The summer Olympics is in full swing, and if there is another element of the prestigious sports event that gets viewers talking -- besides the mesmerizing performance of the best athletes in the world -- it’s the fashion.
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games has brought some of the most talked about opening ceremony uniforms ever, thanks to social media and designers pushing the limits of fashion every four years.
From Team Mongolia, with its breathtaking traditional attires, to Team Canada’s laid-back Lululemon gear, these are the uniforms ranked best to worst by Bored Panda readers.
#1 Mongolia
Team Mongolia already went viral earlier this month when the East Asian country’s traditional designs were unveiled on Instagram.
Taking to their official Instagram page on July 3, local label Michel&Amazonka, Mongolia’s most progressive fashion brand, revealed their nation’s looks.
Michel&Amazonka, based out of the country’s capital of Ulaanbaatar, was established by sisters Michel, Amazonka, and Munkhjargal Choigaalaa in 2015.
The brand, which designed the team’s uniforms for the second consecutive Olympics, is reportedly known for weaving around Mongolian culture and conventional elements with contemporary silhouettes and cutting across couture and ready-to-wear clothes.
Mongolia’s ceremonial attire for the 33rd Summer Olympics features national and Olympic symbols.
They include the Nine White Banners (the symbol of veneration of the Mongolian State), the Olympic torch, the emblem of the Paris Olympics, and representations of the sun, moon, and the Gua-Maral (myth deer), all intricately embroidered with golden thread.
The sun and moon symbolize the universe and are believed by Mongolians to be their nation’s mother (sun) and father (moon).
The two elements are encompassed in the Soyombo, the first character out of the Mongolian Soyombo script, which appears on the country’s flag.
The outfits took an average of 20 hours each to craft.
Image credits: Richard Pelham/Getty Images
#2 Kenya
Team Kenya’s opening ceremony attire was designed by Kenyan brand Kovu Couture.
“It reflects our deep belief in culture, togetherness, and traditions carrying our dreams and inspirations as we set sail,” the designer wrote on Instagram.
The brand further explained: “Celebrating the vibrant colors, traditions, and stories that make our country unique. Embracing our rich heritage and the pride of being proudly made in Kenya.”
Image credits: Michael Reaves/Getty Images
#3 South Sudan
Rwandan fashion house Moshions designed Team South Sudan’s uniforms for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The South Sudan basketball team rocked the brand's custom-made fits during the opening ceremony, leaving NBA and Team USA Men's basketball star LeBron James stunned.
"Them boys was clean AF!!!!" LeBron reacted on social media to South Sudan basketball's Olympic opening ceremony outfit.
Image credits: leaguefits/ssbfed
#4 Australia
The uniforms worn by Team Australia at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games featured a green blazer with a lining that encompassed the names of all 301 Australians who have been crowned summer Olympic champions.
The Australian Olympians' Oath has also been inscribed on the inside jacket pocket of the blazer, which has been created by Sportscraft, Sky News reported in April.
Indigenous artwork was also a key feature of the uniform, including Ngalmun Danalaig (Our Way of Life) by David Bosun, a Torres Strait Island artist, and Walking Together by Olympic boxer Paul Fleming.
Those artworks have been reportedly used for the team’s scarves, pocket squares, and with the oath.
Along with the blazer, female athletes had a choice of a sport-inspired tee or a tank and either "a stone-colored chino short or a green and gold ombre pleated skirt.”
Male athletes could reportedly opt for "a sports-inspired tee of their own, with the stretch chino short."
Image credits: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
#5 Sierra Leone
British African heritage brand Labrum was founded by Sierra Leonean Foday Dumbuya. The brand designed Team Sierra Leone’s uniforms for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
In collaboration with Adidas, the collection featured a vibrant blue and white design emblazoned with a reimagined cowrie shell.
The shell, once a coveted currency symbolizing wealth and prestige in African history, has transcended time to become an emblem of strength and resilience, the brand explained on Instagram.
Moreover, the collection featured iconography that reflects Dumbuya’s heritage.
Image credits: Aytac Unal/Anadolu
#6 Haïti
Ranked third by Forbes in its list of most remarkable Olympic uniforms, Team Haïti stunned with its uniforms designed in collaboration with Italian-Haitian fashion creator Stella Jean and Haitian graphic designer Philippe Dodard.
Haitian outfits are not mere garments; they are walking works of art, visual narratives of the country’s rich and complex history, Haiti Wonderland reported on Saturday (July 26).
Women wore a full skirt unfolding like a canvas, adorned with Dodard’s captivating paintings.
“These illustrations are not mere decorations, but windows into the soul of Haiti, telling the story of centuries of struggle, resilience, and beauty,” the Haitian outlet stated.
The shirts were made with Haiti’s “blue cotton,” a traditional fabric known as indigo-dyed cotton that has been a significant part of the Caribbean island’s cultural and economic history.
