Canada's Olympic outfits go green

Canada's Olympic outfits go green

Last Updated: Wednesday, April 30, 2008

CBC News
Canada's Olympic athletes will be sporting a touch of green in their traditionally red and white uniforms at the Beijing Games — not only as a colour but also in the eco-friendly fabrics used for the clothing line.

Models and Olympic athletes model the clothes that will be worn by Canada's Olympic athletes in the athletes' village at the Beijing Games during a fashion show in Toronto Wednesday. (J.P. Moczulski/Canadian Press)
The Hudson's Bay Company unveiled the athletes' clothing line for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Toronto on Wednesday.

The outfits use such materials as bamboo, organic cotton and cacona, which is derived from coconut.

Designer Tu Ly said the move to environmentally sustainable materials was made easy by a larger worldwide trend that increased the availability of such products.

"It was a real movement in every part of our lives, so it was hard not to be conscious of it," Ly said in an interview Wednesday with Canadian Press prior to the unveiling of the clothing line.

Designers also adapted the clothing to the high temperatures expected in Beijing after consulting with athletes who took part in the 2004 Summer Games in Athens. Those athletes said they were unprepared for the heat in Greece.

With that in mind, the clothing for the Beijing Games was made using fabrics that provide UV protection, four-way stretch, odour resistance and wicking and cooling properties to help keep athletes comfortable.

While some of the designs use only the traditional red and white colours of the Canadian Olympic team, others feature a busy blend of symbols and patterns in a mix of muted tones.

Colour and design inspiration came in part from the five aspects of Chinese astrology — earth, wood, fire, water and metal — the designers said in a press release.

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I can see Simon will have that tracksuit in heavy rotation after the games.