Last week, the Ralph Lauren-designed uniforms that will be worn by Team USA at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris were revealed.
For the opening ceremony, on top, athletes will wear a tailored single-breasted wool blazer with red and white tipping is worn over a striped oxford shirt. The bottom is a more casual tapered jean and classic suede buck shoe fit.
The closing ceremony uniform includes a sporty racecar driver-style jacket.
People have expressed thoughts, some negative, about the apparel, prompting menswear writer Derek Guy, who has a large following on X @dieworkwear, to weigh in: “The new Team USA uniforms for the opening ceremony look great. People complaining about the use of jeans miss what has always been great about American style — its sense of casualness.”
And then he wrote that the clothes were “possibly (made) by Rochester Tailored Clothing.”
The new Team USA uniforms for the opening ceremony look great. People complaining about the use of jeans miss what has always been great about American style—its sense of casualness.
Designed by Ralph Lauren; made in USA (possibly by Rochester Tailored Clothing) pic.twitter.com/tNYrBxoEBU
— derek guy (@dieworkwear) June 18, 2024
That last part caught our attention, and we weren’t alone, because up until last year the Rochester Tailored Clothing plant on North Clinton Avenue had been home to Hickey Freeman since 1912.
Wrote @BrooklynBrett: “This would be very cool for the legacy Hickey Freeman factory …”
Especially since Hickey Freeman made Ralph Lauren-designed clothing for other summer Olympics, including the 2021 games in Tokyo and the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro, as well as the 2014 winter games in Sochi, Russia.
But despite Guy’s tweet, which was highlighted by a number of media outlets including Sports Illustrated, Rochester Tailored Clothing did not make any of the garments for the Paris Olympics, a representative said.
He said the hope is to be chosen by Ralph Lauren to produce clothing for the 2028 summer games in Los Angeles.
Paris Olympics gear is available at RalphLauren.com and TeamUSA.com.
When and where to watch the Paris Olympics
The games officially begin Friday, July 26. Instead of being held in a stadium, the opening ceremony will be a 4-mile procession of 160 boats carrying athletes and performers along Paris’ Seine River, according to NBC, which is broadcasting the games.
The parade will end at the Trocadero, across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower, and the ceremony will conclude with a light show at the Eiffel Tower.
NBC’s live coverage of the opening ceremony starts at noon July 26. Viewers can watch on NBC, or stream it via Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com and the NBC sports apps. Spanish-language coverage of the opening ceremony will air on Telemundo starting at 1 p.m.
The games conclude on Sunday, Aug. 11.
For a complete schedule of events, go to olympics.com.
This story includes reporting by Chris Bumbaca of USA TODAY.
Reporter Marcia Greenwood covers general assignments. Send story tips to mgreenwood@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @MarciaGreenwood.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Did Rochester have a hand in the 2024 Team USA Olympic uniforms?