This fabric is often hand-dyed using natural indigo plants, resulting in a distinctive deep blue color.
“Each thread tells the story of the skilled hands that wove it, perpetuating a know-how passed down from generation to generation,” Haiti Wonderland explained.
Male athletes wore striped shirts and printed scarves to evoke the spirit of the Haitian people—proud, colorful, and indomitable.
Image credits: Lars Baron/Getty Images
#7 Chinese Taipei (Taiwan)
Team Taiwan’s uniforms were designed by Justin Chou. The blue ensembles incorporated works by Taiwanese artists, including Paul Chiang, Lin Kuo-ching, Yen Yu-ying, and Lin Pei-ying.
The text was designed by Lin Kuo-ching, who crafted the English word “Taipei” to look like the Chinese characters “加油” (jiayou, a ubiquitous term of encouragement) when upside down, the Taipei Times reported.
With a focus on sustainability, fashion, crafts, and arts, the uniforms were reportedly made from a fabric made using materials recovered through carbon capture technology.
The twined flowers decorating the lapel of the suit jackets are plum blossoms, Taiwan’s national flower, and nanohana flowers, which symbolize encouragement, Chou said.
Image credits: Aytac Unal/Anadolu
#8 India
Tasva, the Indian menswear brand by Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail, in collaboration with designer Tarun Tahiliani, created the ceremonial wear for Team India for the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony.
The ceremonial wear blended traditional Indian aesthetics with modern design elements, as per Afaqs.
The ceremonial attire for Team India was inspired by the Indian flag, featuring a tricolor palette, symbolizing national pride and unity.
The Bundi jacket and pre-pleated saree, crafted from cotton and viscose crepe, offered comfort and functionality while blending tradition with modernity.
Athletes' outfits were complemented by modern sneakers with golden brocade accents for a touch of elegance and tradition.
Image credits: Aijaz Rahi - Pool/Getty Images
#9 Japan
Team Japan wore white blazers paired with polo shirts and dark trousers during the opening ceremony.
Japanese brand Asics manufactured Team Japan’s official sportswear for the competition. The uniforms feature a "Sunrise Red" as its base color.
The gradient color design expresses the strength and warmth of the sky turning red with the morning glow, inspired by the image of the "Paris sunrise,” Asics explained in an official press release.
The "Short Sleeve Top," a t-shirt to be worn at the competition sites and in the Olympic and Paralympic village, features a "YAGASURI graphic" incorporating "Yagasuri," a traditional Japanese auspicious pattern that represents determination and strength.
Asics highlighted its aims to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. As a result, the brand reduced greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 34% compared to the previous Olympic Games.
The sportswear designer used recycled materials and renewable energy. Moreover, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions (carbon footprint) emitted during the product life cycle was also decreased.
Image credits: Michael Reaves/Getty Images
#10 Brazil
Team Brazil’s uniforms were created by fast-fashion retailer Riachuelo. The ensembles featured a striped shirt and an embroidered jacket.
The color palette included shades of green, blue, and yellow, alluding to the Brazilian flag.
The designs incorporate references to Brazilian biodiversity, featuring fauna and flora elements. Havaianas flip-flops complete the look.
Image credits: Maja Hitij/Getty Images
#11 France
For the opening ceremony, Berluti styled custom-tailored ensembles for Team France athletes and coaches that embody “élegance à la française,” Louis Vuitton-Moët-Hennessy (LVMH) wrote in an official statement.
The French Maison crafted tuxedo-inspired outfits with a unique French flag patina of blue and red shades.
The outfits were paired with an iteration of Berluti’s Shadow emblematic navy blue sneakers in France’s national colors for men and either the supple leather Lorenzo loafers or Shadow sneakers for women.
Image credits: Christian Liewig - Corbis/Corbis
#12 Greece
Greek Olympians wore clothing designed by the Polish company 4F. Athletes donned white blazers, dark jeans, and edgy sneakers as they led the Parade of Nations in Paris.
Image credits: Murat Onel/Anadolu
#13 Kazakhstan
Kazakhstani athletes sported white shirts with ties beneath striking blue blazers, complemented by white skirts or trousers, according to ESPN.
Adorning the bottom of the blazers and the sides of the pants are a series of symbols, each rich with historical significance.
Among the illustrative elements are "müyiz" (horns), embodying strength, courage, and protection, while "kaz moiyn" (gooseneck) captures the essence of flexibility, agility, and grace.
Image credits: Michael Reaves/Getty Images
#14 Mexico
The Mexican Olympic team donned a striking pink and white outfit that featured sleeve prints inspired by the cities of Oaxaca, San Miguel de Allende, and Michoacán, ESPN reported.
The black t-shirt underneath the jacket is meant to pay homage to El Ángel, a monument that commemorates Mexico's War of Independence centennial.
