Stella Jean's Haitian Olympic Uniforms Are Meant to Send a Message
STELLA'S HOPE: Haitian-Italian designer Stella Jean, an early advocate and champion of diversity and inclusivity in fashion, is creating uniforms for Team Haiti at the Paris Olympics scheduled for July 26 to Aug. 11.
The 15-athlete team is to sport the uniforms conceived by Jean at the opening ceremony to be held on July 26 along the River Seine in Paris.
The tie-up marks an opportunity for Jean to spotlight her native country, its artisanship and cultural richness, which recently had been overshadowed by immense political instability in the country, crime, deadly natural disasters and the consequences of the "double debt," the fashion company said in a statement.
Jean has linked with Haitian painter Philippe Dodard, whose artwork titled "Passage" is to be incorporated in the uniforms.
The women's version features a full skirt bearing Dodard's artworks paired with a chambray shirt, woven in Haiti as part of the country's tradition in spinning the so-called "blue cotton," a heritage that is progressively dying out. Layered on top is a sleeveless blazer crafted from recycled fabric to which the Haitian Olympic emblem is pinned.
The men's uniform has pants that feature the Dodard painting's motif paired with a field jacket inspired by the signature Haitian shirt Guayabera, worn by local men, a nod to Jean's grandfather, the company said. The jacket will be worn atop a striped shirt and accessorized with a printed scarf.
Team Haiti uniforms for the 2024 Paris Olympics designed by Stella Jean .
Haiti is enduring one of its worst periods of chaos. After the assassination of its president Jovenel Moïse in 2021, local gangs have recently shut down the airport and looted seaports, public buildings and shops and targeted several police stations, especially in and around Port-au-Prince, the country's capital, currently under a state of emergency. Prime Minister Ariel Henry has been stranded in Puerto Rico as gang members demand his resignation.
The 15 athletes competing in the upcoming Olympics are, according to Jean's statement, "standard bearers of peace [who] will have an even more demanding task than arriving to the podium as medal recipients. They are 15 living symbols of rebirth and renewal that extend beyond what is usually shown."
The uniforms created by Jean will be exhibited at the Haitian National Pantheon Museum, known as Mupanah, in Port-au-Prince.
The announcement comes after other sportswear and luxury brands have started to reveal the gear they designed for national teams. These include, as reported, Nike's kits for the U.S. athletes and Lululemon's for Team Canada, as well as Berluti's uniforms for Team France.
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