The Outfits of the 2024 Olympics
There are Met Gala’s everywhere for the eyes to see.
For a fortnight every four years, I become very invested in artistic gymnastics. In other words, it’s Olympics season! This year, the best athletes from around the world have congregated in Paris for two weeks of intense competition, taxing both physically and emotionally. But before the feats of human kinesthetics were accomplished, and the hardware awarded, this celebration of international athletic excellence began as it always did: With a fashion presentation.
Some may call it an “opening ceremony”, but when designers create one-of-a-kind garments that follow a certain theme, to be showcased for live spectators? Add in people, all around the world, watching on television and giving unsolicited critique (ha, ha)? That’s a presentation. Multiply that by two hundred and six, and you’ve got yourself a mini fashion week.
There are a few unspoken rules when it comes to Olympic uniform design. Patriotic allusions, usually in the form of flag colours or national symbols, is chief among them. Someone will try athleisure (I’m looking at you, Canada and Italy). Others will do unadulterated, fully traditional cultural garb; see Austria’s lederhosen, courtesy of Erima. Street style is always an option, as Mexico and Brazil reminded us. And it goes without saying that the United States of America will show up looking, well, American. Could we expect any different from the architect of Americana, and official clothier of the US Olympic team, Ralph Lauren? Red, white, and blue, a smart casual blazer, some U-S-A emblazoned on an article of clothing; and this year, racing jackets!
But as cool as the American concept was, many other countries came to Paris to play—in more ways than one. The looks they presented weren’t beautiful ‘for Olympic uniforms’; these designs were simply, beautiful.
source: Michel&Amazonka
Mongolia
Everyone from Timbuktu to here has seen Mongolia’s uniform, which dominated the Olympic news cycle for a good week leading up to the actual games. Homegrown designers, Michel&Amazonka, created four outfits for the opening and closing ceremonies, including a chic take on the traditional Mongolian caftan that perfectly represents the country’s culture and the spirit of the Olympics. Opulent and intricate, it is embroidered with golden motifs alluding to Mongolia and the Olympic games: the national symbol of the ‘Soyombo’, and landscapes of mountains and clouds, interspersed with Olympic rings and torches. Over these uniforms, athletes wore vests emblazoned with the phrase ‘Go Mongolia Team’.
source: JUST IN XX
Chinese Taipei
In following with the habit of Asian excellence, Chinese Taipei also dressed to impress. Justin Chou, founder of JUST IN XX, created a suit that pays homage to Taiwan’s natural and urban worlds. Made from a stretchy, textured fabric that cools down the body, the double-breasted suit is both functional and aesthetically beautiful. Underneath it is a shirt and scarf printed with a red, white, and blue crosshatch by Chinese abstract artist Lin Guo-qing, composed of the words ‘Chinese-Taipei’ and ‘加油’, or ‘come on’. Along the lapel is a bundle of handmade flowers by Lin Pei-ying comprising the plum blossom, Taiwan’s national flower, and rapeseed flowers. The special touches went from head to toe; Yen Yu-ying created shoes with tongues of banana silk leather.
source: Sportscraft
Australia
Sportscraft supplied the Green and Gold with an appropriately green and gold uniform made of breathable fabrics like cotton and linen. Male delegates wore khaki shorts while female delegates donned beautifully pleated midi skirts coloured with an ombre of the Australian national colours. All athletes wore green blazers that concealed a special touch: embroidered along the inside of each coat was the names of all 301 of Australia’s Olympic athletes.
source: Stella Jean
Haiti
Haitian-Italian designer Stella Jean crafted exquisite, culturally sensitive uniforms for the Haitian Olympic delegation. Subversive in both design and ethos, Jean designed these outfits to challenge the public’s perception of Haiti as a troubled, war-torn nation, all while marrying high fashion with sport. To accessorize the look, a pair of white lace-up boots and one helix and lip piercing as nods to the Tainos Indians and their tradition of wearing jewelry on different body parts.
Athletes were kitted with chambray button down shirts woven from a special ‘blue cotton’ native to Haiti. Referencing the Haitians’ braveness in the face of adversity, Jean incorporates artist Philippe Dodard’s “Passage” into the bottoms worn by both the male and female athletes. Vibrant skirts and pants in red and blue paired seamlessly with light blue tops, the entire uniform both a show of national pride and a cultural statement. To round out the outfit, the men wore field jackets inspired by the Guayabera, a summer shirt favoured by Haitian men (and a personal favourite of Jean’s grandfather). The women, on the other hand, wore sleeveless white blazers that hearken back to the Dior Bar Jacket; Jean’s way of poking at the dress codes the French once forced upon the Haitians—and in France, no less.
source: Rising Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines, who is steadily accruing a meatier delegation of athletes with every successive Olympic competition, embraced their growing status as a true international competitor by showcasing the best that local couture has to offer. Filipino designer Francis Libiran sent athletes over in proudly Pinoy attire: a traditional Sinag barong whose lapels bear patterns inspired by the indigenous people of Visayas, embellished with a sling resembling the Filipino flag—sunrays and colours included. An understated, yet indisputably elegant uniform befitting of the occasion.
source: @leaguefits
South Sudan
Moses Turahirwa of MOSHIONS dressed the South Sudan men’s basketball team in sleek double-breasted blazers with golden buttons and vibrant details featuring the colours of the South Sudanese flag. This subtly regal look was a celebration of South Sudan’s foray into Olympics Basketball; a triumph for the world’s youngest country and its basketball hero, Luol Deng, who poured his money and effort into developing the sporting future of his beloved homeland. Just like Deng’s all-star NBA career, the uniform turned heads— Lebron James himself praised Turahirwa’s designs for being, in his words, “clean af”.
source: Go Team Liberia
Liberia
In its sophomore Olympics appearance, TELFAR once again dressed the Liberian team. A proud child of Liberians, Telfar Clemens paid tribute to the African continent in the most uncanny—yet most TEFLAR—way. Long black gowns, worn by both the male and female athletes, featured right sleeves made of mesh and a collar that may look askew, but purposefully so; because it is shaped like the African continent. ‘Liberia’ was boldly emblazoned down the left side of the unisex garment.
In addition to the athletes’ uniforms, Clemens also designed official performance wear-style merch, which is up for sale on the TELFAR website.
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