Image credits: Michael Reaves/Getty Images
#15 Canada
Popular Canadian yoga brand Lululemon revealed its first-ever summer athlete kit for Team Canada ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games back in April.
“We took an innovation-first approach to design a collection driven by athlete insights, so they can feel and perform their best in Paris,” Calvin McDonald, CEO of Lululemon, said in a press release.
The kit was designed to support more bodies and more abilities, with features including magnetic-close zippers, pull-on loops, and sensory touch guides, the brand explained.
The two adaptive styles – the Seated-Fit Carpenter Pant and the Seated-Fit Packable Rain Poncho – are intentionally designed to deliver functionality and comfort in a seated position.
To keep athletes comfortable during changing temperatures and conditions, the kit features adjustable styles.
Moreover, the uniforms’ prints were designed with the Canadian colors -- red and white.
“Paris will be my fourth Olympics and I have not seen a kit quite like this,” Damian Warner, Canadian Decathlon Olympic Champion, said. “We’re going to be able to showcase some of our own personal style while showing off our Canadian pride together.”
Image credits: Buda Mendes/Getty Images
#16 Bermuda
The outfits that Team Bermuda wore at the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony encompassed a dazzling design created by local fashion designers Courtney Clay, Channing Dill, and Alana Wade.
The design included abstract elements such as the white lines and triangles, which represent elements of Bermuda, Loop News reported.
Male athletes and officials sported a blue blazer, white shirt, and pink Bermuda shorts, complemented by Clay's custom-designed tie and pocket square.
Female athletes donned a white dress designed by Dill, paired with a custom scarf created by Clay. All athletes and officials also wore a Gombey-inspired pin made by Wade.
Dill, the owner of Native by Channing Elizabeth, explained: “We’ve produced a classic silhouette with triangle details that give a nod to Bermuda, with the upbeat pink and blue color palette that Bermuda is known for.”
Wade, Bermuda Gombey Warrior regalia maker, stated: “The peacock feather symbolizes royalty, pride, and strength; adorned with a mirror that can fend off evil spirits and bring good luck; and completed with a traditional wool tassel that symbolizes the linkages and connection to our enslaved ancestors.
“The Bermuda Gombey is the ultimate symbol of Bermudian culture, freedom, and unity, the traditional masked dancers, drummers, and artists whose spirit of resilience is carried with our Olympians today.”
Image credits: nocbermuda
#17 Philippines
“Proudly representing the Republic of the Philippines, the 'SINAG' barong designed by Francis Libiran shows our brave athletes wearing protective armor shields in vibrant colors of the Philippine Flag,” Filipino architect and fashion designer wrote on Instagram.
As per the designer, the colors were inspired by “the tattoo patterns of the majestic Pintados Tribe and the powerful rays of the Sun.”
The brand added: “Like the Pintados, our Filipino athletes are brave heroes ready for battle, proudly raising our flag on the global arena.
“Resilient like the sun, Filipinos rise and shine despite life’s challenges.”
Image credits: Aytac Unal/Anadolu
#18 China
Team China’s opening ceremony attire was named "Chasing Dreams," and it incorporated rich elements of traditional Chinese culture, Global Times reported.
Both the men's and women's jackets featured patterns derived from the bricks of the Great Wall. The pattern, with its horizontal and vertical lines, reportedly conveyed a sense of integrity and rigor.
The women's attire combined elements of the Chinese qipao and the traditional Song Dynasty (960-1279) costume, featuring bamboo patterns -- a significant symbol in traditional Chinese culture that represents harmony, unity, resilience, and continuous growth.
The men's shirts had a small standing collar with Chinese-style buttons, showcasing the Chinese spirit of perseverance and striving for excellence in the world.
Image credits: Mehmet Murat Onel/Anadolu
#19 South Korea
Team South Korea’s uniforms were designed by Musinsa Standard, a modern basic casual wear brand developed by South Korean brand Musinsa.
The ensembles consisted of a "belted suit setup" in a blue color. The color blue traditionally symbolizes the East and represents youthful vigor and an enterprising spirit, Musinsa explained on its website.
Among these blues, sky blue was chosen for its calmness. The color is meant to represent the hope that the Korean national team will shine brightly among the various national teams.
Considering the hot weather in Paris, France, the blazer and slacks setup was made from summer-ready wool for comfort and ease of wear, the brand stated.
The lining was lined with traditional Korean blue and white porcelain patterns, bringing out the traditional beauty of Korea.
In addition, a belt that reinterpreted the belt (gakdae) worn around the waist in traditional official robes was made separately, adding style to the relaxed suit fit.
The uniforms also included a t-shirt made of cool, sweat-absorbing, and quick-drying material and white sneakers in the shape of running shoes.
Athletes also had a silver pendant necklace with a Taegeuk pattern as an accessory.
