Rio Olympics 2016: Stella McCartney returns with new kit design for Team GB
Alice Cuffe
Stella McCartney has revealed her designs with Adidas for
the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games and they are as big and bold as
her previous collection of designs for the athletes who competed in
London in 2012.
Team GB Rio 2016 Olympic Games Kit Launch at the Seymour Leisure Centre Centre, London
Stefan Wermuth/ ReutersTasked
with the job of providing performance kits for over 600 athletes
competing in Rio this year, the British designer opted for bright, bold
statements that gave a nod to the traditional emblems as well as
eye-catching graphics in the classic red, white and blue.
Wearing a vibrant scarlet coat over a crisp white shirt and tailored
trousers, no doubt all by her own eponymous label, McCartney presented
the brand new designs to an excited crowd at Seymour Leisure Centre on
Wednesday (27 April).
Team GB Rio 2016 Olympic Games Kit Launch at the Seymour Leisure Centre Centre, London
Stefan Wermuth/ Reuters
Patriotic
lion silhouettes are seen overlayed upon pale Union Jacks and oversized
GB graphics are emblazoned across the sporting jackets, leggings and
other technically designed performance wear, all guaranteed to make the
British sporting hopefuls really stand out when they head to compete in
100 days.
Team GB Rio 2016 Olympic Games Kit Launch at the Seymour Leisure Centre Centre, London
Stefan Wermuth/ ReutersAdidas
have spared no details for this year's Olympics and whilst some have
already noted that the uniforms are pretty tight and a little smaller
this year, the fabrics are also 10% lighter than those worn for for
London 2012. The sports label has also commissioned the College of Arms
to come up with a brand new coat of arms for Rio 2016.
The new coat combines the English rose, Scottish thistle, Welsh leek
and Northern Irish flax. Four central chains link the flowers,
representing the four years of an Olympic cycle. The lions supporting
the crest are seen holding a torch and laurel wreaths represents the
past and present of the games, whilst the lion on top of the crest
emerges from a crown of gold, silver and bronze 'medal' discs and the
motto translates as 'Conjoined in One'.
The Guardian
quoted McCartney as saying "I want to deliver for the athletes, but
I've got to please the nation as well. This project has to make a lot
more people happy than I'm used to." She continued "In my day job, the
women who buy my clothes come to me because they already identify with
me in some way. This project isn't like that – it has to emotionally and
visually tick a lot of boxes for a lot of people, while keeping
functionality paramount. In a way, it's the most intricate thing I do."
Team GB Rio 2016 Olympic Games Kit Launch at the Seymour Leisure Centre Centre, London
Stefan Wermuth/ ReutersWith
over 600 athletes competing in a huge variety of games, it was crucial
to ensure every competitor is ready to win and the likes of Tom Daley,
Jessica Ennis-Hill and Olivia Breen, who joined McCartney on the stage,
seem pretty comfortable in their forthcoming uniform.
There is no doubt that the 10% reduction in weight has had an effect
on the flesh on show but whilst some were a little shocked, many are
overjoyed, particularly when marvelling the diminutive size of diver
Daley's shorts.
Team GB Rio 2016 Olympic Games Kit Launch at the Seymour Leisure Centre Centre, London
Stefan Wermuth/ ReutersWhilst
the new coat of arms are detailed in design and are a graphic way to
tie up each of the leggings, sweatshirts and zip-up windbreakers, it
could have been a little less traditional in style. Nevertheless, the
kit as a whole paired up with the vibrant Boost trainers certainly packs
a punch, we just have to hope for Tom Daley's sake that it stays in
place.
Post a Comment