Comments on: 2008 Olympic Team Uniforms

By: Eleanor

Eleanor — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 06:51:05 +0000

In reply to a post sent by : Isabel of Montreal, stating “I just want to point out that HBC, the company that is responsible for Canada’s hideous costumes (decidedly un-uniform), is American. There is sabotage in there somewhere :P”

First, the Canadian team worked very closely to the creators of these uniforms. No, they may not be to everyone’s taste but everyone isn’t representing us this year in China are they? 347 athletes are and that is what they helped to create so I suggest you support them regardless of how you yourself sitting in Montreal feel about it.

Second, for the past 350+yrs HBC has been a Canadian Company, it is run by the hard work and sweat of CANADIANS! Yes it was sold to an American but that in no way diminishes the history of this company in Canada. What kind of history are they teaching you kids over there in Quebec ?

Enjoy the games!!

Gooooo Canada :D

By: elsa

elsa — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 16:13:01 +0000

I agree with Jim and Shuu. The uniforms were designed with the Athletes input. They were involved in the process and this is what they wanted.
I am sure proud, I think they are different, very forward thinking; and if you go out there in a crowd of people and ask which uniforms they recall out of all the countries, Canada will probably be on top of the list. Bad or not, its to each one’s taste; but they are sure not mistaken by any other country. We don’t look like flight attendants and we surely don’t look like we have gone back in time and are born again preps.
SO, KEEP IT UP CANADA. BRING THE METALS HOME, WE ARE ALL CHEERING FOR YOU.

Also, for all of you who think HBC is American. HBC is as Canadian as you are going to get, the owners over the last couple of years might have been American, but the 70,000 employees who work across Canada are certainly proud Canadians.
If you want to know how Canadian HBC is and what is means to this country, do some research; you might be surprised by what you will find.

By: shuu

shuu — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 02:12:08 +0000

I love you Jim, you hit the nail on the head. A lot of people seem to hate these outfits, which by the way are NOT the athletes, these are being sold to the public. I honestly think the designers got it right on with the street/urban feel, and absolutely off-the-wall patterns which is the biggest trend right now. Particularliy in urban clothing styles.

I honestly didn’t hear anything about the bad uniforms from anywhere in my office (I work at an animation studio, so lots of young people) until I turned on the radio and listened to 40, 50, 60 and 70 year olds (not to stereotype, there WERE younger people on too, just not many) complaing about “pajama”-esqu style. And okay, they’re not awesome designs per say, but I see other countries’ flight-attendent look (exactly what I thought, Lindsey!) and I think we really, really dodged a terrible 70’s-80’s bullet. Go Canada, even if you think the outfits are hideous, ha!

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:55:16 +0000

I think the majority of the people saying they don’t like the uniforms are clearly: 1) over 40 or 2) haven’t the faintest idea what the current fashion trends for kids/teens are. The designers were obviously influenced by the “urban” and hip hop look that has dominated teen street fashion lately. Don’t know who BAPE is? You probably won’t like the designs, but teens and twenty-somethings sure do. But then, refer to my first sentence.

Also, the person talking about the Hudson’s Bay Company being American? Yes, it was owned by an American (who has since died, by the way), but only for the past few years. It is the oldest corporation in North America (over 300 years) and is as Canadian as it gets.

Why blue and green? Because those are part of HBC’s corporate colours, which are yes, a CANADIAN icon.

Saying HBC is an American company is like saying Manchester United is American. HBC is American owned, not American.

By: Hugh

Hugh — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:36:53 +0000

I dont know, I like what HBC has done with the Unis, they are putting it out there – bold – making a crazy statement … honestly they are the only unis I have seen so far that someone might wear out on the street.

I would like to see Lulu Lemon try to get into this – get designing for the Olympics in LuLu Lemon clothing would be huge.

By: hepburn24

hepburn24 — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:07:11 +0000

i think italy’s uniform looks really awesome with excellent cutting.. sweet looking suits. i wonder who designed them.

By: Brenda G

Brenda G — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:54:34 +0000

Go Canada! The uniforms look great!!! Shows diversity & guts, a nation who’s not afraid to push the limits – that’s what you have to do as an athlete!

Why would you want to put an athlete in a stuffy, stuck-up look – that’s not what Canada is.

By: David

David — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:45:44 +0000

Just searched Google for “Olympics Clothing” and it’s amazing how much promotion there is this year. Looks like a good portion of the US gear is made in China and some manufacturers have tried to curb this perception with statements like “fabric made in the USA”.

By: devin

devin — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 06:33:44 +0000

HBC may not be owned by Canadians but it’s still considered a Canadian thing… anyway when I seen our uniforms I threw up a bit, I mean USA gets classy RL and we get Zellers PJs lol, bring back Roots for 08 please?

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:23:39 +0000

… oh. I didn’t realize Zucker had bought the company outright. Whoops!