Image credits: Aytac Unal/Anadolu
#20 Czech Republic
Alpine Pro’s inspiration for Team Czechia’s Olympic uniform comes from 100 years ago in Paris 1924, the Olympics official website explained.
This year’s collection came in a multitude of colors, from black bags and jackets to white hoodies, blue tracksuits, and red trainers.
The traditional Czech brand explained that back in 1924, some athletes wore white with the national flag, some wore black, and some ditched the suits for a more comfortable tracksuit, which is why the aim for this year’s collection was to combine functionality with design and national color.
Image credits: Aytac Unal/Anadolu
#21 Egypt
Concrete, a menswear fashion brand based in Egypt, designed Team Egypt uniforms for the Paris 2024 Olympics and the Paralympics.
The uniforms blended modern Egyptian style with classic designs and highlighted premium Egyptian cotton t-shirts, Egyptian Streets reported.
The uniforms were designed by Italian Art Director Ettore Veronese, embracing a classic, preppy chic aesthetic that embodies Concrete’s design essence, striking a balance between classic elegance and modern style.
“This isn’t just about style—it’s a symbol of Egyptian pride, passion, and determination to make history on the world’s biggest athletic stage,” Concrete posted on its Instagram page.
Image credits: Sina Schuldt/picture alliance
#22 The Netherlands
They may be nicknamed The Oranje, but the Dutch rocked a slick color palette at the opening ceremony that consisted largely of whites and navy blue, the Olympics official website reported.
Team Netherlands’ uniforms were designed by Amsterdam-based brand Denham the Jeanmaker.
For the flagbearers, however, it was all about the bold orange, decked head to toe in a slick tracksuit.
Image credits: Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images
#23 Turkey
Luxury Turkish brand Vakko paired the nation’s unmissable deep red with sky blue, the color of peace, to create a stylish collection of travel and ceremony kits for Team Türkiye, the official Olympics website stated.
Paris 2024 marked 100 years since Türkiye's first Olympic Games as a republic, which is reflected in the energy and dynamism of Vakko’s tricolor collections.
Image credits: Lars Baron/Getty Images
#24 USA
Team USA sent its athletes wearing Ralph Lauren fits. Adorned in casual chic attires, people took particular notice of LeBron James, Tara Davis-Woodhall, A’ja Wilson, and some of the most famous sportspeople in the world rocking jeans.
Ralph Lauren unveiled Team USA’s opening and closing ceremony parade uniforms for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 on June 18.
This year marks the ninth time the American brand was hired as an official outfitter for Team USA.
“Ralph Lauren is profoundly honored to define the look of the American delegation as they represent our country in one of the world’s most celebrated and storied events,” David Lauren, chief branding and innovation officer at Ralph Lauren Corporation, said in an official statement.
Ralph Lauren’s Team USA collection draws inspiration from the dynamic and vibrant host city of Paris and the rich heritage of Olympic and Paralympic sports, the fashion company stated in a press release.
The collection reportedly embraces a patriotic spirit reflected in a signature palette of red, white, and blue.
The 2024 opening ceremony uniform is a distinctly modern take on a tailored look, featuring a classic tailored single-breasted wool blazer with red and white tipping and a striped oxford shirt, unexpectedly paired with a tapered jean and a classic suede buck shoe.
Image credits: Ashley Landis - Pool/Getty Images
#25 Ireland
Dublin-born designer Laura Weber was behind Team Ireland’s opening ceremony uniforms.
The designs comprised two blazers for the opening and closing ceremony, t-shirt, shoe, and trouser options.
The suits incorporated national emblems and embellishments, each specifically designed to represent the journey of Irish athletes, according to a press release.
The fabrics used were made from recycled plastics with practical elements to ensure athletes stay cool in the heat.
The sleeves were adorned with the embroidered county patch of each Olympian, artistically interpreted with beads, sequins, and stones.
There were four shamrocks with different techniques of embellishments, representing the four provinces of Ireland.
On the inside facing of each jacket, the names of the athletes were included in embroidery, making it a permanent and treasured souvenir for each athlete, the release explained.
Image credits: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
#26 United Kingdom
The United Kingdom’s athletes rode the River Seine on one of the 94 boats at the Parade of Nations at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games wearing the official Ben Sherman ceremonial attire.
The event, which took place on Friday (July 26), marked the third consecutive Olympic Games where Ben Sherman has outfitted Team GB athletes, blending British heritage with contemporary style.
The opening ceremony attire for Team UK featured specially tailored pieces for all athletes, a press release read.
A notable element seen on the opening ceremony look is the specially designed four-nation floral motif, featuring the English Tudor rose, Scottish thistle, Welsh daffodil, and Northern Irish shamrock, the official release explained.
This design is a nod to the identities and histories of the four nations within the United Kingdom.
Image credits: Clodagh Kilcoyne - Pool/Getty Images
