They had a fashion show the other day here in Toronto launching what Canada's athletes will be wearing in Beijing during the Olympics. It is a fusion of Chinese symbols - including the number 8 or octagonal shapes (8 sided) because the number 8 is considered lucky to the Chinese, blended in with the usual Canadian symbols such as the Maple Leaf. By the way the Olympics will start at 8:00PM on the 8th day of the 8th month of 2008 - no accident.
It seems like they've taken into account many factors in the design with everything designed for the Beijing Games being super lightweight. "It could be 45 degrees in Beijing in August." Designer Ly says various fabrics have "built-in cooling factors, moisture-wicking technology and are UV resistant." As well, for environmentalists, some fabrics are created from bamboo and organic cotton.
And what may be the 'must have' item from this collection like the Canadian hats in Nagano - is the multifunctional B-Tube which is a simple tube of polyester material in a print mixing Canadian and Chinese motifs that promises to block more than 95 per cent of UV radiation and can be worn as a face mask to filter smog, as a hairband, and as several different styles of head covering
It certainly is not boring or conservative - and because of that undoubtedly some people will absolutely hate it. But I think some of it is quite cool looking and should raise some eyebrows. They have not yet released the 'top secret' opening ceremony or podium uniforms. Here are links to an article about the clothing and then a link to a photo spread of the clothing and accessories the team members will wear when at the venues and around the Olympic Village. Apparently each athlete will get 25 pieces from the collection.
http://www.thestar.com/living/article/419664
http://www.thestar.com/fpLarge/photo/419769
Full Version: Canada's Beijing Athlete's Uniforms
I think they took everything into account except style.
Those were my thoughts swiminbuff, but I didn't want to sound like the "typical rude American."
I have to agree, those clothes are horrible.
Hey guys - not surprised by your reactions - but I respectfully disagree.
I actually like most of it. Certain items I agree maybe a bit too wild and I can get the pajama like comparison some naysayers have stated in reviews up here of certain items. But overall I really like how bold and vibrant and colourful it all is. I especially like the colourful t-shirt with a bold red maple leaf surrounded by bright green and blue colours as shown on photo 5 of the 13 in the photo shoot.
It is not just the same old stuff that could be our uniform year after year after year. I think the designers quite deliberately went for something that realistically is only going to make fashion sense for Canadians at the Beijing Olympics - and I like that! This won't be repeated in 2012 in London, whereas I'm willing to bet half the other countries' entrants show no acknowlegement that these games are in China as these outfits clearly do.
In my view it is very refreshing to see something different like this. Of course - as I mentioned on my original post though I recognize that especially on this continent - where sameness rules - I expect a lot of negative reviews of something that is unique and different as much of this collection is. 'Different' just does not work for too many people in this part of the world.
I suspect much of the Asian world - especially the Chinese would approve though and are likely to be very happy to see some of their traditions incorporated into our uniforms. I know that was very much the reaction of some of my Asian friends here in Toronto.
I actually like most of it. Certain items I agree maybe a bit too wild and I can get the pajama like comparison some naysayers have stated in reviews up here of certain items. But overall I really like how bold and vibrant and colourful it all is. I especially like the colourful t-shirt with a bold red maple leaf surrounded by bright green and blue colours as shown on photo 5 of the 13 in the photo shoot.
It is not just the same old stuff that could be our uniform year after year after year. I think the designers quite deliberately went for something that realistically is only going to make fashion sense for Canadians at the Beijing Olympics - and I like that! This won't be repeated in 2012 in London, whereas I'm willing to bet half the other countries' entrants show no acknowlegement that these games are in China as these outfits clearly do.
In my view it is very refreshing to see something different like this. Of course - as I mentioned on my original post though I recognize that especially on this continent - where sameness rules - I expect a lot of negative reviews of something that is unique and different as much of this collection is. 'Different' just does not work for too many people in this part of the world.
I suspect much of the Asian world - especially the Chinese would approve though and are likely to be very happy to see some of their traditions incorporated into our uniforms. I know that was very much the reaction of some of my Asian friends here in Toronto.
