Let the Fashion Olympics Commence!
the world's largest runway
And just like that it’s four years later. Over 206 countries come together to unveil their 10,500 athletes who compete on the world stage, dressed in looks representing their homeland’s history and heritage. The opening ceremony is not only a parade of athletic dexterity but a celebration of national identity. The crafted outfits these athletes wear during their time in the spotlight are a visual telling of a story of pride, spirit, and culture.
United States
More than 594 total athletes from Team USA will grace the stage at Paris 2024 wearing a 14-piece custom collection from Ralph Lauren, taking center stage in preppy blue blazers for the Opening Ceremony to race-car relaxed style of white jacket uniforms for the Closing Ceremony. The inspiration for this year’s collection was drawn from “the dynamic and vibrant host city" while also fusing the patriotic signature red, white, and blue.
France
Creating over 1,500 outfits using 26,000 feet of fabric with stitching stretching 60 miles (length of two marathons for reference!) for Team France, French brand Berluti had consulted with panels of athletes who participated in ceremonies from Barcelona 1992 to Tokyo 2020 of blending elegance and comfort for the ceremony on their home turf. Adorn in a midnight blue cold wool and lycra tuxedo with a lapel symbolizing the French flag. It is tucked with a matching pocket-handkerchief and a white cotton and silk shirt from Berluti’s collection.
Mongolia
Completed in only three months, Mongolian couture label Michel & Amazonka, led by two sisters, designed the buzz-worthy Team Mongolia uniforms for Paris 2024. Blending Mongolian tradition and modernism with inspiration from Naadam (Mongolian Naadam Festival), draped in red, blue, and white fabrics with a surplus of intricate gold and silver embroidery nodding to the nation’s landscape. Accessorized by pouch and sash bags, pointed Buryat hats, and gutal boots, the sister duo made 120 sets of uniforms ranging 20 hours per uniform for both the Olympics and Paralympics.
Taiwan
Embracing the spirit of Taiwanese style, designer Justin Chou creates a balance of sustainability in the meeting style of Team Taiwan’s uniforms. Utilizing “carbon capture” technology, transforming recycled factory CO2 into low-carbon synthetic fibers, in their suit jackets while also incorporating cool and germanium fiber technology to help combat the summer heat in their shirts. Adding vibrance to the tailored suit, Abstract art by artist Paul Chiang was featured on the jackets with a finishing touch of a handmade plum blossom paired with a rapeseed flower by Lin Pei-ying to symbolize encouragement.
Canada
Giving a fun nod to history and biodiversity, Team Canada will once again be wearing Vancouver-based brand Lululemon at the games. To celebrate the diversity of Canada, printed on the opening ceremony red bomber jackets and shorts is a one-of-a-kind prints that interpret the nature, art, architecture, and provincial flowers throughout the country. Lululemon also commented on the design approach being that it is “designed to support more bodies and more abilities,” and the unique components like sensory touch guides, braille love notes, pull-on hoops, and magnetic-close zippers.
Nigeria
Tapping into the African culture and history, Actively Black, founded by former professional basketball player Lanny Smith, and Amen, a Portland-based design studio, produced the outfits for this year’s games in striving to create a balance of modernity and tradition. A classic block print in white and green of the Nigerian flag making up the track pants with aligned piping down the legs for the men’s wear which is inspired by the traditional Nigerian senator suit that is popular with politicians. Styled with the classic buba dress with coordinating traditional headgear — gele and fila hats — the women will be sporting during the opening ceremony.
Haiti
Symbolizing “rebirth and renewal,” Haitian-Italian fashion designer Stella Jean is leading the design of the 7 athletes making up Team Haiti’s collection. Jean tying in Haitian painter Philippe Dodard’s artwork “Passage” is incorporated in the uniforms. For the women, a full skirt styled with a chambray skirt woven in Haiti from the country’s tradition of spinning the “blue collar." At the same time, the men are dressed in a field jacket inspired by Guayabera, the signature Haitian shirt worn by locals and a nod to Jean’s grandfather, paired with pants featuring Dobard’s art print.
