The Olympics always provide an opportunity to witness athletic performances at near-superhuman levels—and this year, the best Olympic uniforms prove there will be plenty of outstanding sports fashion to see as well. With Paris playing host to the Summer 2024 Games, luxury titans serving as lead sponsors, and brands from Ralph Lauren to Berluci outfitting the athletes, each country’s team uniforms are destined to elicit their own round of cheers.
Because of the international focus of the Olympics, the “kits” that each competing team wears are carefully crafted to reflect the athletes’ home countries. From the ornate ensembles of the opening ceremony to the tactical athletic apparel built to withstand unbelievable feats of human prowess, each and every uniform honors national pride. As we gear up for the Paris Games, here’s a peek at some of the best Olympic uniforms that have been revealed so far.
Ralph Lauren for the United States
Ralph Lauren has been behind Team USA since 2008. The 2024 designs are a nod to the classic American tailoring for which the designer is best known. The opening ceremony sees athletes donning a traditional blazer over a striped shirt and tie with light-washed denim pants. Red, white, and blue accents leave no mystery as to the competitors’ country of origin. The RL closing ceremony outfits skew more heartland than Ivy League; they feature a moto jacket adorned with patches and white jeans. “This iconic apparel serves as a symbol of unity and inspiration for both our team and the millions of fans who will be cheering them on,” Sarah Hirshland, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee CEO said. What’s more? Each item in the uniforms is proudly manufactured in the United States.
Puma for Jamaica
The Jamaican flag is comprised of a truly striking color combination: black, gold and green. This colorway is at the heart of Puma’s Olympic kit. Jamaica has made a name for itself for its track and field athletes, who have won an astonishing 86 of the country’s 87 Olympic medals, including 26 golds, as of 2022. At the unveiling of the Puma kit, Puma CEO Arne Freundt explained that these designs marry speed and fashion: “The cut lines have been strategically placed to accentuate the physique of the athletes whilst providing a showstopping visual that emphasizes the beauty of an athlete in motion.” Of course, when designing for such rigorous competition, the fabric is of particular concern. To that end, Puma used “engineered jacquard fabric for heat reduction and breathability, with thermoadapt technology regulating body temperature to enable optimum performance,” explains Freundt.
The New Originals for the Netherlands
While many tune into the Olympics to watch classics like gymnastics and track, the roster of modern Olympic sports is constantly expanding. As of this year, breakdancing is officially an Olympic sport and the Netherlands dance team are set to make quite an entrance. Their futuristic uniforms pay homage to the colors of the Dutch flag and the vibrant orange of the national football team. The baggy-yet-effortlessly-cool tracksuits are straight from the quirky minds at Amsterdam-based brand The New Originals and sure to make a statement.
J.Lindeberg for the United States
Golf is often accused of being dull to watch, but perhaps J.Lindeberg’s sleek uniforms for the USA Olympic Golf Team will invigorate the experience. The Swedish brand has updated timeless golf classics (collared polo shirts; a-line skirts) with high-tech fabrics, streamlined silhouettes, and even a few innovative cut-outs. The color-block cardigans and slouchy lounge suits are especially cool.
Berluti for France
You don’t usually associate sports with tuxedos—but that didn’t stop Berluti from incorporating a bit of formalwear inspiration into its 2024 Paris designs. The French luxury brand has created the opening ceremony looks for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games this year and the result is beyond elegant: royal blues mingle with a burnished lapel with ombrè colors that nod to the French flag. The uniforms were designed in collaboration with Olivier Saillard, former editor of French and current editor of . The jacket has both a long sleeve and sleeveless style with matching slim pants or a skirt. As said when the line was first revealed, “Berluti is the temple of bespoke and thus capable of outfitting a swimmer, a basketball player, or a gymnast.”
ASICS for Australia
At first glance, ASICS’s take on the Australian Olympic team’s uniform might seem fairly straightforward, with green and gold as a celebration of the country’s national colors. But look closer and you’ll note that each uniform features an Indigenous print. According to ASICS, the designs featured were partly contributed by Indigenous artist and Olympic boxer, Paul Fleming, whose work titled ‘Walking Together’ was inspired by the idea that the Olympics is a meeting place for people of all backgrounds and cultures to come together. The 2024 uniforms marks the largest-ever integration of Indigenous prints in the history of the Summer Olympics.
Nike for the United States
Not all of the clamoring around the 2024 uniforms has been positive. When Nike unveiled its kit, it led with the claim that this year’s uniforms are the “most athlete-informed, data-driven and visually unified the company has ever produced.” Then social media caught a glimpse of the women’s track uniforms and erupted overnight: the one-piece features a high-hip cut with very, very limited coverage. On her Instagram, U.S. national champion distance runner Lauren Fleshman voiced her concern, writing “Women’s kits should be in service to performance, mentally and physically. If this outfit was truly beneficial to physical performance, men would wear it.” Nike was quick to point out that the unitard is not the only option—see in a red, white and blue compression shorts at the unveiling. Whatever happens with the *problematic* unitard, Nike’s commitment to athlete-informed design is commendable.
Stéphane Ashpool x Le Coq Sportif for France
Stéphane Ashpool, best known for streetwear brand Pigalle, had to fight for his designs to be made locally in France. He even went as far as obtaining approval from Judo’s Japanese regulators so that the French Judo team could wear kimonos made from French-woven fabric. This attention to detail has made for a stunning collection created in collaboration with Le Coq Sportif. As artistic director of the French Olympic and Paralympic team, Ashpool began his ideation process by going to the athletes themselves. “They all said the same thing: ‘We want to look good, we want to look fresh, and we want to look cool. Yes we want to look French, but we don’t want to be a walking flag. If we feel we look good, that will boost our confidence—and this in turn will maximize our performance,’” he told . The uniforms feel like a ’90s fever dream, with gradient colors and wavy details.
Lululemon for Canada
Canadian athleisure behemoth Lululemon has broken the mold with Canada’s uniforms this year. Not only are the bright crimson prints visually striking, but they mark a real movement toward accessibility and adaptability in the world of sports fashion. The kit was designed to support different bodies with an array of abilities, with features including magnetic-close zippers, pull-on loops, and sensory touch guides, from the brand describes. The kit even features two adaptive styles—the Seated-Fit Carpenter Pant and the Seated-Fit Packable Rain Poncho—intentionally designed to deliver functionality and comfort in a seated position.
Left of Friday for Canada
Indie brands seem to be taking over the Olympics—something we hope is more than just a passing trend. One 2024 addition of note: Left of Friday, which has developed a cult following for its flattering-yet-functional one- and two-piece beachwear in performance fabrics and bold, seaside-inspired hues. The co-founders know athleticwear inside and out; they met while working at Lulu Lemon. No wonder, then, that they were Team Canada’s first pick for the Women’s Beach Volleyball uniforms: “Left On Friday working with our beach national women’s teams as they continue to reach the top of the podium at events around the world is a great fit,” explains Team Canada’s Volleyball Canada’s President and CEO Mark Eckert.
Ben Sherman for Great Britain
UK heritage brand Ben Sherman was tapped for a third-consecutive Olympic Games to design uniforms to Team GB, as well as an accompanying capsule collection. A four-nation floral motif—inclusive of a rose, thistle, daffodil, and shamrock symbolizing the identities and histories each UK nation—is seen throughout. The uniforms are a classic and timeless design, paying homage to the rich history of British style.
