Ralph Lauren responds to Chinese-made Olympic uniforms
Monday, 16 July 2012
Ralph Lauren, who last week came under fire for manufacturing its American Olympic uniforms in China, has responded to criticism and confirmed the company will produce the 2014 Olympic uniforms in the USA. The Ralph Lauren company,
which took over the license for the opening and closing ceremonies in 2008, found itself under intense pressure this week after an ABC News report that gave broad exposure to the fact that the uniforms by American athletes were being produced in China, even though they have been produced overseas or in Canada for more than a decade with little objection.After
a series of complaints on Thursday about the uniforms by several members of Congress, including a call by Senator Harry Reid, the Democratic majority leader, to “put them in a big pile and burn them,” led the company to re-evaluate its position after it found itself under an unflattering media spotlight.Announcing the change, the Ralph Lauren company released the following statement on Friday night:
“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.”
Image: Ralph Lauren Olympic Uniform
