Finland’s competition outfits for next summer’s Olympic Games were presented at the 100 days to Paris event. The stylist evaluated the Olympic collection at the request of Urheilu.
Johannes Oikarinen,
Anni Jämsä
The sharp tip of Finland going to the Olympic Games in Paris Wilma Murron, Martti Puumalainen, Aku Partanen and Eetu Kallioinen management shared their news 100 days before the start of the main event of the year. The group above had a sample of Finland’s competition outfit this time. The theme of Ruka’s Olympic collection is “light and shadow”.
Walker Aku Partanen was involved in the costume design project. Partanen found the task interesting and was pleased that the athletes’ wishes were taken into account in the development of the costumes.
– Sustainable development and ecology, that the clothes are durable. When going into hot conditions, the hope was for materials that were as light and breathable as possible. These have been implemented very well, Partanen comments.
The stylist would have liked something more modern
Stylist and involved in the design of Käärijä’s Eurovision outfit Vesa Silver evaluated this time’s Olympic collection for Urheilu. Silver saw inspiration in the collection from several sports, especially welding and sailing.
– Blue and white, that’s part of it. I would have liked a bit more modern cut or style. Maybe more speed. These clothes are definitely designed. Some kind of entertainment would have been needed, commented Silver.
Partanen and pole vaulter Wilma Murto, who managed to get hold of the clothes at the event, consider the representative outfit package a success.
– I haven’t physically been able to try them yet, but the first taste looks really good, Murto reflected at the event.
– They are stylish. As an athlete, I can say that I will proudly represent Finland in these clothes, Partanen said.
Stylist Silver’s compliments go to the combinability.
– It makes sense when the athletes don’t have a stylist or costumer with them in the games. You can easily combine different parts without fearing that the colors won’t match. The combination of dark blue and Thai blue was a nice use of color, Silver was happy.
Race outfits under criticism
The Finnish Olympic team has had a uniform competition outfit since the London Games in 1908. During the century, representative costumes have shown Finland’s image and Finnish identity to the world.
See Finland’s competition costumes over the years in the Living Archive.
Competition costume sets have not been without criticism over the years. The outfits of the 2018 Winter Games with the faux fur hat were recently heavily promoted on social media. At the end of the day, the brave competition outfits received praise in the international media, putting Finland as a whole among the best.