What do Stella McCartney, Giorgio Armani and Ralph Lauren all have in common? Other than being fashion heavyweights, all three designers will be outfitting athletes from their home country as they compete at the London 2012 Olympics. They’re not the only fashion labels whose designs will be seen at this summer’s Olympics. Prada, Hermès, Salvatore Ferragamo and even Karl Lagerfeld will also be key players. (Team Canada will be outfitted by a dedicated design team at The Bay.) To celebrate these Olympic fashion partnerships, we’ve rounded up the best designer and Olympic apparel collaborations.

TEAM GREAT BRITAIN
DESIGNER: Stella McCartney for Adidas
GAMES: 1 - The London 2012 Olympics.

This may be the most well-known designer and Olympic apparel collaboration. For the London 2012 Olympics Stella McCartney will outfit British Olympic and Paralympic athletes under her namesake label for Adidas. The collection was unveiled for the press earlier this year and heavily features a blue and white Union Jack motif with highlights of red. The designs were met with a bit of controversy because critics felt that the Union Jack flag was unrecognizable. Of course, this isn’t Stella’s first foray into sportswear; she has maintained a highly successful women’s sportswear line with Adidas since 2007.

TEAM ITALY
DESIGNER: Giorgio Armani
GAMES: 1 – The London 2012 Olympics.

Although this may be his first time outfitting the Italian Olympic Team, Giorgio Armani certainly isn’t a fashion rookie. For The London 2012 Olympics, the Italian clothier designed the uniforms for Team Italy under his Emporio Armani EA7 sportswear label. The Armani aesthetic shines throughout the collection and instead of using the colours of the Italian flag (red, white and green), Armani chose to outfit the athletes in navy blue and white. We wonder if it’s a coincidence that navy blue was also one of the main colours used in Armani’s Spring/Summer and Haute Couture collections.

TEAM ITALY
DESIGNER: Prada
GAMES: 1 – The London 2012 Olympics.

Team Italy is getting a double dose of high fashion. Earlier this year, it was announced that Prada would sponsor and supply the uniforms for the Italian National Sailing Team at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Technical staff members of the sailing team will also be wearing garments by the luxury label and reportedly, the Prada logo will appear on the team’s hulls and sails.

TEAM USA
DESIGNER: Ralph Lauren
GAMES: 3 – 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2010 Vancouver Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics.

Since the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Polo Ralph Lauren has proudly been the Official Outfitter of the U.S. Olympic Team. The uniforms have always been identifiably Ralph Lauren with tailored sportswear and a touch of Americana. When the uniforms for the London 2012 Olympics were unveiled in early July, they stirred up some controversy. Critics found it problematic that the uniforms were manufactured in China and not in the U.S. during a time of economic uncertainty. Ralph Lauren has responded by pledging to have the uniforms for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics made on American soil.

What will Canadians be wearing for the Olympics? Find out here.

Read about the fashionable Olympic apparel for three other nations on the next page...