Maine’s Rancourt & Co. worked with Ralph Lauren to manufacture the shoes that will be worn by Team USA during the opening and closing ceremonies of the summer Olympics, which are set to be held in Paris. Photos courtesy Ralph Lauren
The legendary apparel maker partnered with manufacturers across the country to produce the opening and closing ceremony ensembles, which are also available for public purchase.
The opening and closing ceremony ensembles that will be worn by the United States Olympic Team for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics were unveiled on Tuesday by designer Ralph Lauren.
Entirely Made in America, the Team USA outfits will not be showcased on a typical Paris runway walk in the fashion capital of the world. Instead, the American team will join a group of 10,500 athletes who will travel 3.7 miles by boat down the River Seine before disembarking at the open-air, opening ceremony just outside the Eiffel Tower. It is the first year the opening ceremony will not be held in a stadium.
The U.S Olympic Team apparel that will be seen along the banks of the River Seine during the Games’ kickoff party highlight a truly American sensibility, including blue blazers and tapered denim.
Yes, blue jeans. Blue jeans are distinctly American, and the denim pants date back to the 1800s as an American work product. In the 1950s, blue jeans became a casual fashion statement that still holds true today.
“Nothing says America like blue jeans, especially when we’re in Paris,” Lauren told the Associated Press. “And it gives the athletes a chance to feel a sense of culture but also feel like themselves and what is natural.
“We work very closely with Team USA to make the athletes feel at once dressed up, feel like a team, but at the same time comfortable and very distinctively American.”
Lauren, America’s preeminent fashion maven, has designed Team USA apparel since 2008. In 2014, after a controversy concerning items that were made in China, Lauren began manufacturing the entire athlete parade clothing collection in the United States by forming partnerships with America’s finest manufacturers.
And again, for 2024, Lauren worked with many manufacturers across the U.S.
To produce Team USA uniforms for the traditional Games as well as the Paralympic Games, apparel manufacturers from Maine and New York to California and Oregon partnered with Lauren to achieve the distinctive American style.
Companies involved include Ferrera Manufacturing in New York, which made the blazer and woven shirt for the opening ceremony and the closing ceremony racing jacket and flagbearer jacket; Andari Fashion, Inc., in California, which assembled and manufactured the opening ceremony’s knit tie and polo shirt and flagbearer shirt for the closing ceremony; Shaniko Wool Company in Oregon, which provided the wool for the opening ceremony blazer; Rancourt & Co in Maine, which assembled and manufactured the shoes the athletes will wear to the two ceremonies; Rogue Industries in Maine, which crafted the belt for the ceremonies; and Saitex USA in California, which assembled and manufactured blue jeans.
“For nearly 60 years, Ralph Lauren has been a pioneer at the intersection of style and sport” said David Lauren, chief branding and innovation officer and the son of Ralph. “The vibrancy, passion and self-expression in sport has been a central touchpoint of inspiration for our brand since the very beginning of the iconic Polo brand in 1967.
“This summer, Paris is the backdrop where fashion and sport will collide on the world’s stage, with a global audience and that is an incredibly exciting proposition.”
For the opening ceremonies, both men and women will wear single-breasted, wool navy blazers with a red-and-white ribbon trim. They will be worn over a blue-and-white striped Oxford shirt and paired with pre-washed denim jeans and suede white buck shoes. Men will sport a navy tie.
For the closing ceremonies, the look is more casual. Instead of the classic blazer that has become a staple of Ralph Lauren designed Olympic attire, Team USA will sport a white racing jacket to be worn with white jeans emblazoned with TEAM USA on the left leg and Lauren’s classic Polo shirt. The jacket, which might be more at home at an auto racing event, is adorned with numerous patches and the American flag.
“Ralph Lauren has once again created designs that not only capture the essence of American style but also embody the spirit and pride of Team USA,” said Sarah Hirshland, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee CEO. “As Team USA athletes prepare to represent the United States at the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games, this iconic apparel serves as a symbol of unity and inspiration for both our team and the millions of fans who will be cheering them on.”
The Ralph Lauren designs include a more aggressive emphasis on sustainability than in years past. Team USA’s opening and closing ceremony parade uniforms are crafted with recycled polyester and USA-grown Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) certified wool among other materials.
The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad officially begin with the opening ceremonies on Friday, July 26. Closing ceremonies will be held on Sunday, August 11 from Stade de France, the country’s national stadium.
The Paris Paralympics 2024 begin on Wednesday, August 28 and will conclude on Sunday, September 8.
American-made Team USA apparel is now available for purchase online. Other Olympic themed items offered by Ralph Lauren may or not be Made in the U.S.A., so be sure to check the country of origin label.
