Ralph Lauren has long pioneered technology and innovation—and the new 2020 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team USA Closing Ceremony Parade Uniforms and apparel collection demonstrate just that.
Ralph Lauren has been the Official Outfitter of Team USA since 2008. For this summer’s Olympics in Tokyo, the company worked to incorporate more sustainable materials and manufacturing practices into the collection and developed and invested in groundbreaking innovations in sustainable materials and manufacturing technologies.
Case in point, the brand, which recently announced its Color on Demand platform, partnered with Dow to optimize the use of ECOFAST™ Pure Sustainable Textile Treatment. The company said this provides an “advanced pre-treatment solution for more sustainable cotton dyeing that significantly reduces the amount of water, chemicals and energy used compared to traditional dye processes and will be utilized within cotton products in the Team USA apparel collection.
“MIRUM® is a revolutionary leather alternative material made from renewable resources that include plant-based materials and agricultural by-products and is a solution that is free of synthetic plastics,” the company continued. “The MIRUM® Olympic Patch was developed in partnership with Natural Fiber Welding, Inc, a leading sustainable material science company that Ralph Lauren recently invested in, that has revolutionized the use and reuse of plant fibers and materials into patented, high-performance materials.”
After the challenges of the past year, David Lauren, Chief Innovation and Branding Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board, called this summer’s Games “a true testament to the resiliency of the human spirit and the universal power of sport to energize and unite the world.
“As we come together to celebrate and compete,” he continued, “ we must also embrace our responsibility to protect the planet we all call home. As part of this, we are proud to continue to invest in and scale sustainability innovations — dressing our nation’s best and brightest athletes in timeless clothing that has been consciously created.”
And delivered with fabulous All-American designs — we love it!
