Ralph Lauren & The Olympics: American Craftsmanship
Featured Image: Bloomberg
Ralph Lauren, the iconic American brand, signed a partnership with the US Olympic Committee in 2008 to become “the official outfitter of the U.S. Olympic team.” Since then, we have seen preppy Kennedy-esque looks that remind one of New England — ski lodges in Aspen, golf courses in Florida, and Ivy League campuses in the fall.
During the Beijing games of 2008, the United States used Ralph Lauren and their image of wealth and prestige as a political move. China was flaunting its new status as a superpower and the United States did not want Team USA to be outshined.
Prior to the PyeongChang games, Paul L. Underwood wrote on the Ralph Lauren website:
“And — just as behind every Olympic athlete there’s a team of coaches and trainers working night and day to help them reach their potential — behind every piece in the Team USA collection is a team of workers with the same level of dedication to their mission: to make sure America looks its best on the global stage.”
Out of a small factory in Los Angeles, Ball of Cotton, produces all the brand’s garments. “The work ethic from the whole Ralph Lauren team and the tenacious team here at Ball of Cotton complement each other, in that we both strive to have an end product that physically and visually expresses [a level of] quality, comfort, and workmanship that’s representative of our country.”
This year, the brand stayed loyal to the traditional red, white and blue color scheme in high-tech fabrics that responds to temperature changes against the skin. The Opening Ceremony Parade uniforms include an anorak, a midlayer jacket, pants, gloves and boots — completed with the official logo of Team USA and the Ralph Lauren pony.
Sustainability
Ralph Lauren is committed to a more sustainable future with environmental awareness surrounding materials and manufacturing practices. The Team USA Collection boasts the monitoring and reduction of hazardous chemical use and discharge in their supply chain. 100% of their key materials — cotton, wool, leather, cashmere, down, polyester, and viscose — will be sustainably sourced by 2025. Ralph Lauren pledges to train all of their design, production, and merchant teams on sustainable and circular design.
