2014 Olympic uniforms to be made in the US

US: 2014 Olympic uniforms to be made in the US

By Katie Smith | 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.

Ralph Lauren says uniforms for the opening and closing ceremony at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, which will be held in Sochi, Russia, will be made in the US.

"We have committed to producing the opening and closing ceremony team USA uniforms in the US that will be worn for the 2014 Olympic Games," the company said in a statement.

"We are honoured to continue our longstanding relationship with the US Olympic Committee in the 2014 Olympic Games by serving as an official outfitter of the US Olympic and Paralympic teams," it added.

Meanwhile, Scott Blackmun, CEO of the US Olympic Committee, said the organisation is taking very seriously concerns of members of the US Congress and American public about the production of the 2012 uniforms.

"With athletes having already arrived in London, and the apparel distribution process beginning this weekend, we are unfortunately not able to make a change for London," he said.

However, the US Olympic Committee said it is committed to ensuring concerns from US lawmakers and the American public are addressed.

"To that end, Ralph Lauren has agreed to domestically manufacture Team USA's apparel for opening and closing ceremonies for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games."

Separately, the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) said the US textile industry has more than enough capacity to meet the team's needs.

"Our industry and our colleagues could have easily supplied this product. In the last three years, we have invested over US$3bn in our industry, including building new plants in the US that produce some of the most innovative yarns and fabrics found anywhere," said Cass Johnson, president of the NCTO.

Sectors: Apparel, Manufacturing, Retail, Sourcing