Ralph Lauren Unveils Team USA Olympic Uniforms
NEW YORK — Olympics fever is spreading and Ralph Lauren fanned the flames Tuesday when it took the wraps off the uniforms that will be worn by Team USA next month in Paris.
For the ninth time, the company will dress both the Olympic and Paralympic athletes for both the opening and closing ceremony parades as well as the flag bearers. Ralph Lauren has also created a line of Villagewear that is less formal than the parade uniforms. The uniforms and Villagewear will be available for sale beginning Tuesday on both the Ralph Lauren stores and website as well as at the Team USA Shop. Proceeds from the sale of the products will benefit the team.
More from WWD
“America is one of maybe one or two teams that are not funded by government,” David Lauren, chief branding and innovation officer for Ralph Lauren Corp., told WWD at a preview on Monday. “So the sale of these products helped make it possible for the athletes to compete. We were very committed to picking products that are saleable. So we based the collection on products that we know will be popular and easy to wear.”
Lauren said the money raised by the sale of the merchandise makes it possible for the athletes to travel to the Games, hire trainers and pay for other essentials that allow them to compete at the highest level. “Everything that goes into training is paid for by the partnerships,” he said.
The uniforms this year, which were made in the U.S., draw inspiration from the host city of Paris blended with American patriotism. They feature a palette of red, white and blue with the opening ceremony uniform featuring a classic, tailored single-breasted navy wool blazer with red and white tipping that will be worn over a striped oxford shirt and paired with a tapered jean and classic suede buck shoe. The flagbearer’s blazer for the opening ceremony is a reverse of the uniforms — a white blazer with piping.
“We tried to do a look that felt distinctively American — where the athletes look like ambassadors on a global stage,” Lauren said. “It’s very important that they look comfortable but that there’s also a certain level of formality. So the combination of the jeans and the jacket is at once very American and very Ralph Lauren.”
The closing ceremony uniform is more casual and sporty and features a moto-style jacket with a variety of patches paired with a white denim jean with ribbing on the knee, and a Polo shirt from the brand’s Create Your Own program, built with flat-knot technology to minimize waste from excess fabric. “We had a lot of fun because we wanted something that felt sporty, a little more racy, something that’s clearly memorable,” Lauren said.
The outfits also have to look good on all body types, he added, from wrestlers and basketball players to gymnasts. “They could be 5 foot, 2 [inches] or 6 foot, 8 [inches] — we want something that will work for each athlete,” he added.
The Villagewear collection will include the brand’s first 100 percent recycled cotton polo shirt, which uses NFW Clarus technology. The other pieces in the collection include varsity jackets, Polo shirts, vintage-style rugbys and an American flag sweater, all of which feature graphics, custom prints, colorblocking or classic stripes. They are also made from recycled polyester and USA-grown wool certified under the Responsible Wool Standard program.
Overall, Lauren said: “Our feeling is when an athlete walks into a room, you know it’s an athlete. The American team will keep these forever, it’s part of their history. But we want everybody that goes to the Olympics or even watches it on TV to feel the same spirit.”
In the preview of the collection at Ralph Lauren’s Madison Avenue offices, several Olympic and Paralympic athletes were on hand wearing the merchandise.
Roderick Townsend, a Paralympic track and field athlete, said he was eagerly awaiting the Games. “This is the first time my wife will be able to see me compete,” he said. “And it will be my son’s first international trip. I’m just happy to be supported by Ralph Lauren at this pivotal point in my career.”
Daryl Homer, a fencer who has competed at the last three Olympic Games, said that due to an injury, he’ll be an alternate and coach at this year’s Games. Even though he probably won’t be fencing this time around, he said he’s looking forward to enjoying the Olympic experience without the pressure of competing. “And I’m excited to see the collection come to life,” he said.
Daniela Moroz, who will be on the U.S. sailing team, will be spending the next month training for her competition in Marseilles, France, where the race will take place. “Summering in the south of France isn’t too bad,” she said with a laugh. “We’ll be focusing on delivering the best possible performance and hopefully be in the top slot.”
Moroz said she’s known she would be competing for Team USA since last August, but many other athletes such as swimmers and track and field competitors, are just now racing to find out if they’ll make the team. Jamal Hill, a Paralympic swimmer, said his finals are still to come. But by selecting the teams a short time before the Games begin allows the U.S. to “have the most competitive athletes on the most competitive teams,” he said. “We always rise to the occasion.”
Ralph Lauren’s Team USA Olympic Outfits: A Closer Look at Opening & Closing Ceremony Uniforms [PHOTOS]
Launch Gallery: Ralph Lauren's Team USA Olympic Outfits: A Closer Look at Opening & Closing Ceremony Uniforms [PHOTOS]
Best of WWD