Spain
Sporting the red and yellow of the Spanish, Team Spain’s 382 athletes will be wearing designs from Joma Sport for the Opening and Closing Ceremony. The men and women will be wearing vibrant red track suits with yellow and white gradient on the vest of the jacket.
Brazil
Competing in 39 sports with 277 athletes, Team Brazil will step out in designs by the largest fast-fashion retailer Riachuelo. The uniforms include the Brazilian flag shades of yellow, blue, and green incorporated in a striped shirt with an embroidered jacket with design elements of fauna and flora referencing Brazilian biodiversity and flip-flops to complete the look. Since the official release of the ceremonial look, it has caused some debate in South America due to its casual appearance prompting prominent celebrities such as Anitta to comment via Instagram, “I think the look represents exactly how athletes are treated in the country. No structure, no opportunities, undervalued.” The buzz surrounding the collection prompted the president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, Paulo Wanderly, to address the critics, “It’s not a fashion week in Paris, it’s the Olympics in Paris”
Czech Republic
“The main drive for me was to create something for Paris, and for the whole world, to see how to be relevant as a small country,” says Czech designer of label JAN SOCIÉTÉ Jan Černý. Partnering with long-standing Olympics partner Czech sportswear brand Alpine Pro, the athletes will be wearing white coats printed in blue along with blue pants and red gradient top inspired by the Paris 1924 Olympics when athletes wore white with the national flag, some wore black and some ditched the suits for a more comfortable tracksuit, which is why for this year they aim to combine functionality with design and national colors.
Great Britain
For the third consecutive Olympic Games, British brand Ben Sherman will be Team GB’s exclusive designer for the Opening and Closing Ceremony. This year’s collection is inspired to “promote unity and express a sense of pride,” stepping into the games the athletes will be wearing a bomber-style jacket embroidered with four-nation flowers: shamrock, rose, daffodil and thistle paired with an open-neck knitted organic cotton polo with a classic red and blue geometric motif, and oxford trousers with the waistband tying in the Union Flag.
Closing the games, athletes will showcase the floral four-nations motif print styled with blue oxford shorts. “… it’s brilliant to see them brought to life with a bright, fresh range that celebrates tradition whilst also being contemporary and fun,” commercial director of Team GB, Tim Ellerton stated.
Jamaica
“They are more than just a kit – they are a statement of the collective ambition shared between PUMA and Jamaica. They are a symbol of pride for the PUMA family, and we hope that they become a symbol of pride for Jamaicans this summer and long into the future,” said Maria Valdes, Chief Product Officer at PUMA, Team Jamaica’s designer for the games. Athletes will be wearing vibrant yellow, green, and black representing the country’s flag and spirit.
Sierra Leone
Honoring the rich history in blue and white, Team Sierra Leone’s collection was created by Adidas teamed up with London-based label LABRUN from Sierra Leonean Foday Dumbuya. The design features iconography of the vibrant blue and white design adorned on a reimagined cowrie shell, the same style of shell was once a symbol of prestige and wealth in African history, paired with the bold white typeface of Adidas sitting proudly against the bold backdrop of the fabric.
Türkiye
Marking 100 years since it’s first Olympics as a republic, Team Türkiye is designed by Türkiye’s head fashion house Vakko for the Opening Ceremony looks. Designed to reflect strength and energy, male athletes will be sporting a red and white striped jacket while the female athletes have a varied to choose from with options: preppy style white and blue striped suit jacket or a cropped white, red, and light blue striped cardigan to pair with adjustable pants or above-the-knee pleated skirts.
Don’t be shy! Let us know your thoughts and enjoy the Paris 2024 Olympics.
love this ! i wrote about this too but more from a lens of how im incorporating the vibes into my everyday, i’ll link here:
This is such a great overview- I never thought about how fashion is incorporated into the Olympics but it totally makes sense. My personal favorites are Mongolia but also Canada's is super cool and would wear those looks.