Stella McCartney Unveils 2012 Olympics Uniforms For Great Britain

By Erin Donnelly 03/22/12 at 09:00 AM

Photo: Getty Images

Triple jumper Phillips Idowu, Stella McCartney and Heptathlon athlete Jessica Ennis.

When it comes to the Summer 2012 Olympics, London is clearly looking to be the host with the most. And who better than Stella McCartney to help her country's athletes dress the part?

In her role as creative director of Adidas, the designer has unveiled the official Olympic and Paralympic kit for Team Great Britain, which is said to be the most comprehensive of its kind—there are 590 items in all—and enhanced with "cutting-edge technology" to boost performance.

Encompassing competition wear, training gear, footwear, and presentation outfits, the collection was modeled by 30 athletes at the Tower of London. Though McCartney herself was clad in a paisley-print ensemble, Her Majesty's sportiest donned red shoes, navy bottoms, and white tanks and tees trimmed in red and featuring the blue Union Jack flag.

“The first place to start on a project like this is to look at the Union flag," the upcoming Ab Fab guest-star says in a press statement.

"For me it’s one of the most beautiful flags in the world and it was important for me to stay true to that iconic design but also to modernize it and present it in a contemporary way. Ultimately, we wanted the athletes to feel like a team and be proud with the identity we created.”

PowerWeb and Climacool technologies will also work to give athletes a sporting, and not just sartorial, advantage.

"All eyes will be watching London 2012 so every little detail matters," British triple jumper Phillips Idowu adds.

"I love what Stella has done with the design. Looking good is psychologically important but my sprint suit is also technically advanced, so not only do I look good but I also have confidence in the technology in the kit.”

Team USA, meanwhile, will be parading about in Ralph Lauren's white chinos and red, white, and navy polos, while Giorgio Armani—tasked with designing the Italian uniforms with his EA7 line—cleverly released a new "Sense of Being" campaign featuring his country's Olympians just one minute before McCartney's press launch.

Guess that competitive spirit is catching on!