I see what you're sayin Travelpat. I like the idea of trying to make the clothes look like traditional Asian/Chinese attire. I just think that the patterns are TOO busy. "Less says more," as the old saying goes imho.
I was at The Bay today and saw the clothes in person... not so hot. The stuff that Roots used to do was much better. That said, the plain t-shirt that says "CANADA" in an unusual font is OK. There are some sweat pants/shorts that are not too bad. I think the 2010 Vancouver Olympic wear is nicer, as they've gone for more of a nature/green theme.
Anyhoo, here's the info on the HBC website.
Anyhoo, here's the info on the HBC website.
Now most of the clothes on that website canmark are nice! I'd even order something. 
Hey SCTrojan - I'm with you on some of it it being a little too busy - especially when having both a wildly patterned top with the wildly patterned pants. It is not as bad when the pants are with something more solid up top.
And Mark the one comment from athletes and my experience having bought previous Roots and HBC Canadian Olympic stuff has been that the actual quality of the HBC stuff was much better than what they got from Roots. And I do like the Vancouver stuff too.
And Mark the one comment from athletes and my experience having bought previous Roots and HBC Canadian Olympic stuff has been that the actual quality of the HBC stuff was much better than what they got from Roots. And I do like the Vancouver stuff too.
More controversy over the Team Canada Olympic wear. It seems that the majority of the clothes are made in (gasp) China! Opposition politicians are outraged! Apparently, 80% of the athletes' official clothes, and 90% of the public clothes (sold at HBC) are made in China. The opening and closing ceremony outfits (which are being kept under wraps) are made in Canada, supposedly.
With the next Olympics taking place in Vancouver in 2010, there is an outcry to outfit our athletes in Made in Canada clothing.
With the next Olympics taking place in Vancouver in 2010, there is an outcry to outfit our athletes in Made in Canada clothing.
QUOTE(canmark @ May 2 2008, 05:23 PM) 
...With the next Olympics taking place in Vancouver in 2010, there is an outcry to outfit our athletes in Made in Canada clothing.
In Canada? In the US, of course it's expected.
...Just for clarity, I don't mean to offend my Canadian brothers & sisters. But if there was ever a template for Americans to easily copy & become (& that I wished for) is a secure Canadian identity.
I've become obsessed with the polo whites of Team USA. I'm trying to figure out what they remind me of. Brideshead Revisted? Chariots of Fire? But perhaps it's those Wimbledon whites. That's the look that Team USA is going for.
Personally, I think the Canadian Olympic uniforms would look much better and make more of a statement if they were emblazoned with pictures like this or like this .
And I can guarantee you these wouldn't be made in China! Sorry, I tried to refrain from politicizing this thread, but couldn't resist any longer. I should know better, after all China, the IOC and many athletes keep reminding us that the Olympics have nothing to do with politics and human rights...if they say so, it must be true, eh?
And I can guarantee you these wouldn't be made in China! Sorry, I tried to refrain from politicizing this thread, but couldn't resist any longer. I should know better, after all China, the IOC and many athletes keep reminding us that the Olympics have nothing to do with politics and human rights...if they say so, it must be true, eh?
But I think we Canadians should be careful about mocking somebody else's Olympic else we may get what we deserve. Already there are rumblings that First Nations groups may mount protests against the Vancouver Olympics. How embarassing would that be for "perfect" Canada? All these anti-China, pro-Tibet protests are just giving young Aboriginals ideas on how to bring attention to their own causes. Further, there are anti-poverty groups (some of which helped derail Toronto's Olympic hopes) that will likely lead protests against Vancouver. If we want to play by those rules we'd better be prepared to face the consequences.
QUOTE
Aboriginal leaders may be unable to stop protests and blockades from disrupting the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, warns National Assembly of First Nations Chief Phil Fontaine.
"There's clearly that sentiment in parts of our community for sure," Fontaine told the Toronto Star editorial board yesterday, suggesting widespread despair among young Indians may prove more powerful than calls for compromise.
* * *
Leaders like himself are considered "sellouts" for suggesting the Olympic Games are going to benefit aboriginal people, as Fontaine did at a recent First Nations meeting in Vancouver. Too many people have seen the international attention garnered by recent Olympic Torch protests over China's crackdown against Tibet.
