By Politiquette’s Marissa Mitrovich: Politiquette is a place to be inspired by the art of fashion. Readers gain an understanding of the politics of why to wear–and the etiquette of when to wear–specific styles. Marissa Mitrovich founded Politiquette with the goal of bringing further substance to the dialogue surrounding style in DC.

We’ve traveled the “Road to Rio” and have finally arrived.  Hopefully the next two weeks will bring many gold medals for Team USA in Brazil, but regardless of how well the athletes perform at their sport, I am here to tell you that their fashion will be in the lead.

When I saw Team USA’s uniforms (designed by Ralph Lauren), I started to think many thoughts to myself: who designs all of the outfits for the athletes…I mean uniforms; maybe Russia hacked Ralph Lauren’s designs just like the DNC email server and that is why those shirts look like their flag; are they made in the USA?… and then some other thoughts.

I did a web search to find out the answers to my questions and to my surprise I was basically unlucky.  Finding out this information is no different than trying to track down a bureaucratic staffer at an agency who works on a specific issue.  So I spent an entire day researching every sport and was able to compile THE ONLY comprehensive list that exists of the designers (using this word loosely) behind the Team USA runway – I haven’t worked this hard maybe ever on a project and I think I deserve a gold medal for my efforts.

Each individual sport or activity is sponsored by a single designer, except for beach volleyball – each beach volleyball player seems to be individually sponsored.  The BMX cyclists are not sponsored by the same designer as the rest of the cyclists even though they are lumped together as one sport sector – I get that though (BMX bikers are way more rad IMHO and should have their own uniforms). The rowing team has cutting edge antimicrobial suits designed by a textile engineer at the University of Philadelphia in case they fall into the very polluted Guanabara Bay – we could use those same suits for water adventures in the Potomac.

Without further ado, here is your Team USA Designer Roster:

Opening and Closing Ceremonies: Ralph Lauren

Medal Stand Uniforms: Nike

Archery: Nike

Badminton: Nike

Basketball: Nike

Beach volleyball: Jolyn, Mizuno, Under Armour, Rox Volleyball

Boxing: Under Armour

Canoe slalom: Nike

Canoe sprint: Nike

Cycling (BMX): Hot Shoppe Designs

Cycling (Mountain, Road, Track): Assos

Diving: Nike

Equestrian: Ariat

Fencing: Absolute Fencing Gear

Field hockey: Asics

Golf: Adidas

Gymnastics: Under Armour

Judo: FUJI (Hatashita Sports)

Modern pentathlon: Nike

Rhythmic gymnastics: Under Armour

Rowing: Boathouse Sports with fabric designed by Mark Sunderland, a Philadelphia University textile Engineer

Rugby sevens: Nike

Sailing: Sperry Top-Sider

Shooting: Shoot the Moon

Soccer: Nike

Swimming: Speedo

Synchronized swimming: Triflare

Table tennis: Butterfly

Taekwondo: DaedoUSA

Tennis: Under Armour

Track & field: Nike

Trampoline: Under Armour

Triathlon: TYR

Volleyball: Mizuno

Water polo: Turbo USA

Weightlifting: Nike

Wrestling: Asics

Fashionably Famous: Jeffrey Levinson | Guide to Philly | Packing For the Conventions |