Stella McCartney to design Team GB's kit for Olympics 2016

The British designer is reportedly working with Adidas again to produce Team GB's uniforms

Linda Sharkey
Thursday 24 July 2014 16:51 BST
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Phillips Idowu, Stella McCartney and Jessica Ennis
Phillips Idowu, Stella McCartney and Jessica Ennis

Stella McCartney is set to design Team GB’s kit for the next Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The British designer created the patriotic uniforms for London Olympics two years ago and she did such a good job that has been asked back for an encore. According to The Mirror, she’ll be collaborating again with Adidas, the sportswear brand she has been working with since 2001.

The 2012 Olympic kit took two years of development. She dressed 900 British Olympic and Paralympic athletes, which equated to 590 different items of clothing all of which were not only supposed to look good, but to also maximise the athlete’s efficiency in their various disciplines.

The uniforms featured Union Jacks in different hues of blue, and the missing red was used around the necklines, cuffs and shoes. Clearly, she took inspiration from the iconic British flag. At the time she said: "I started with some crazy ideas: neon fish? Metallic gold? Fluorescent, for God’s sake! ... That would have been disrespectful to the athletes and to the nation."

The kit was such a success that fans were clamouring to buy replicas, which were available to purchase in some shops.

The announcement is perfect timing following the lack lustre reception of the England team’s kit for the Commonwealth Games; drab khaki trousers, a bright red t-shirt and a navy blue blazer.

England team at the Commonwealth Games

McCartney, 42, is expected to involve close friends Victoria Beckham and Kate Moss in the unveiling, which is estimated to take place in 18-months’ time.

A source told The Mirror: “Stella was thrilled to be approached once again and said yes straight away. She is a big supporter of strong women, and wants to make the female athletes’ kit feminine yet dynamic.”

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