With just a week left until the Paris 2024 Olympics, excitement is high as nations eagerly await to cheer their teams on in the sporting event of the year. But before the games officially begin, countries and fashion houses are already making waves with the unveiling of their national uniforms.
On the local front, Malaysians have been through a rollercoaster in the past few weeks with the lacklustre unveiling of our competition uniforms (which received scathing responses from netizens), to the quick-change redesign of a new set of uniforms days later. And just last week, the Paralympics Council of Malaysia unveiled the official Paralympic Games uniform, to the cheers and praise of Malaysians.
Team Malaysia’s official Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony outfit is set to be revealed next week, but until then, feast your eyes on these eight ceremonial uniforms from other countries that will be the most fashionable pieces (so far!) to grace the opening ceremony set to take place along the Seine on July 26.
Mongolia
You may have already seen images of Team Mongolia’s ceremonial uniforms floating around the internet, as these gorgeous designs by the Ulaanbaatar-based fashion house Michel & Amazonka have been making quite a stir. These pieces are Mongolia’s official uniforms for the Olympics parade, with the house incorporating traditional motifs and silhouettes while including the Olympic flame and rings. This is the Mongolian brand’s second time designing the country’s official kits for the summer games, after the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and 2022 Winter Olympics.
South Korea
Tradition meets elegance for South Korea’s ceremonial kit this year. With utilitarian lines and a simple silhouette that’s instantly recognisable as that signature K-fashion look, designers Musinsa Standard approached the uniform’s designs with subtlety in mind. Hidden beneath the lapel is embroidered Team Korea, while the inner lining features traditional Korean porcelain and ink painting techniques. The powder blue blazer gives the uniform a bright, youthful look complete with a belt, echoing the Korean court attire from history past, to transform the usually clean lines of a suit jacket with new angles unique to each athlete.
Haiti
Haitian-Italian designer Stella Jean kits out Haiti’s delegation of 12 athletes in high-fashion silhouettes. As a self-described bridge builder, Stella Jean took on more than just a design task with these uniforms; she’s aiming to change the way the world views Haiti through a design that represents a ‘rebirth’ for the Caribbean nation. Partnering with Haitian artist Philippe Dodard, whose painting serves as an all-over print across the outfit’s trousers and skirts, these uniforms bring the fashion runway to the sports stage. The workwear jackets and cinched-waist vests blend traditional and utilitarian styles, and are sure to pull attention as the athletes make their way along the Seine during the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony.
France
Team France will be decked out in Berluti for the Olympics parade this summer. The French leatherwork and menswear brand puts its best foot forward, opting for a classic suit silhouette and a minimalist blue-and-red design on the silk lapels, reminiscent of the French flag. The women’s uniform gets a sleeveless look and the option of a silk skirt. The clean and true-to-name uniform styling will be a great look to open for the host nation.
USA
Though these designs have gotten mixed reactions online, we think Ralph Lauren is on to something here. Heading Team USA’s uniforms since 2008, this year the fashion brand embraces one of America’s most iconic fashion symbols – denim. The blazer-over-denim look along with the striped shirt and knit tie really gives that smart casual vibe which goes perfectly with America’s image. Plus, the red, white and blue outfits à la NASCAR race drivers that Ralph Lauren designed for the closing ceremony will make for a quintessentially American photo finish for Team USA once the Paris 2024 Olympics comes to a close.
The Philippines
When designing the barong for the Philippines national team, Francis Libiran took inspiration from heroes and warriors likening athletes as cut from the same cloth. It’s no wonder then that the country’s ceremonial uniform looks like a warrior’s armour, the off-white barong completed by a detachable silk organdy ‘sling’. The bright blue and red sling is adorned with the Sinag (meaning rays of the sun) and warrior motifs along with a tricolore piping along the edge and strap in homage to host city, Paris.
Spain
Spain brings the fire to the Paris 2024 Olympics! In the third summer games collection from Spanish sportwear brand Joma, Team Spain’s uniforms take inspiration from the Spanish flag’s red and yellow colourway as well as the national flower, carnation. The result is a classy-yet-fiery set of uniforms. While the men will parade in a classic summer suit of a red blazer over a khaki pants, the women will rock a breezy white polo and skirt combo with a bright gradient running along it. Subtle, summery and an apt depiction of the nation too!
Chinese Taipei (aka Taiwan)
Rounding off our list is the unique double-breasted suit uniform for the Taiwanese contingent. Designed by Justin Chou of fashion label JUST IN XX, who returns for another year at the helm of the nation’s Olympics uniform, the design incorporates works by several Taiwanese artists, artisans and textile leaders into one suit. With the same silhouette for both men and women, flower detailing and a sporty zip-up top with specially designed monogram, Taiwan’s opening ceremony uniform brings a touch of high-fashion to Paris.
Special mention: Thailand and Canada
Taking a strictly athletic and athleisure stance for the opening ceremony are Team Thailand (with uniforms by Grand Sport Thailand) and Team Canada (designed by Lululemon). Thailand’s kit mixes Thai traditional motifs found across art, pottery and weaving with sporty cuts of a tracksuit and athletic wear; while Canada’s abstract patterns incorporates the country’s blazing red identity and maple leaf iconography. These two countries uniforms are sure to be a pleasure to watch in motion during the games.
Which design takes home the gold medal for you, or are you holding out hope for a fiercer competitor in the lead up to the opening ceremony? As more uniforms are revealed over the next few days, we’re excited to see what the other nations will bring to the fashion games of the Paris 2024 Olympics.