Channelling the Olympic spirit

The Olympics are big business for many in the apparel industry, from sportswear brands through to licensed manufacturers. With the Olympics starting in under a fortnight, just-style looks at the event's impact on the apparel industry.

Sportswear brands pin hopes on Olympic performance

18 July 2012

As the London 2012 Olympics approaches, sportswear firms are battling to take centre stage, launching new innovations that are set to boost athletes' performance and drive maximum commercial value out of the event.

Channelling the Olympic spirit

18 July 2012

A colleague expressed horror earlier this week on realising that the only entry to the Olympic stadiums in London will be through a purpose-built Westfield Mall. She was surprised at the rampant commercialism of the games.

Olympic Games to offer UK retail sales boost

18 July 2012

UK retailers are hoping the London 2012 Olympics will contribute to a multi-million pound boost in sales. But will sportswear retailers be the only beneficiaries, or could value retailers expect to see some uplift too? Katie Smith reports.

Five of the best Olympic sportswear innovations

18 July 2012

As the 2012 London Olympics approaches, sportswear firms are looking to align their brands with athletes' success by launching new technical innovations. Here are five of the best unveiled in the lead-up to the Games.

US: 2014 Olympic uniforms to be made in the US

16 July 2012

Ralph Lauren Corp has pledged that uniforms worn by American athletes at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games will be made in the US, following a row over this year's outfits being manufactured in China.

US: Lawmakers outraged by China-made Olympic outfits

13 July 2012

US lawmakers have hit back at reports that Olympic uniforms for American athletes were allegedly manufactured in China.

UK: Call for action over Olympic worker abuses

8 May 2012

Workers making sportswear for the forthcoming London Olympics are being poorly paid and treated, according to a new report from the Playfair 2012 campaign.

UK: Sweatshop labour uncovered in Olympic factories

27 February 2012

The organisers of the London 2012 Olympics are introducing new measures designed to protect workers producing merchandise for this year's games after evidence of exploitation was uncovered.

UK: Campaigners call for sweatshop-free Olympics

26 July 2011

With exactly one year to go before the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, activists are stepping up calls for merchandise used at the event to be sourced from ethical suppliers.