Speaking of Row and Olympics in the Same Sentence....

Caboose · Jul 14, 2012

Seems our Olympians will be sporting the latest fashions..., from China?

(Reuters) - Ralph Lauren's stylish uniforms for the U.S. Olympic team, complete with a jaunty beret, have sparked a political row because the red, white and blue outfits were made in China.

With U.S. unemployment hovering just above 8 percent, politicians have spoken out against the uniforms for the London Games, which start later this month, and six Democratic senators said they plan to introduce legislation requiring the ceremonial uniforms be produced in the United States.

"At a time when too many Americans are looking for work and our manufacturers are closing factories, we need to do everything we can to keep jobs in America and not give the work of producing our iconic American uniforms for our Olympians to China," Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey said in a statement announcing the measure.

The senators said they will introduce the "Team USA Made In America Act of 2012" next week.

"I call on the USOC (U.S. Olympic Committee) to do the right thing for this summer's team, and I call on my colleagues to help pass this bill to ensure we don't find ourselves in this appalling, embarrassing situation before the opening of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics," Menendez said.

The Committee said in a statement late on Friday that it was too late to change the outfits ahead of the summer games in London, but it had agreed with Ralph Lauren to make apparel for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in the United States.

"With athletes having already arrived in London, and the apparel distribution process beginning this weekend, we are unfortunately not able to make a change for London," it said.

"We are absolutely committed, however, to working with our sponsors to ensure that the concerns voiced are addressed. To that end, Ralph Lauren has agreed to domestically manufacture Team USA's apparel for Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games."

'PROUD PARTNERSHIP'

The proposal from Menendez and Frank R. Lautenberg, of New Jersey, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Sherrod Brown of Ohio would amend the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, which specifies requirements and rules for the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and its members.

A spokeswoman for Menendez said it would be limited to ceremonial uniforms because some athletes may require specific high-performance items for their sport uniforms that simply aren't produced in the United States.

The move follows criticism of the uniforms from both political parties on Thursday.

Rep. Steve Israel, a Democrat from New York, said the issue was not just about a label, but an economic solution.

"Today there are 600,000 vacant manufacturing jobs in this country and the Olympic committee is outsourcing the manufacturing of uniforms to China? That is not just outrageous, it's just plain dumb. It is self-defeating," he said.

House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican from Ohio, echoed that criticism.

"You'd think they'd know better," Boehner told reporters.

The U.S. Olympic Committee defended its decision to have Lauren design the outfits and oversee the manufacturing process.

"Unlike most Olympic teams around the world, the U.S. Olympic Team is privately funded and we're grateful for the support of our sponsors," spokesman Patrick Sandusky said in a statement.

"We're proud of our partnership with Ralph Lauren, an iconic American company, and excited to watch America's finest athletes compete at the upcoming Games in London." It urged Americans to "rally around" Team USA athletes who have "dedicated their entire lives to training for this one moment."

Ralph Lauren Corp said in a statement it "promises to lead the conversation within our industry and our government to ... increase manufacturing in the United States."
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Who in their right mind would think for a minute that this was a good idea? What ever happened to "the union label" in garments?

Too late for these games but not too late for the assholes who outsourced this to be the laughing stock and to reap the scorn they deserve for such a henious act.

Talk is there are American manufacturers who have said they can have them redone in two weeks.

Just. Unbelieveable.

I can't forget to add how absolutely atrocious they look especally with the beret. The designers need a good slap.

Fuck Ralph Lauren and every idiot who was on board with this idiotic idea in their preppy asses.

Tuckerfan · Jul 14, 2012

On a semi-related note, dig the paralympic chic modeling the outfits.

sandbagger · Jul 14, 2012

I don't care where they were made. The fact that they're fugly irritates me.

Where's the US Flag?

Clyde · Jul 14, 2012

The senators said they will introduce the "Team USA Made In America Act of 2012" next week.
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Fuck Yeah!

Wait a minute...

"Unlike most Olympic teams around the world, the U.S. Olympic Team is privately funded and we're grateful for the support of our sponsors," spokesman Patrick Sandusky said in a statement.
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So Ralph Lauren (a private company headquartered in New York) sponsored/bought advertising space/donated the uniforms? Okay, so far so good. The manufacturing was done in China (a huge economic partner with the US). No problem, that type of international cooperation is what the Olympics are supposed to be about, add to that...

The 2008 U.S. Olympic team’s opening ceremony uniforms were also designed by Ralph Lauren and also made in China.

link
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So when it comes to the "Team USA Made In America Act of 2012" I'm gonna change my vote to Fuck No!

The state has no business interfering in this manner.

Besides Ralph Lauren has already agreed to switch to a US manufacturer for the next Olympics.

Caboose · Jul 14, 2012

I certainly agree that the fact that they seem to want to make legislation on this is the work of buffoons but then again looking at the list of those pushing it that would be redundant.

I just found it in poor taste global or not. If there were ever a garment the union lablel should be on I'd think it's this. Reguardless of my attitude about unions in general which is focused at the management there is a bit of pride to be gleamed from that garment label as made in USA.

I had considered that it could be construed as a global world kind of thing but in the end I thought that they're probably going to kick our asses at the games why give them another reason to gloat?

Shirogayne · Jul 14, 2012

I had several of my uniform items that came with Made in China stickers on 'em. Doesn't surprise me that this would happen with the Olympic team.

I'm not sure what to say about the fact that some Congressmen want to pass a bill on this issue, though.

Ramen · Jul 14, 2012

Anna said: ↑

I'm not sure what to say about the fact that some Congressmen want to pass a bill on this issue, though.
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It's pathetic political grandstanding. If they cared so much about U.S. manufacturers, they would strip away the domestic strangleholds that makes going overseas worth the cost.

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