"There's clearly that sentiment in parts of our community for sure," Fontaine told the Toronto Star editorial board yesterday, suggesting widespread despair among young Indians may prove more powerful than calls for compromise.
* * *
Leaders like himself are considered "sellouts" for suggesting the Olympic Games are going to benefit aboriginal people, as Fontaine did at a recent First Nations meeting in Vancouver. Too many people have seen the international attention garnered by recent Olympic Torch protests over China's crackdown against Tibet.
QUOTE
Canada's spy agency has monitored anti-Olympic activities for more than a year and found the strongest opposition among "the more extreme elements" of First Nations, in alliance with anti-poverty groups, according to an internal government document.
I have no problem with the First Nations people and anti-poverty groups participating in non-violent protests before and during the 2010 Olympics. They have some legitimate grievances that need to be addressed. The conditions on many of Canada's reserves are still deplorable, although not all of this is the government's fault; part of the problem lies with mis-management and corruption by some native band officials. Even the relatively wealthy reserves, such as Hobbema here in Alberta, have continued to experience huge social problems (domestic violence, rampant drug use, etc), as do the many 'non-reserve' aboriginals living in cities like Winnipeg and Regina.
One distinction to keep in mind, however, is the fact that protesters are FREE to demonstrate in Canada, unlike the PRC which keeps a tight lid on all forms of dissent and refuses to even acknowledges tragedies such as the Tiananmen Square massacre. And while in no way trying to excuse or trivialize the problems of Canada's native people, they certainly pale in comparison to the utterly despicable human rights abuses in China and in Darfur (for which China must bear some responsibility). Of course, I was being facetious about putting images of the Dalai Lama on the Canadian uniforms, but I do hope some athletes will have enough conscience and courage to speak out or make some symboic gesture criticizing the Chinese dictatorship, despite Dick Pound's remarks designed to bully them into silence. As a Canadian, I will be much prouder of any 'non-medal' athlete who speaks up, than any medal-winning athlete who says or does nothing.
I live in a city which hosted an Olympics Games twenty years ago, and at the time I was quite supportive and enthusiastic. Fortunately, those Games were relatively trouble-free in terms of political controversy, as have some of the other Games since then. But with all the strong emotions generated by the Beijing Olympics (and some other Games of the past), the enormous cost of building glitzy facilities (money which could in many cases be better spent on more important things such as housing for the host country's citizens and relieving the world's food shortage), the ultra-nationalistic tone of the Games, and not least of all the corruption of the IOC...all of these factors make me think now it is high time to consider scrapping the Olympics altogether. Can't athletes (and countries) get their glory at other, less politically-sensitive, world championship events for their particular sports, many of which are held more often than once every four years. Why do the Olympics always have to be the ultimate prize? Failing that, maybe the Olympics should at least be limited to a few places around the world which already have Olympic facilities in place, on a rotating basis. Greece, of course, is an obvious choice for a permanent Summer Games.
Enough already from me. If people want to go back to talking about Olympic uniforms, that's fine with me as that's what this thread was intended for. Sorry for the rant and going off-topic.
One distinction to keep in mind, however, is the fact that protesters are FREE to demonstrate in Canada, unlike the PRC which keeps a tight lid on all forms of dissent and refuses to even acknowledges tragedies such as the Tiananmen Square massacre. And while in no way trying to excuse or trivialize the problems of Canada's native people, they certainly pale in comparison to the utterly despicable human rights abuses in China and in Darfur (for which China must bear some responsibility). Of course, I was being facetious about putting images of the Dalai Lama on the Canadian uniforms, but I do hope some athletes will have enough conscience and courage to speak out or make some symboic gesture criticizing the Chinese dictatorship, despite Dick Pound's remarks designed to bully them into silence. As a Canadian, I will be much prouder of any 'non-medal' athlete who speaks up, than any medal-winning athlete who says or does nothing.
