Ralph Lauren to Make American-Made Olympic Uniforms in 2014
Associated Press | Updated: July 13, 2012, 8:00 PM ET
At the next Olympics, the team from the USA will wear uniforms made in the USA.
Designer Ralph Lauren announced Friday that the uniforms it provides the U.S. Olympic team at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, will, in fact, be made in the United States.
Designer Ralph Lauren announced Friday that the uniforms it provides the U.S. Olympic team at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, will, in fact, be made in the United States.
The U.S. uniforms for the London Games were made in China, which sparked congressional criticism of the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the USOC should be “ashamed of themselves,” and Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y., called the decision “not just outrageous, it’s just plain dumb. It is self-defeating.”
Ralph Lauren initially declined comment on the criticism, but 24 hours later announced clothes for future Olympics would be made in the United States.
“Ralph Lauren promises to lead the conversation within our industry and our government to address the issue to increase manufacturing in the United States,” the company said in a statement.
It’s too late to change anything for the 530 American athletes in time for the London Games, which start July 27. The uniforms for the Opening Ceremonies will remain as planned — blue blazer, cream-colored pants for men and skirts for women and a blue beret with red and white stripes.
The USOC initially defended the choice of Ralph Lauren, saying it was grateful for the support from an “iconic American company.”
On Friday, USOC CEO Scott Blackmun said the federation takes the complaints seriously.
“We are absolutely committed … to working with our sponsors to ensure that the concerns voiced are addressed,” Blackmun said. “In the meantime, we ask for the American people’s support. The members of Team USA have dedicated their entire lives to training for this one moment.”
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., who along with Israel wrote a letter to the USOC chairman Larry Probst complaining about the situation, released a statement after hearing Friday’s news.
“When America’s best athletes are representing our country on the world stage, we should be representing the best of American-made goods,” she wrote. “The pride of our Olympic athletics goes hand in hand with the pride of American innovation and manufacturing. While I am greatly disappointed our athletes will not be dressed head to toe in Made in the USA this year, I thank the USOC and Ralph Lauren for hearing our voices and working to correct this mistake going forward. I look forward to cheering on Team USA.”
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the USOC should be “ashamed of themselves,” and Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y., called the decision “not just outrageous, it’s just plain dumb. It is self-defeating.”
Ralph Lauren initially declined comment on the criticism, but 24 hours later announced clothes for future Olympics would be made in the United States.
“Ralph Lauren promises to lead the conversation within our industry and our government to address the issue to increase manufacturing in the United States,” the company said in a statement.
It’s too late to change anything for the 530 American athletes in time for the London Games, which start July 27. The uniforms for the Opening Ceremonies will remain as planned — blue blazer, cream-colored pants for men and skirts for women and a blue beret with red and white stripes.
The USOC initially defended the choice of Ralph Lauren, saying it was grateful for the support from an “iconic American company.”
On Friday, USOC CEO Scott Blackmun said the federation takes the complaints seriously.
“We are absolutely committed … to working with our sponsors to ensure that the concerns voiced are addressed,” Blackmun said. “In the meantime, we ask for the American people’s support. The members of Team USA have dedicated their entire lives to training for this one moment.”
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., who along with Israel wrote a letter to the USOC chairman Larry Probst complaining about the situation, released a statement after hearing Friday’s news.
“When America’s best athletes are representing our country on the world stage, we should be representing the best of American-made goods,” she wrote. “The pride of our Olympic athletics goes hand in hand with the pride of American innovation and manufacturing. While I am greatly disappointed our athletes will not be dressed head to toe in Made in the USA this year, I thank the USOC and Ralph Lauren for hearing our voices and working to correct this mistake going forward. I look forward to cheering on Team USA.”
The Associated Press
They need to remake them NOW. Not in 2 years. Sorry, but saying that you’ll do something in two years that you should have done the first time around is ridiculous.
Yep – China is laughing all the way to the bank with the stupidity this country shows! Greed, greed, greed
Oh noes let’s act outraged!
Thank you Sen. Kristen Gillibrand. I could not Agree more! It’s so hard for someone like myself, a designer/small business owner to wrap my head around how our country has been disrespected by what we consider an icon. Clearly, no one sitting in the big black chairs, could have, should have, and would have thought that our U.S. Olympic team should have been dressed from head to toe in “Hand Made In AMERICA.” As a small business owner who has been designing and hand making my own product for 10+ years all the while watching large design houses getting a larger piece of the pie while there are so many of us out there that could have done this for a price that would have helped some small cutting /sewing room. Who knows maybe we could have but 3 unemployed workers back to work!
Whom ever wrote the below has no clue what we Made In America designers/manufactures are capable of! Just go ask them if it can be done. “it’s never too late to do anything you put your mind and hard work into!
It’s too late to change anything for the 530 American athletes in time for the London Games, which start July 27. The uniforms for the Opening Ceremonies will remain as planned — blue blazer, cream-colored pants for men and skirts for women and a blue beret with red and white stripes.
Well done! This sure is a move in the right direction.
Two related issues that should now also be immediately raised:
1. How about the casual gear that Ralph Lauren provides to Team USA, worn at the Olympic village etc. will that also be produced in the US?
2. And now – for the big one – how about the actual competition “Made In China” uniforms that Nike supplies to Team USA? Is only Ralph Lauren going to get scrutinized? How about some political pressure on Nike to follow suit?
Lauren…I agree with you. If the call went out today to “OutFit Our Athletes” Can you imagine the number of people/companies in the U.S.A. who would work 24/7 getting domestic goods on the backs of our athletes for THIS year’s Olympics?
Hand raised here.
Robert
Vvego International