Bonotto creates 400 sqm Italian flag from recycled plastic for Tokyo Olympics

For the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Italian textile manufacturer Bonotto created a 400-square-meter Italian flag from 500 kg of recycled plastic bottles, covering Casa Italia at The Kihinkan – Takanawa Manor House in Minato, Tokyo. The flag, designed in dialogue with the early 20th-century Liberty-style facade, was commissioned by curators Claudia Pignatale, Beatrice Bertini, and Benedetta Acciari for the "Mirabilia Casa Italia" project. Bonotto, founded in 1912 by Luigi Bonotto and now led by creative director Giovanni Bonotto, has been majority-owned by the Zegna group since 2016. Giovanni Bonotto champions the "Fabbrica Lenta" (Slow Factory) concept, which rejects industrial standardization by combining 1956 shuttle looms with Industry 4.0 technology to produce high-quality, artisanal textiles. The company has a deep history with Fluxus artists, supported by the Fondazione Bonotto, which promotes the Luigi Bonotto Collection and contemporary art. Bonotto collaborated with Arthur Huang of Taiwan to develop plastic recycling technology. The flag project reflects Bonotto's commitment to sustainability and craftsmanship, embodying Italian heritage.