The Olympic Games in Paris are fast approaching. The opening ceremony will begin at 19:30 CEST with a parade down the Seine. Here is a selection of the much-talked-about outfits of some of the world’s most talented and recognizable athletes. Many countries are enlisting local designers to design the uniforms, often with a modern twist on their national identity.
Here are some of the Opening Ceremony uniforms that will be passing through the Seine on the big night.
Team Chinese Taipei x Justin Chou
Justin Chou, creative director of streetwear brand Just In XX, recently unveiled the uniforms for Team Chinese Taipei, Taiwan’s national team, during Taipei Fashion Week. This marks the second time the local designer has provided uniforms for athletes, following the 2020 Tokyo Games. Chou fuses culture and sustainability in the designs, with optical illusion prints and the use of sustainable materials such as pulp and oyster shells.
Team USA x Ralph Lauren
Team USA enlists famed designer Ralph Lauren for its uniforms. This is the ninth time the premium label has been the official apparel sponsor of the U.S. team. The Opening Ceremony uniforms combine Ralph Lauren codes with Parisian influences, with a blue, white and red color scheme and modern tailoring such as wool blazers and striped oxford shirts.
Team France x Berluti
LVMH subsidiary Berluti has been selected for France’s opening ceremony outfits. The parent company is an official sponsor of the Olympic Games. The luxury label will design bespoke outfits, including a blue wool tuxedo with a special “French flag” motif, celebrating French craftsmanship.
Team Mongolia x Michel & Amazonka
Design duo Michel & Amazonka were given three months to create Team Mongolia’s Opening Ceremony outfits. Inspired by traditional clothing, the looks included tailored vests with gold embroidered motifs illustrating Mongolia’s ties to the Paris Olympics.
Team Canada x Lululemon
Canadian sportswear brand Lululemon is providing team members with outfits for the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as medal ceremonies and daily activities. A key component is the jacquard bomber jacket with a print celebrating Canadian art, architecture and nature.
Team Great Britain x Ben Sherman
Ben Sherman is the official supplier to Team GB for the third consecutive Olympic Games. The Opening Ceremony outfit includes a bomber jacket with a specially designed four-nation floral motif, celebrating the cultural identity of the UK nations.
Team Australia x Sportscraft
Sportscraft and footwear brand Volley are designing the kits for Team Australia, combining the traditional green and gold colour scheme with modern sporting elements. The hero piece is a blazer with the Olympic oath in the inside pocket and the names of all 301 Australian Olympic champions in the lining.
Team Ireland x LW Pearl by Laura Weber
Irish designer Laura Weber, through her brand LW Pearl, is designing the Opening Ceremony outfits for Team Ireland. The looks combine traditional and contemporary trends with national emblems and decorations to celebrate Ireland’s centenary at the Olympic Games.
Team India x Tasva
Indian brand Tasva, led by Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd (ABFRL) and designer Tarun Tahiliani, is designing the opening ceremony outfits for Team India. The outfits are made from natural fabrics and combine heritage with modern flavours, with the aim of evoking pride and solidarity.
Team Italy x Armani
Italy are turning to Armani for the team’s kits, which were previously revealed during the Emporio Armani SS24 show. The collection includes polo shirts, T-shirts and tracksuits, with the Opening Ceremony looks being presented by Giorgio Armani himself later tonight.
Team Switzerland x On Running x Ochsner Sport
Ochsner Sport and On, partners of the Swiss Olympic Committee, are designing the outfits for the entire team and their fans. The 24 pieces can be combined and are inspired by the 26 cantons’ coats of arms. The designs are developed using sustainable materials, such as fibers made from recycled plastic from the Limmat River.
Team Nigeria x Actively Black
Sportswear brand Actively Black has been given the chance to dress more than 200 members of Team Nigeria, including representatives and athletes, for the Olympics. Designers Jordan Jackson and Danielle McCoy invoke tradition as they reimagine The Market as a “conceptual vehicle to showcase the diversity and cultural nuances of Nigerian identity.” The Opening Ceremony looks, for example, incorporate the classic green-and-white colors of the country’s flag for a tracksuit made from Funtua cotton, named after the Nigerian state where it’s produced. Men wear a long cardigan over slim sweatpants, while women wear a look inspired by the Nigerian buba dress. The accessories: traditional gele (a headscarf) and fila hats (a soft cap).
Team Netherlands x Denham
Denham is the official fashion partner of TeamNL and unveils its Kinetic Denim uniform, which will be worn by the 1,500-plus Olympians and Paralympians, as well as their entourage. A key aspect of the design is the choice of “exclusive fabric innovations” developed in collaboration with Advance Denim, which feature technology to keep the wearer cool, such as Coolmax thermoregulation and aerogel yarns. These are applied to classic workwear silhouettes of denim jackets, trousers and T-shirts – made from SeaCell and SmartCell materials.
Team Spain x Joma
Joma’s Opening Ceremony looks for Team Spain pay homage to the country’s national colours, with much inspiration drawn from local folklore. As in the Netherlands, there’s a particular emphasis on the materials used, with Joma noting that they’ve incorporated 100 percent recycled fabrics and followed chemical-free processes to create the looks. The men’s outfit features a red blazer, technical polo and recycled cotton trousers, which are replaced by a pleated skirt in gradated colours for the women’s look.
Team Czech Republic x Alpine Sport x Jan Černý
The idea behind Team Czech Republic’s Opening Ceremony outfits is to capture viewers’ attention in an expressive way, using the limited time the athletes are on screen. Designer Jan Černý, who collaborates with Alpine Pro on the selection of eye-catching garments, says the most striking element is the trench coat, decorated with a blue ink Rorschach pattern that references the work of local graphic artist Vladimír Boudník, who was born in 1924, the last year the Olympic Games were held in Paris. A polo shirt and trousers in historic Czech colours complete the rest of the outfit, with a pea green scarf, socks and sneakers for contrast.
Team Korea x Musinsa Standard
Casual wear brand Musinsa Standard is creating a “belt suit” for Team Korea this year, with blue symbolizing the East and expressing “youthful vitality and an enterprising spirit.” A “summer-ready” wool is used for the suit itself, taking into account the temperatures in Paris, while an embossed ‘Team Korea’ logo can be found inside the blazer, T-shirt, pants and sneaker insoles in a further attempt to express the athletes’ identity.
Team Belgium x Caroline Biss
Belgian fashion label Caroline Biss is for the second time in a row an official partner of the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee (BOIC). Caroline Biss’ Olympic collection includes a long, golden yellow evening dress with a deep slit and red and golden yellow bomber jackets for Belgium. During the ceremony, the athletes will wear striking outfits.
This article was previously published on FashionUnited UK. Translation and editing by Susan Zijp.
