Dressing sportspeople for a competition — not least on the world stage — is no easy feat. This year’s Olympic athlete outfits have already garnered substantial attention online, from seemingly see-through trunks to track leotards that leave little to the imagination. But with the Games now over, all eyes will be on the upcoming Paralympics, set to commence on Aug 28.
For Ichiro Ogasawara, uniform and customising manager at Uniqlo, designing the outfits for Team Singapore’s para-athletes was less a matter of creating something new or out of the box and more a test of versatility in Uniqlo’s repertoire. “Actually, the collection consists of things in our existing LifeWear collection,” he tells Options of the final looks, which are currently on display at Uniqlo’s global flagship store in Orchard Central.
Ogasawara explains that LifeWear is “clothing designed to make everyone’s life better”. Combining modern details and fabrics with classic silhouettes, the line comprises “simple, high-quality everyday clothing with a sense of beauty”, he adds. That balance of performance with timelessness makes it an easy choice when dressing athletes; Uniqlo has also used LifeWear clothing to dress Sweden’s Olympians and Paralympians.
For Team Singapore, Ogasawara focused on “function and comfort, with sophisticated, modern design”. For fabrics, he zoomed in on materials with good breathability and stretch, particularly from the AIRism and Dry-EX lines.
Ogasawara notes that the athletes had few special requests in terms of design; they asked only for comfortable clothing with elasticated waistbands and references to Singaporean culture. The three resulting outfits, he reiterates, are largely similar to items that can be found in Uniqlo stores, though there are additional subtle nods to Singapore and the Games’ host city, Paris.
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A navy blazer is paired with a light blue button-down short-sleeved shirt and off-white trousers in the ceremony outfit. The lining of the jacket sleeves is red, creating a peekaboo effect when the sleeves are rolled up. The shirt, meanwhile, is made from a wrinkle-resistant jersey to keep the athletes looking sharp and crisp.
To complete the look, men don a red and blue striped tie, while women wear a specially created silk scarf with a print featuring the Merlion and orchids. “I love its lightness and airiness, which will be great for summer in Paris,” says para swimmer Toh Wei Soong of the jacket, which he is set to wear as flag bearer. “I’m looking forward to wearing it at the opening ceremony. Its colour scheme is really stylish and I think it’ll get Singapore some attention.”
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To wear in the Paralympic Village, the athletes get a Dry-EX crew-neck T-shirt and a pair of shorts.
Sophie Soon, another Team Singapore para swimmer, says the weather-appropriate attire will help her and her teammates beat the sweltering Paris summer heat. “I definitely want to be free of sweat and with this material, I think it will help with our comfort levels,” she says of the Dry-EX fabric, which features moisture-wicking and quick-drying capabilities. Ogasawara points out that mesh panels were incorporated into the material of the T-shirt itself — no additional seams necessary — to increase breathability without compromising comfort.
“I see myself wearing more items from the Dry-EX collection and I wouldn’t mind wearing this shirt in other colours because it’s something that’s so comfortable to wear every day,” adds Soon, who clinched three gold medals at last year’s Asean Para Games. That’s a sentiment shared by many Singaporeans, who have readily embraced a number of LifeWear items as the “Singapore uniform”.
The travel ensemble, meanwhile, comprises a polo shirt, hooded jacket and joggers. The top’s yellow colour was chosen to reflect friendship, while the polo silhouette gives the athletes a tailored look while they are away from the field, pool or court; mesh linings and a chest pocket on the hoodie add a sporty touch.
Those keen to get a closer look at the Uniqlo Paralympics outfits can head down to Orchard Central, where the display — which consists of the ceremony, village and travel looks — will be available until Sept 10. The display will also include profiles of each athlete and facts about para sports.
