Here are the brands involved for the 2022 Winter Olympics
READ ALSO: Skies And Skates: Athletes To Watch At The 2022 Winter Olympics
Team USA
No brand screams AMERICA more than Ralph Lauren, which is why Polo Ralph Lauren has been the principal official outfitter of US Olympic teams (Summer and Winter) past and present. Team USA athletes marched the opening ceremony in hooded anoraks, beanies, gloves, and boots, swathed in colors of the flag and “USA” emblazoned on the jackets.
All the items are stuffed with polyester fiber, made from post-consumer plastic bottles. The jacket is made with Intelligent Insulation tech, which means it is battery or wire-controlled to expand or contract with temperature change.
In the closing ceremony, the athletes will march in lumberjack-inspired looks: down jackets over turtleneck sweaters.
Individual US team sports will also be outfitted by other brands in their competitions: The US Alpine Ski Team will be dressed in Spyder, the curling team in Columbia Sportswear, and the Snowboard Team in Volcom.
Upping the fashion quotient is Team USA’s gold medal hope in Men’s Figure Skating: Nathan Chen will be dressed by Vera Wang, who has previously dressed US Skating legends Michelle Kwan and 2010 Gold Medalist Evan Lysacek. Julia Marino rocked the Snowboard Slopestyle final, winning Silver with a Prada snowboard.
Nike is will dress athletes for their podium appearances, and Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand SKIMS is the official undergarment brand for Team USA. Athletes will be able to sleep and relax in SKIMS’ range of loungewear and sleepwear.
Team Italy
As always, Italy arrived with style and panache. The team walked the opening ceremonies in Giorgio Armani’s EA Emporio Armani brand.
The designer mentioned his pleasure at once again working with the Italian Olympic Team, saying, “I think that in complicated moments like the one we are experiencing, sports can be of help and an example because they combine individual commitment with group and team spirit.”
The uniform was designed in tribute to the Italian flag and included a blue waterproof jacket with a hood manufactured with Toray Dermizax stretch fabric.
Team Canada
Team Canada’s outfits by lululemon highlight the country’s national symbol: the iconic maple leaf. Like the lululemon we all wear as regular, non-Olympians, the brand emphasizes “dynamic dressing”: the outfits are meant to be layered, combined, and modified by the athletes to suit their wants and needs. The Olympics are all about unity, but these pieces allow the athletes to highlight their individuality.
For the Opening Ceremony, Team Canada marched in the bright red Team Canada 22 Down Jacket layered over the Team Canada 22 Transformable Parka. Both pieces are water-repellant and windproof.
The jacket can be customized and worn like a backpack if needed. The parka can be converted into different lengths, which means athletes of any height will look comfortable. The sleeves can be attached or taken out if the athlete wishes to wear them like a vest. There is a bottom section that can be removed and turned into a scarf.
For the podium, the athletes will be in natural merino wool jackets with an engineered knit for extra warmth and comfort. For media appearances, like post-competition press conferences, they will be decked out in a maple leaf print reimagined: the “metamorphosis print” is based on a maple leaf but in microscopic view.
This will be the look on the Team Canada 22 Cropped Jacket and the Team Canada 22 Half-Zip Pullover, worn over the Team Canada 22 Navigation Stretch Down Jacket. This is windproof and water-resistant, with built-in insulation channels.
If the athletes’ color theme during the Opening Ceremony is red, the Closing Ceremony sees them flip the switch into white. Audrey Reilly, lululemon’s Creative Director says this is the “winter white story.”
The Team Canada 22 Down Jacket and Team Canada Transformable Parka return but in a white version of the maple print. The Engineered Warmth Half Zip with merino wool on the inside will be worn with ivory jogging pants. The Quilted Trapper Hat and Quilted Scarf will be in white.
Team GB
Team GB’s look for the Opening Ceremony was preppy boarding school perfection, with a quilted navy-blue peacoat over a roll-neck sweater in cream designed by Ben Sherman. This is the brand’s second Olympic moment with the first being in Tokyo.
“Great Britain” is spelled out in reflected lettering behind the peacoat. The trousers in mini-dogtooth print are in navy blue. The look comes together with accessories: a bobble hat and scarf, and athletes will walk in lug-soled Chelsea boots.
The closing ceremony will have a blue crew-neck checked sweater, with the trousers and bobble hat-making their return.
For the podium, athletes will wear Adidas. The hooded and mid-layer jackets in sky blue and navy blue are made with Parley Ocean Plastic and PrimaLoft insulation.
