The US Olympic team uniforms, designed by Ralph Lauren, have been the focus of much scrutiny from lawmakers and human rights activists. they shamefully call in the use of Chinese factories to manufacture these pious pieces. The Chinese outfit urged Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, to also say “the Olympic Council should be ashamed of itself.” Reid went even further, saying, “I think it’s a shame. I think you should take all the jewelry, put it in a big pile and burn it and start again.” There is no doubt that the classic nautical style has been polarizing the media, but the reaction to the uniform’s country of origin has rightly ignited, forcing me to question whether people are perhaps overreacting. I also wondered if Ralph Lauren really blames the responsibility on United The Olympic Committee or the blame rests on the entire society.
First, we must dispel some of the misconceptions that have been scattered around this public backlash. A quick read on Ralph Lauren’s website shows that the shirt, pants and ties are actually made in Italy, while the other parts of the uniform are said to be “imported”, which is pretty much called “Made in China”. Maybe splitting hairs here, but arguments must be based on true facts, or they fail regardless of the line of sound logic. Therefore, although the uniforms are not entirely made in China, they still draw most of the main parts from the country.
The USOC chose the Ralph Lauren Polo brand for its 2012 Summer Olympics uniforms, probably because of the brand’s iconic All-American image. Ralph Lauren epitomizes American in the dream, and it is undoubtedly the most famous way. hail from a great nation always. Its controversial, preppy design style reflects decades of carefully curated lifestyle marketing and branding that is the ubiquitous American Express style. From a lifestyle and design perspective, Ralph Lauren Polo is a perfect fit for the US Olympic team uniform as his sense of style has defined American fashion for nearly five decades.
Ralph Lauren’s Polo brand is known for its carefully curated lifestyle brand. Ralph Lauren’s vision and history told his clothes in a uniquely and intrinsically American way. For decades he has taken the preppy look and made it his own. Polo has taken the country club trend and brought it to the masses, making it fashionable for people of all budgets to don prep school inspired striped ties. and nautical-inspired grosgrain belts. Mourning bangs, blue blazers, and boat shoes were once the sole form of upper-crust accessories, but Polo brought these pieces to the masses in aristocratic fashion. , making it look distinctly American. Ralph Lauren sells a lifestyle with his merchandise, and every part of it is a distinctly American brand that he has carefully curated; Polo shirts are more than clothing, they are part of the American story.
Truth be told, the 2012 Summer Olympic clothing frenzy seems rather a joke when you think of it as Chinese-made, mass-produced clothes. just business from Ralph Lauren’s Polo brand and just about every other household name in clothing. I understand that the Olympic stage and our flag being associated with Chinese goods is what has drawn the ire of many, but it is more sad that the Olympic stage is taking up the recognition of these human rights violations and it seems to be the only one. people are troubled because of the riddle of Olympia and America attached to it. It is also ironic that an aristocratic brand built on a popular style built its brand using the products of Chinese labor. In the midst of the great 2012 Summer Olympics uniform debacle, it seems as if it has become fashionable to criticize the most beloved name in American style without considering the larger cultural breakdown that is reflected in this story, which is not exclusive to Ralph Lauren Polo. brand at all.
We have to ask ourselves why we are promoting Ralph Lauren and his Polo brand and neglecting the elephant in the room that is Lake. Lake is the largest and most profitable company in the world and while their designs originate in California, their goods originate from the notoriously atrocious FoxConn factories in China. Lake is another American success story and lifestyle marketing, another story of American success built by hand. Chinese labors. What could be more American than selling lifestyle accessories that evoke images of prosperity, comfort and convenience? How ironic than that the state symbols that build our collective image of American design and success are built by people living and working in miserable conditions overseas . Apparently, 2012 is a line of service to do well, as long as it occurs in a distant land. To loosely paraphrase Sinclair Lewis, when corporatism arrives at the Summer Olympics, it will drink Chinese-made and carry the American flag.
