The Paris 2024 Olympics have captivated the world, not only with thrilling athletic performances but also with the glamorous entrances of each country. The cultural outfits of the athletes played a significant role in the allure of the introductions, showcasing creativity and national pride.
The Americas
In North America, Canada shined in bright red collections by Lululemon, designed to meet athletes’ holistic needs while keeping them stylish.
Team USA followed with black blazers, red touches and blue jeans by Ralph Lauren, symbolizing the patriotic colors of red, white and blue.
Haiti, however, chose a unique path. Designer Stella Jean, in collaboration with Haitian artist Philippe Dodard, incorporated his artwork into the uniforms. Female athletes wore full skirts paired with chambray shirts woven in Haiti, while males donned pastel blue field jackets inspired by the Guayabera, a classic Haitian shirt.
Oceania and Asia
Following the trend of creativity, the Philippines and Australia also emphasized artistic choices. Francis Libiran designed a bold, removable sling as the centerpiece of the outfit for the Philippines. The “SINAG” barong, crafted from pina-jusi fabric, emphasized the red and blue colors of the country’s flag, symbolizing bravery and national pride.
Australia’s Sportscraft fit, representing the nation’s beaches, crops, and forests, featured a scarf in gold and green and Indigenous artwork by Olympic boxer Paul Fleming. Each blazer was lined with the names of the nation’s Olympic winners.
In Asia, Mongolia stood out with detailed designs by sisters Michel, Amazonka and Munkhjargal Choigaala, featuring embroideries with significant meanings: birds for freedom, mountains for the nation’s landscape and hard work as well as gold and silver accents for sophistication. The national colors of blue, red and white signaled pride and identity.
Concurrently, Justin Chou designed a uniform for Taiwan featuring hand-crafted flowers on an elegant blue outfit with red and white touches, representing culture, art, craftsmanship, and sustainability.
Team Korea sported a pastel blue and white lightweight suit by Musinsa Standard, incorporating the subdued shade of Byeok Cheong color, symbolizing the East and reflecting youthful vigor and a progressive attitude.
Lastly, Turkiye’s deep red, white and sky blue colors represented peace in Vakko’s stylish and comfortable collection. Paris 2024 marked 100 years since Turkiye performed at the first Olympic Games as a republic, reflected in the energy and dynamism of Vakko’s tricolor collections.
Europe
In Europe, France embodied the nation’s true elegance through the French brand Berluti. Athletes from the Olympic host country were consulted during the design process, along with the French Olympic and Paralympic committees.
In Czechia, the inspiration took a historical turn to the Paris 1924 Olympiads. This year’s collection, designed by Alpine Pro, featured black bags, white hoodies, blue tracksuits and red trainers, reminiscent of athletes’ clothing in 1924.
Team Ireland settled for an all-white design with touches of green, making the Irish athletes stand out and display their national pride. Under the brand name LW Pearl, the designer embroidered the country of each athlete onto the uniforms, creating a unique Irish attire.
Similarly, the Netherlands followed the all-white theme with bold orange and elegant navy blue touches, courtesy of Amsterdam-based brand Denham the Jeanmaker. The outfit, themed ‘United in Excellence,’ emphasized attention to detail, marking each athlete’s journey.
Team Great Britain continued with a red, white and navy blue design, featuring bomber jackets and patterned shirts. These outfits paid respect to the four nations of Britain, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with special symbols including a rose, a thistle, a daffodil and a shamrock.
Africa
Africa opted for monochrome outfits. Sierra Leone’s vibrant blue design with white touches, created by British Africa heritage brand Labrum, paid respect to the nation’s heritage.
In Egypt, the brand Concrete, influenced by Italian art director Ettore Veronese, used premium Egyptian cotton to create a collection based on the Egyptian flag, symbolizing pride, passion and determination.
The cultural outfits at the Paris 2024 Olympics showcased the creativity and pride of each nation, making the entrances as memorable as the competitions. These designs not only represented the athletes’ countries but also celebrated their unique cultural heritage, contributing to the overall allure of the games.
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