Ralph Lauren Designs Sustainable Olympic Closing Ceremony Uniforms For Team USA
Image via Ralph Lauren
In the leadup to the Tokyo Summer Olympics, Ralph Lauren has unveiled Team USA’s closing ceremony parade uniforms and a matching apparel collection. It hopes to capture the patriotism of the fashion brand and spark a sense of unity, especially in the midst of a pandemic.
A key feature of this Olympic collection is that the designs feature first-to-market innovations in sustainability. “As we come together to celebrate and compete, we must also embrace our responsibility to protect the planet we all call home,” David Lauren, Chief Innovation and Branding Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board, said in a statement.
The closing ceremony uniforms will consist of a classic Polo shirt made from US-grown cotton, a drawstring jacket, a striped belt made from recycled polyester, and denim pants embossed with a leather alternative back-patch made from renewable resources. Team USA athletes will also don Ralph Lauren shoes and face masks made from US-grown cotton.
Some of the cotton in the collection was dyed using ECOFAST Pure from Dow, a more eco-friendly solution that reduces the amount of water, chemicals, and energy needed to dye cotton.
Three-time Olympic swimmer and Ralph Lauren brand ambassador Nathan Adrian told PEOPLE the sustainability aspect and importance of protecting the planet “really hit home” when he became a father. “This collection in particular is manufactured in the United States. The carbon emissions that we eliminate by not having to ship all over the world is really important,” he noted.
The Tokyo Summer Olympics, postponed from last summer, is currently scheduled to take place from July 23 through August 8. Items from Ralph Lauren’s closing ceremony collection are now available for purchase at ralphlauren.com, and will hit select Ralph Lauren retail stores, department stores, and online at TeamUSAShop.com in June. All proceeds from the collection will go towards supporting Team USA.
Image via Ralph Lauren
Image via Ralph Lauren
Image via Ralph Lauren
[via PEOPLE, images via Ralph Lauren]
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