphasizing the iconic museum shop’s “Good Design” ethos through material innovation, the Pangaia Pop-Up features Yoko Ono for MoMA, an exclusive capsule collection made using the ethical sourcing leader’s material innovation library in honor of the performance artist and in celebration of the 60th anniversary of her “pioneering” conceptual art book, “Grapefruit.”

“Documenting design innovations has long been a part of MoMA Design Store’s mission and introducing our partnership with Pangaia—particularly during Earth Month—is an exciting moment to spotlight how new thinking about materials and manufacturing processes can make a difference on how products impact the environment,” said Chay Costello, associate director of merchandising, MoMA Retail. “Pangaia’s exploration of environmental solutions in the apparel industry is a story we’re eager to share. In addition, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to add a special MoMA element to our collaboration with a capsule of apparel featuring ‘Grapefruit’ instructions.”

Furthermore, Ono and her work share an “innovative synergy” with Pangaia, according to Alex Glaser, MoMA Retail’s senior product manager, as “her vision for a better future aligns with Pangaia’s goals toward creating solutions in the apparel industry through material and manufacturing innovation.”

The limited, special edition collection includes the 365 Midweight T-shirt, 365 midweight hoodie and tote bag with six “Grapefruit” instructions related to nature: “Piece for the Wind” and “Shadow Piece” across T-shirts, “Cloud Piece” and “Earth Piece” on hoodies, and “Voice Piece for Soprano” and “Map Piece” on tote bags.

“We worked closely with Yoko Ono to select colors that reference her specific instructions from ‘Grapefruit,’” Glaser said. “We then coordinated those colors with those Pangaia offers to deliver a palette that not only represented the work but also would be appealing to our customers; ‘Earth Piece,’ for example, is grounded on a foliage green hoodie and ‘Cloud Piece’ is on a celestial blue garment.”

Within the pop-up, consumers will also find corresponding pieces from the Pangaia collection, including 365 midweight hoodies, sweatshirts, track pants, T-shirts and other novelty items in off-white, black, navy, celestial blue, sand, foliage green and Sakura pink colorways.

“Pangaia’s everyday, soft essentials are designed to be worn across the four seasons, 365 days a year,” the collective said to Sourcing Journal. “Each piece is made from 100 percent organic or recycled cotton.”

However, the Wagamama partner is “conscious” that relying on one plant fiber source can lead to over-reliance and promote the practices of monocropping—also known as the act of repeatedly planting a single, more valuable crop without concern for the land’s long-term health.

“Because of this, we are actively working to reduce dependence on conventional cotton,” the B Corp said. “We support the use of organic and regenerative cotton, as well as the development of new fibers utilizing a wide range of plants and agricultural waste.”

The Pangaia Pop-Up at MoMA Design Store and Yoko Ono for MoMA is available to shop in-store and online beginning April 11 through May 21.