Ralph Lauren Vows to Make Olympic Uniforms in US in 2014: Too Little, Too Late

U.S. Olympic athletes model the official Team USA opening ceremony parade uniform. (photo via Ralph Lauren )

Earlier this week, the press, bloggers and Twitterverse raised their voices to decry the Made in China US Olympic team uniforms.  Many were outraged and deeply offended that a fashion brand so uniquely American in style and outlook would outsource the Team USA uniforms to China.  Since then, the Ralph Lauren brand has responded.  Yesterday, Ralph Lauren Corp. responded that the company would produce the Team USA uniforms for the 2014 Winter Olympics in America.

“Ralph Lauren promises to lead the conversation within our industry and our government addressing the issue of increasing manufacturing in the United States,” the company said.

It’s a shame that this wasn’t the 2012 position.  I understand that designers have to keep costs down, but, I’m surprised that Ralph Lauren public relations and their manufacturing team didn’t think this through a little more before outsourcing the team uniforms.  It seems like a no brainer to make Team USA materials in the USA, right?