This summer, sport meets style as the fashion capital of the world hosts the Olympic Games.
Olympic fashion history has long been in existence, with labels such as Issey Miyake, Ralph Lauren and Dior previously stepping forward to design the uniform of a National Olympic Committee.
And Paris 2024 is no different. As 206 National Olympic Committees and one IOC Refugee Olympic Team prepare to step out at the Opening Ceremony on Friday (26 July), we take a look at some of the standout Olympic uniforms.
Team Mongolia: Michel & Amazonka
Sisters Michel, Amazonka and Munkhjargal Choigaalaa are the brains behind the Mongolian couture label (aptly named Michel & Amazonka) that designed Team Mongolia’s striking uniform collection for Paris 2024.
The uniforms were completed in just three months and feature a plethora of embroideries with significant meanings: birds for freedom, mountains as a nod to the nation’s landscapes and hard work, gold and silver accents for a touch of elegance and the Mongolian national colours of blue, red and white to signal their pride and identity.
Team Canada: Lululemon
Vancouver-born brand Lululemon has put innovation at the forefront to help create "one of the most inclusive and adaptable collections yet." From performance fabrics to avant-garde construction, the athletic apparel have designed a collection that helps solve athletes' holistic needs whilst keeping them stylish with bespoke Canadian prints in the process.
Team Haiti: Stella Jean
Italian fashion designer Stella Jean has led the design of Team Haiti’s Paris 2024 collection. Paying homage to her native Haitian roots, she has collaborated with Haitian artist Philippe Dodard by incorporating his artwork into the uniforms. For the female athletes, a full skirt is paired with a chambray shirt woven in Haiti whilst the males will sport a field jacket inspired by the Guayabera, a classic Haitian shirt.
Team USA: Ralph Lauren
A 14-piece custom collection from Ralph Lauren will grace LeBron James, Simone Biles and the rest of Team USA as they step out at Paris 2024. A preppy blue wool blazer takes centre stage for the Opening Ceremony, whereas a more relaxed, race-car style white jacket will come out for the Closing Ceremony. This year’s collection has drawn "inspiration from the dynamic and vibrant host city" whilst also including a patriotic nod to the States’ signature red, white and blue.
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Team France: Berluti
To embody true elegance à la française. That was the goal of French brand Berluti when kitting out the host nation. Athletes from Team France were consulted during the design process, as were the French Olympic and Paralympic committees. The modern tuxedo features a contemporary colour blend of the French flag, designed to invoke pride within their athletes as they set out to achieve greatness on home soil.
Team Czechia: Alpine Pro
Alpine Pro’s inspiration for Team Czechia’s Olympic uniform comes from 100 years ago at Paris 1924. This year’s collection comes in a multitude of colours — from black bags and jackets to white hoodies, blue tracksuits and red trainers. Why? Alpine Pro explain that back in 1924 some athletes wore white with the national flag, some wore black and some ditched the suits for a more comfortable tracksuit, which is why the aim for this year’s collection was to combine functionality with design and national colour.
Team Chinese Taipei: Justin Chou
Justin Chou called on a team of artists from Chinese Tapei to help bring his ideas to life, tapping into the culture of the team he was tasked with representing. With one of the coldest looks of the opening ceremony, the uniforms will sport hand-crafted flowers to make sure these athletes stand out among the rest. The fit cointains 'the spirit of culture, art, craftsmanship, and sustainability'.
Team Egypt: Concrete
The Egyptian menswear brand Concrete has gone for a classically chic approach, leaning on Italian art director Ettore Veronese for influence. Made from premium Egyptian cotton, the monochrome collection features nods to the Egyptian flag and colours as a symbol of pride, passion and determination to win.
Team Republic of Korea: Musinsa Standard
Republic of Korea takes sophistication to a whole new level with a clean, lightweight belted suit setup from Musinsa Standard. According to the designer, "the design incorporates a subdued shade of byeokcheong colour," which symbolises the East, reflecting youthful vigour and progressive spirit.
Team Türkiye: Vakko
Luxury Turkish brand Vakko has paired the nation’s unmissable deep red with sky blue, the colour of peace, to create a stylish collection of travel and ceremony kits for Team Türkiye. Paris 2024 marks 100 years since Türkiye's first Olympic Games as a republic, which is reflected in the energy and dynamism of Vakko’s tricolour collections.
Team Sierra Leone: adidas x Labrum
British African heritage brand Labrum was founded by Sierra Leonean Foday Dumbuya. The brand recently put their name to English Premier League football team Arsenal’s viral strip, but not before unveiling the Paris 2024 kit for Team Sierra Leone. Iconography that speaks to the nation’s heritage is paired with a vibrant blue and white design for a modern take that pays homage to its history.
Team Republic of Ireland: Laura Webber
New York-based designer Laura Webber was called on to create the opening ceremony outfits for her homeland three years ago, designing something that will not only make the Irish athletes stand out but will allow them to wear something close to their hearts. Webber has done this, under her brand LW Pearl, by embroidering the county of which each athlete is from, making it a completely unique and personable approach to the design. Irish designed, made, and worn.
Team Netherlands: Denham The Jeanmaker
They may be nicknamed The Oranje, but the Dutch will be rocking a slick colour palette at the Opening Ceremony consisting largely of whites and navy blue courtesy of Amsterdam-based brand Denham the Jeanmaker. Playing into the theme of 'United in Excellence', the collection is all about attention to detail, something that is a 'marker' of each athlete's journey. For the flagbearers, however, it is all about the bold orange, decked head to toe in a slick tracksuit.
Team Great Britain: Ben Sherman
British brand Ben Sherman has taken on the role of kitting out the Team GB athletes for the third consecutive year. The bold design combines bomber jackets with patterned shirts while paying homage to each of the four nations who combined to complete the team through flowers. For Britain, there is a rose, a thistle for Scotland, a daffodil for Wales and, of course, a shamrock for Northern Ireland.
Team Phillipines: Francis Libiran
Francis Libiran's design hinges on a bold, removable sling that is the real centre piece of the outfit. The "SINAG" barong is crafted from piña-jusi fabric, embroidered with sun ways and warrior patterns to symbolise bravery and national pride.
Team Australia: Sportscraft
Worn by hundreds of Aussies, fits designed by Sportscraft will take centre stage at the respective Opening and Closing Ceremonies featuring the national colours of gold and green. Designed to represent Australia's beaches, crops and forests, the standout comes in the form of a scarf. The fabric features Indigenous artwork by Olympic boxer Paul Fleming; while each blazer is lined with the names of the nation's Olympic champions.
