Athletes and the countries they represent not only demonstrate the very best of human spirit and capacity, but they also use Olympic uniforms to express their national identity and pride. Nonetheless, creators and advertisers have managed to transform uniforms into fashion. Outfitting the national team became an opportunity for designers to not only establish an honor for themselves but also to create a national image for their country. While the use of flags and national colors is a significant design aspect of every Olympic uniform, Olympic fashion has evolved into its own recognizable style over time.
Team Mongolia
The Mongolian couture house Michel & Amazonka, founded by sisters Michel, Amazonka, and Munkhjargal Choigaalaa, created Team Mongolia's eye-catching uniform collection for Paris 2024. The uniforms were completed in just three months and feature a plethora of embroidery with significant meanings: birds for freedom, mountains as a nod to the country's landscapes and hard work, gold and silver accents for a touch of elegance, and the Mongolian national colors of blue, red, and white to signal pride and identity.
Team Haiti
Stella Jean, an Italian fashion designer, led the design of Team Haiti's Paris 2024 collection. To honor her Haitian background, she teamed up with Haitian artist Philippe Dodard, including his artwork on the outfits. According to a statement from the fashion brand, the partnership gives Jean the chance to highlight her home nation's handmade craftsmanship and cultural richness, which have lately been overshadowed by the nation's extreme instability, crime, tragic natural disasters, and the effects of the "double debt." Female competitors wear a long skirt with a chambray shirt woven in Haiti, while male athletes wear a field jacket inspired by the Guayabera, a classic Haitian shirt.
Team Chinese Taipei
Justin Chou engaged the backing of a team of artists from Chinese Taipei to bring his ideas to life, drawing on the culture of the team he was entrusted with representing. With one of the coldest looks of the opening ceremony, the uniforms will feature hand-crafted flowers to set these athletes apart. The fit embodies 'the spirit of culture, art, craftsmanship, and sustainability'. By seamlessly combining elements of sports, culture, performance fabrics, and heritage crafts such as using 3-dimensional jacquard fabrics, innovative technologies to create woven labels from wood pulp and oyster shell, and incorporating the traditional craft of Chunzai flowers into the Olympic entrance uniforms to emphasize base strength.
Team USA
Ralph Lauren released a 14-piece personalized collection. The Opening Ceremony is dominated by a preppy blue wool blazer, whereas the Closing Ceremony features a more relaxed, race-car-style white jacket. This year's collection was inspired by the "dynamic and vibrant host city," but also included a patriotic homage to the United States' iconic red, white, and blue. Nike is also an official outfitter of Team USA and will provide gear and footwear for the US Olympic team.
Team France
Ashpool intended to "break the flag" with a more abstract interpretation of the classic blue, white, and red blocks. There are no lines; instead, gradient hues blend with one another, creating a hazy, ethereal look. The end effect is a lighter blue on an iridescent cloth that transitions through gauzy shades of pink before landing on a medium red. He introduced the logo last year, and it is currently emblazoned on the uniforms for 32 sports, as well as uniforms for medal ceremonies, training, and athletes' personal downtime.
Team Czech Republic
Czech athletes will wear national colors at the opening ceremony, including a unique design by Jan Černý. The most noticeable piece in this collection is a garment that blends a Czech raincoat and a French trench coat, forming a symbolic link between the Czech Republic and France. In the past, the Czech Republic has displayed rubber boots, indigo patterns, traditional costumes, models wearing a deconstructed Czech flag, and collections inspired by Alfons Mucha. Lasvit's glass amulet will complement the ceremonial collection.
Team Nigeria
Nigeria's national team engaged this Los Angeles-based label to design their clothes for the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as casualwear for the delegation in the Olympic Village and track and field uniforms. Expect the Nigerian contingent's 20-plus competitors to wear costumes that pay homage to the country's rich textile legacy, with traditional Nigerian prints in the flag's black, green, and white palette used to great effect.
Team Sierra Leone
Adidas' Sierra Leone outfit was created in partnership with the London-based label Labrum. The windbreakers have a dazzling white and cobalt blue design inspired by cowrie shells, which have historically represented wealth and prestige in African culture. Since then, the symbol has become an emblem of strength and resilience, and each piece of the collection embodies a strong sense of heritage and pride while also paying attention to stories of endurance, strength, and determination.
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