I live in a city which hosted an Olympics Games twenty years ago, and at the time I was quite supportive and enthusiastic. Fortunately, those Games were relatively trouble-free in terms of political controversy, as have some of the other Games since then. But with all the strong emotions generated by the Beijing Olympics (and some other Games of the past), the enormous cost of building glitzy facilities (money which could in many cases be better spent on more important things such as housing for the host country's citizens and relieving the world's food shortage), the ultra-nationalistic tone of the Games, and not least of all the corruption of the IOC...all of these factors make me think now it is high time to consider scrapping the Olympics altogether. Can't athletes (and countries) get their glory at other, less politically-sensitive, world championship events for their particular sports, many of which are held more often than once every four years. Why do the Olympics always have to be the ultimate prize? Failing that, maybe the Olympics should at least be limited to a few places around the world which already have Olympic facilities in place, on a rotating basis. Greece, of course, is an obvious choice for a permanent Summer Games.
Enough already from me. If people want to go back to talking about Olympic uniforms, that's fine with me as that's what this thread was intended for. Sorry for the rant and going off-topic.
As I predicted - a lot of commentators have been highly critical of the look of the fashions that HBC have designed for Canadian athletes for Beijing. Here is a reply to that criticism from Canadian track star Bruny Surin - who was a part of the 4 x 100 gold medal relay team for Canada at the 96 games in Atlanta. This from a letter to the editor in today's Toronto Star.
*****
As an Olympian who represented Canada at the Barcelona, Seoul, Atlanta and Sydney Summer Games, I can tell you it's an honour to walk into the stadium wearing uniforms that make an impression. That's why I believe the Hudson's Bay Co.'s latest designs for the Games in Beijing are going to be a big hit.
Why bore Canadians with a collection of boring, varsity-like uniforms? The Hbc collection, which was focus group-tested by 50 athletes, is both fashionable and represents the youth and energy of our Olympians. Athletes felt that the blend of Canadian symbols, like the maple leaf, and Chinese ones, like the No. 8, will wow everyone.
*******
I've got to wonder if his comment 'boring, varsity-like' is aimed at the very varsity looking US outfits. And speaking of 'boring' I noticed this story about what the Aussies will be wearing.
http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/news/loca...mes/241619.aspx
The story describes the casual wear for Aussie athletes this way:
***
But the casual look long-sleeved white shirts with deep blue horizontal stripes and shorts teamed with running shoes failed to impress. "I have to say, it lacks any kind of national recognition you can't tell where it's from or that the wearer is an athlete. It's very bland, it's very banal."
***
*****
As an Olympian who represented Canada at the Barcelona, Seoul, Atlanta and Sydney Summer Games, I can tell you it's an honour to walk into the stadium wearing uniforms that make an impression. That's why I believe the Hudson's Bay Co.'s latest designs for the Games in Beijing are going to be a big hit.
Why bore Canadians with a collection of boring, varsity-like uniforms? The Hbc collection, which was focus group-tested by 50 athletes, is both fashionable and represents the youth and energy of our Olympians. Athletes felt that the blend of Canadian symbols, like the maple leaf, and Chinese ones, like the No. 8, will wow everyone.
*******
I've got to wonder if his comment 'boring, varsity-like' is aimed at the very varsity looking US outfits. And speaking of 'boring' I noticed this story about what the Aussies will be wearing.
http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/news/loca...mes/241619.aspx
The story describes the casual wear for Aussie athletes this way:
***
But the casual look long-sleeved white shirts with deep blue horizontal stripes and shorts teamed with running shoes failed to impress. "I have to say, it lacks any kind of national recognition you can't tell where it's from or that the wearer is an athlete. It's very bland, it's very banal."
***
U-G-L-Y
You ain't got no alibi
You ugly (whoo whoo)
You ugly
Personally, I think the Canadian Olympic uniforms would look much better and make more of a statement if they were emblazoned with pictures like this...
Yeesh, those bruises. Has he been hanging with Amy Winehouse?
You ain't got no alibi
You ugly (whoo whoo)
You ugly
QUOTE(Marc @ May 8 2008, 03:38 AM)
Personally, I think the Canadian Olympic uniforms would look much better and make more of a statement if they were emblazoned with pictures like this...
Yeesh, those bruises. Has he been hanging with Amy Winehouse?
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