All the planning and hidden details behind our new Olympic Uniform

100 days out from the start of the 2024 Olympics, Australia’s uniform has been revealed. Here, all the hidden meanings behind it, plus how you can own a piece of the uniform yourself. 

The Australian Olympic uniforms designed by Sportscraft, unveiled at Sydney's Clovelly Beach on April 17, 2024. Image credit: supplied

100 days out from the start of the 2024 Olympics, Australia’s uniform has been revealed. Here, all the hidden meanings behind it, plus how you can own a piece of the uniform yourself. 

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As Australia marks 100 days until the beginning of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Sportscraft this morning unveiled the official team uniform at Sydney’s Clovelly Surf Club.

Nine athletes—including Tilly Kearns and Torrie Lewis—modelled the combination of pieces which will serve as the Opening and Closing ceremony uniforms for approximately 450 of our greatest sporting talents come July.

The 2024 uniform has been three years in the making and created after extensive feedback from an advisory committee made up of past and present athletes, as well as Indigenous representatives. Vogue was given an exclusive preview of the collection to understand not only the logistics that go into creating the pieces, but some symbolism that Sportscraft has woven into each individual piece. 

The Australian Olympic uniforms designed by Sportscraft, unveiled at Sydney's Clovelly Beach on April 17, 2024. Image credit: supplied

There are strict parameters

For every critic that questions why our colour palette never changes, it’s because it can’t. The Australian uniform must stay true to our green and gold roots and the cornerstone must be a blazer which can be worn to formal Olympic engagements following the conclusion of the Games. 

This year, Sportscraft has incorporated a shade of green verging on teal to set it apart and also adopted an ombre effect, inspired by the Parisian sunset, to soften the shades. Pieces must also not verge on too casual (so no relaxed tracksuit pants) and have to be able to accommodate the varying body shapes of athletes—everyone from an Olympic weightlifter to a five-foot tall female diver. 

Comfort is key

At the beginning of the process, the advisory committee submits their wishlist to Sportscraft, who then work on designing the individual pieces. Above all else, comfort and function take priority. Paris could reach temperatures of up to 40 degrees when the Games are on and the wait time for the Opening Ceremony has been known to be up to eight hours long. The advisory committee requested linen for Paris 2024, so Sportscraft worked with this as well as 100% Australian cotton in their t-shirt fabrication. 

Every potential Olympian is measured

Last year Sportscraft measured 650 athletes vying for Paris. In other words, they over-measure so every potential size is on file, and also factor in that bodies change depending on when someone is in or out of competition. For the first time ever, both the women's and men’s shorts have an element of stretch in the cotton to allow for changes in body shape from the time of measuring. There will also be Sportscraft reps on the ground in Paris if a piece needs refitting, although every measure is taken prior to ensure these cases are few and far between. 

Image credit: courtesy Sportscraft

Close to the heart

Look closely and you'll notice both the women’s and men’s blazers come with a striking Olympic crest and gold buttons (inspired by the ‘city of lights’ itself) that feature the Australian coat of arms. But the real symbolism sits within the lining. The interior of each blazer features the name of every single gold medallist to have represented Australia from 1896 to 2020, as well as the Olympian’s Oath (a first-time inclusion) that sits on the inside pocket at heart level when the blazer is buttoned up. 

A nod to Sportscraft’s heritage

The pleated ombre skirt (that sits just above knee level) pays homage to Sportscraft’s heritage.  When Sportscraft founder Wolf Bardas emigrated to Australia from Russia he brought over the first ever pleating machine, so the label has been producing skirts like this since its first began in 1914. The linework on the skirt is inspired by the Eiffel Tower and The Louvre. 

The Olympic uniforms depicted in initial sketches. Image credit: courtesy Sportscraft

A first for Indigenous artworks

This is the first Olympic Opening and Closing Uniform that has included both Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander artworks. These are seen in the scarf in the women’s uniform, the pocket square for the men, and on the inside of the gold crossbody bag. The latter is by Aboriginal artist—and former Olympic boxing representative—Paul Fleming, whose work Walking Together symbolises the journey athletes endure against setbacks and the coming together of different cultures and people for the one common goal. 

Australians can own their own piece

Iconic Aussie shoe brand Volley has created two shoes for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The first is the Volley Deuce in premium leather with embossed Olympic logo, subtle green and gold accents and with Paul Flemings artwork on the insole. The second, the Volley Heritage Low, is slightly more casual and a replica is able to be purchase for $79.99 (see below) for those wanting to recreate their own Closing Ceremony moment at home. 

SHOP NOW: Volley Heritage Low Paris sneaker, $79.99 at Volley

Originally published as All the planning and hidden details behind our new Olympic Uniform