Australian Paralympic team uniform unveiled at Australian Fashion Week

A new look Paralympic team uniform has been unveiled at the final day of Australian Fashion Week in Sydney, as the countdown to the opening ceremony in Paris closes in on 100 days.

Australian Paralympians have praised the increased accessibility of this year’s Paralympic Games uniform as the countdown begins to one of sport’s showpiece events.

A dozen athletes took centre stage on Friday at Australian Fashion Week to launch this year’s outfit, as Paralympic Australia partnered with brands including R.M Williams, Speedo and Belgravia Apparel ahead of the Games in Paris later this year.

The companies have worked in collaboration with members of the Paralympic team to increase the functionality of the products they will be taking to Paris.

Tristan Knowles unveils new look Paralympic playing uniform. Picture: James Gourley/Getty Images for AFW

The jackets feature magnets instead of buttons to make it easier to fasten, while sneakers and boots have been modified to include a zip on the side, which makes it far more accessible, particularly for athletes with prosthetics.

“We are people living with disability and we need to think about how we do things slightly differently, not reinventing the wheel but just slightly differently,” dual Paralympic gold medallist Curtis McGrath said.

“It’s putting a magnet rather than zips, putting a zip in the shoes. It’s just making it more inclusive with a bit more understanding, and a bit more collaborative with what we need and what we require to make sure that everyone’s feeling like they can put on the uniform and feel proud of what they’re wearing.”

A new look Paralympic team uniform was unveiled at the RM Williams x Australian launch to close Australian Fashion Week. Australia. Picture: Don Arnold/WireImage

McGrath is a co-captain of the Australian Paralympic team for Paris alongside wheelchair sprinter Angie Ballard. If Ballard qualifies for the Games later this year, it will be her seventh Paralympics after making her debut at Sydney 2000 and she can’t believe how far the uniform has evolved in that time.

“It’s made for us,” she said. “I’ve gone through many uniforms and we’ve had some where you can’t get the shoes on or you get stuck in the jumper.

“The fact that we design uniforms with athletes and the designers now is so cool, and it just makes sense. It makes it work what it needs to work for.”

The uniforms also proudly display an Indigenous artwork called ‘The Journey’, designed by Yuin woman Rheanna Lotter. As part of the Australian uniforms since Rio in 2016, the design is featured on the inside of jackets, on the front of polo shirts and also on competition wear.

It features eight circles to represent each Australian state and territory, tracks to signify the connection between Paralympians and boomerangs as a reminder of the challenges overcome in the journey to the Games.

Jamieson Leeson reveals the new line of carefully designed casual wear. Picture: Don Arnold/WireImage

Paralympian Curtis McGrath reveals the uniform featuring artwork titled ‘The Journey’ by Yuin artist, Rheanna Lotter. Picture: Don Arnold/WireImage

R.M Williams was responsible for designing the uniform that the team will wear for the opening ceremony when they march down the Champs-Elysses on August 28. Green and gold colour palettes are the overarching theme as the designers looked to pay tribute to the Australian landscape.

The significance of launching the outfits at Australian Fashion Week wasn’t lost on the athletes either as they continue to push for wider celebration of the Paralympics movement.

While they hope their feats in Paris will continue to inspire those with a disability, they also want to communicate how important it is to incorporate accessibility into everyday life.

“I think it’s really important to show to brands that inclusion and accessibility can be fashionable,” swimmer Lakeisha Patterson said.

“We are athletes first and foremost, but we want to obviously feel good and look good, to feel confident in what we are wearing. That doesn’t only enable us but it also helps the viewers watching us on the world stage.

“Being able to showcase that to the rest of Australia too and show that you can do anything with a disability. Yes, we’re athletes, but we can enjoy fashion. You wear clothes every single day, so why not make it a little bit more accessible for everyone to access.”

Originally published as Australian Paralympic team uniform unveiled at Australian Fashion Week