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The House Expresses Its Feelings About the Olympic Uniforms in a Strongly Worded Letter

Not okay.
Not okay. Photo: Peter Kramer/NBC/NBC NewsWire

After nine senators introduced legislation forcing the U.S. Olympics Committee to clothe the athletes only in American-made outfits, a bipartisan group of 59 House members mailed its thoughts to Scott Blackmun, CEO of the USOC. According to WWD, the representatives, backed by the National Council of Textile Organizations and the AFL-CIO, called themselves “outraged” about Ralph Lauren’s Chinese-produced uniforms (despite the designer’s promise to make his next round of apparel Stateside) and demanded that the organization develop a policy to manufacture all future Olympic-wear in the U.S. right away. They added: “Team USA should wear uniforms that evoke more than just an image, but actual labor from workers and raw materials from America … American manufacturing is critical to the soul of the country. The U.S. textile and apparel industry provides the backbone to many cities and towns.” Maybe it’s time to put in a call to Dov Charney. He’s offered to help out, and we hear he’s a great guy.

The House on the Olympic Uniforms