After pressure came from as far up the ladder as Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Ralph Lauren announced Friday evening the U.S. Olympic uniforms for the 2012 Winter games in Sochi, Russia will be made in the good ol' U.S.A.
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Lauren's Olympic uniform debut didn't get off to a rosie start at all. At first the conversation was driven by how ugly the things were (for the record the answer is 'very'), but then it shifted when it was discovered the uniforms were made in China. Never mind that they were manufactured in China in 2008, but with "outsourcing" being such a hot button issue these days some wondered why Lauren didn't make them on home soil. Cue the political outrage from Sen. Harry Reid, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest, and even Donald Trump, Lauren was looking at some serious bad press.
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On Friday night, Ralph Lauren quietly released this statement promising to make the uniforms for the next Olympics on home soil:
“For more than 45 years, Ralph Lauren has built a brand that embodies the best of American quality and design rooted in the rich heritage of our country. We are honored to continue our longstanding relationship with the United States Olympic Committee in the 2014 Olympic Games by serving as an official outfitter of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams. Ralph Lauren promises to lead the conversation within our industry and our government to address the issue to increase manufacturing in the United States. We have committed to producing the opening and closing ceremony Team USA uniforms in the United States that will be worn for the 2014 Olympic Games.”