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Few people are more synonymous with American fashion than Ralph Lauren, whose eponymous logo is once again the official supplier of the U. S. team for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. During the opening and final ceremonies and in and around the Olympic Village in Paris, the U. S. delegation will be head to toe in Ralph. That means everyone from flag bearer LeBron James to triumphant repatriate Simone Biles, two megawatt athletes of far other dimensions.
The outfit for the opening rite is a dark blue jacket with red and white piping on the lapel, worn with a striped Oxford shirt, blue jeans, and a military blue tie. It’s a very vintage version of an Olympic uniform and Ralph’s vintage look. The threads of the final rite are a little more ambitious: On August 11, Americans will say goodbye to Paris in white jeans and a white biker-style jacket studded with the American team insignia, the Olympic rings and, yes, the iconic man. . Assemble a horse logo. David Lauren, the company’s logo director (and Ralph’s son), explained that making uniforms that are universal and unique is not a challenge.
Seven-time gold medalist Katie Ledecky shows her form for the opening ceremony. Photo courtesy of Ralph Lauren
“You have all those other types of structures, you have all those other styles, you have all those other personalities,” he said. “You have to find a uniform for the opening and final [ceremony], and they have other moods and expressions. And then in the middle, there’s a lot more play. I would say that with the village team you have the maximum flexibility to go from anything vintage or classic to something much more elegant and fun.
The jacket makes a lot of sense given the pageantry of an Olympic ceremony, but this concept doesn’t just come from the company’s headquarters. They have been in the Olympic clothing category since 2008 and that time they have earned a lot of comments from the athletes themselves. “They introduced us to the athletes a lot,” Lauren said. “There’s a wonderful photo of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James tying their ties. These guys love dressing up. They love the jacket. They reinforced themselves with the American team: “We love this kind of look. Don’t put sweatshirts on us. We need to dress for the Olympics. “It’s a special moment. “
While well-paid basketball players would likely feel a little more comfortable in formal attire, Lauren also noted that many Olympic athletes are dipping their toes into this water for the first time. And when they are offered to the world for the first time, they don’t need to. “A lot of young athletes have told us that this is their first jacket, that it’s the first time they’ve worn a tie,” Lauren explained. “And it’s not just an opening ceremony. They are very proud to continue wearing this jacket for the rest of their lives. It’s a piece of history that they carry.
As the world looks toward the world’s largest sporting stage, it will see clothing made in the United States and has noticed much of the American frontier. The wool used for the Opening Ceremony jacket, for example, has quite the resume. ” “We’re starting to source from Nevada, Colorado and Oregon,” Lauren said. From there, it crosses the country. We knit the wool in North Carolina. North, then it goes to South Carolina, then to Connecticut, and yet it lands in Long Island City before it’s finished. So it made it to five or six states across the United States.
Competing in the games is undoubtedly the honor of a lifetime for many participants, but the magnitude of the moment was not lost on fashion designers either. Lauren recognizes how special this project is, and like the rest of us, she can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.
Skateboarder Jagger Eaton in his closing ceremony uniform. Photo courtesy of Ralph Lauren
“In a global world full of ups and downs and challenges, we want the Olympics,” he said. “The Olympic Games are about peace, sportsmanship, leadership, togetherness and competition. Whether the winners wear the uniform’ podium or watch it on the couch at home, it’s an incredibly unifying and inspiring moment that we’re proud to celebrate with them.
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