Ralph Lauren unveiled Team USA’s opening ceremony uniforms for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics on January 22, 2018, again using wool from Imperial Stock Ranch in Shaniko, Oregon.
Back to USA sourcing
Ralph Lauren drew criticism in 2012 when Team USA’s ceremony outfits turned out to be made overseas. For the 2014 Sochi Games it switched to USA-made uniforms, starting with wool from sheep grazed on the Oregon high desert, and returned to the same ranch for 2018.
- The wool went into the team’s sweaters, mittens and hats.
- The parka worn over the sweater, with a built-in battery-powered heating system, was made by a New Jersey company.
- Imperial Stock Ranch covers 32,000 acres near Shaniko in north central Oregon.
Rancher Jeanne Carver, who co-owns the ranch, said the Olympics exposure helped business “grow dramatically,” enough that she brought in other Western family ranches to meet demand. “Every factory, spinner, dyer, knitters, weavers—all the people who have been part of this—we’ll all be just a little prouder,” she said.
See also our coverage of the 2022 uniforms.
FAQ
Where did the wool come from?
Imperial Stock Ranch near Shaniko, Oregon.
Why does USA sourcing matter here?
Ralph Lauren was criticized in 2012 for Team USA ceremony outfits made overseas and switched to USA-made uniforms for 2014.
Who made the parka?
A New Jersey company, according to Northwest News Network.
Source & credit
Source: Northwest News Network: “Team USA To Wear Pacific Northwest Wool At Winter Olympics Ceremonies”, January 22, 2018.