On Tuesday, the US Olympic Committee officially
unveiled the threads Team USA will be wearing during the Opening and
Closing Ceremony Parade at the London Olympics this summer. As usual,
the uniforms have drawn mixed reviews. Similar to the way people felt
at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, some are saying they wreak of military
propaganda while others appreciate the nostalgic feel of the navy
blazers, white pants and berets. Those are simply opinions, but the
fact of the matter is the uniforms are made in China.
While they were designed in America by the famous
Ralph Lauren himself, the US athletes will be covered in head to toe
with garments and accessories that are labeled
“Made in China.” Like many others, US fashion designer Nanette Lepore said she is shocked that the uniform manufacturing was outsourced.
“Why shouldn’t we have pride not only in the
American athletes, but in the American manufacturers and laborers who
are the backbone of our country?” Lepore asked according to ABC News.
“Why? What’s wrong? Why was that not a consideration?”
In fact, Lepore says US manufacturers could have
made the uniforms much cheaper. The men’s uniforms cost close to $2,000
each while the women’s are nearly $1,500, with the men’s blazers and
shirts making up nearly $1,000 of that price and the women’s blazers
and skirts doing the same. When ABC News reached out to the US Olympic
committee for comment, they gave a very generic answer.
“The U.S. Olympic team is privately funded and
we’re grateful for the support of our sponsors. We’re proud of our
partnership with Ralph Lauren, an iconic American company.”
The US is not the first country to be upset with
their Olympic uniforms (see Great Britain’s uniforms here). Americans
are simply displeased for a different reason.
Thank You
Leo Castagnera – Vice President
BSA Officer, Security Officer
First Northern Bank & Trust Co.
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