The Olympics is about watching the world’s best athletes battle it out for gold medals, but it’s also about pomp and circumstance.
The opening ceremony especially is an extravagant affair, offering countries a chance to show off their top stars in national dress-inspired looks while they proudly waving their flags.
This time around, though, one country in particular is catching everyone’s eyes.
Mongolia’s Olympic opening ceremony uniform is winning praise all over the internet for its ‘majestic’ feel.
It’s so beloved, in fact, that some have even said Mongolia has ‘won the Olympics before it’s even begun’.
While the opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics 2024 is yet to take place,countries are already showing off their ensembles for the on July 26 event online.
And Mongolia, among a few others, has seriously impressed people.
When the East Asian nation’s uniforms, designed by Mongolian couture brand, Michel & Amazonka, were unveiled on Instagram this week, they were described as looking like something off a runway.
‘Really stunning combination of Mongolian and Hellenistic influences,’ wrote @Janefrome in the comments. ‘Divine.’
Another, @annfosnacht22, said: ‘All of their clothes are so elegant. Such beautiful detailing’, while @reinerenier wrote: ‘This is better than LV, Dior, etc, congratulations, this is a masterpiece’.
The love didn’t stop there either. On Twitter, @Giggabseddad wrote: ‘This is what loving your heritage, culture, and history looks like. Amazing job Mongolia!’
One user, @MugsM, also shed some light on the uniform’s historical influences, explaining: ‘It’s designed by sister duo Michel and Amazonka and said to be inspired by the Mongolian national costume called deel’.
Deel is a traditional piece of clothing worn by Turkic, Tungusic, and Mongolian peoples for centuries. It can be made from materials like silk, wool, or cotton.
In Mongolia, the deel symbolises equality and the human body’s smoothness and straightness.
In a Facebook post, designers Michel and Amazonka, who are sisters, explained the meticulous process that helped them design the outfits.
‘We took the detailed measurements of each athlete’s body and made them individually in our workshop with the labor of 42 Mongolians for more than 3 months,’ she said.
‘In doing so, it is an elaborate work that took an average of 20 hours to make just one set in six stages.’
Alongside Mongolia, others have managed to steal the show ahead of it even happening, Haiti being one of them.
Team Haiti’s uniform was designed by Italian-Haitian designer Stella Jean, and incorporated the country’s cultural heritage.
Their look is made from traditional materials, with vibrant colours blending African and indigenous influences, including prints painted by a Haitian artist.
Twitter user @Leneslife said: ‘Haiti and Mongolia’s Olympic 2024 uniforms?? They won my heart. The designers went tf in. The respective cultures are expressed so beautifully. Stella Jean and Michel and Amazonka? Y’all did that. Thank you.’
Team Haiti Olympic Ceremony Outfits Explained!ðð¹
— Lunionsuite ðð¹ (@LunionSuite) July 11, 2024
Haitian-Italian designer Stella Jean, a pioneer in promoting diversity & inclusivity in the fashion industry, is set to design uniforms for Team Haiti at the Paris Olympics.
Source: erikabazholland/TikTok pic.twitter.com/53pPdo9X5j
Certain countries, however, aren’t receiving the same positive praise. The US, for example, which saw its team decked out in Ralph Lauren, failed to win fans.
@YabiKeikai wrote: ‘Team Mongolia looks like royalty of a galactic empire. Team USA looks like the pool staff at a cheap resort hotel.’
The same sentiment was shared for the UK’s Olympic look, with @Zombiedawgs commenting: ‘Mongolia has the hardest f***ing fit in Olympic history and TeamGB’s outfit looks like a f***ing ASOS advert. Embarrassing.’
Tough crowd.
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