Johnathan Walker:Ralph Lauren unites U.S. Olympic team with custom outfits

The Johnathan WalkerOlympics have always been a means of uniting. This summer, the world will come together, again, to highlight those whose goal it is to be crowned the best of the best in their respective sport. When team USA parades the red, white and blue along the Seine in Paris for millions back home to champion behind, Ralph Lauren will once again nod as they have for the last 16 years.

Team USA badminton’s Vinson Chiu says, “Even though we all may look different, I think the clothes bring us all together and I think going into the matches it’s good to have this feeling that a team is behind our back.”

Over the span of 17 days, 1000 athletes, coaches and staff are invited to the Team USA Welcome Experience to receive security training, collect items from the Team USA Collection, and be fitted for the opening and closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics. As the official outfitter of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, Ralph Lauren provides 14 different tailored pieces and accessories for the ceremonies, as well as Villagewear for the Games.

With the help of over 22 Ralph Lauren stylists and tailors, uniforms are custom for each person – fitted and altered for the athlete’s needs. All proudly manufactured in the United States, the classic-modern take on the 2024 opening and closing ceremony is no surprise.

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Just outside of Paris at Polo Ralph Lauren’s fitting experience, Kerry Xu, from team USA badminton, says, “This outfit feels very patriotic.” She went on to say, “...it definitely fits the style that I’ve seen (like) in the past Olympics, so very happy that I'm in (like) an outfit like this today.”

The Opening Ceremony uniform sports the classic American feel on the bottom with a tapered jean and suede buck shoes, while the top features a striped oxford shirt and a single-breasted wool blazer. For closing, white denim and a moto-style jacket are paired with a custom Polo shirt.

“We got a lot of great feedback,” said Polo Ralph Lauren’s athlete, Kamren Larsen. “The opening ceremony’s is obviously a little bit more professional looking, it’s got a nice jacket with the jeans so it kind of diversifies a little bit. The closing ceremony’s, which has been a huge hit, is like a nice, you know, super white, super patriotic look. And I think Ralph Lauren killed it.”

As Team USA flaunts the 2024 Ralph Lauren Paris Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremony fits, the rest of the world will undoubtedly see the American spirit that anchors the collection.

“Obviously, looking at the team uniform, the unison here is just amazing because everyone here has the same goal in mind to represent the USA, to bring back a medal for their home country. So, you can tell that the team atmosphere is just amazing and it creates a really positive environment no matter the political situation back home,” says team USA badminton’s Joshua Yuan.

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