Olympic Uniforms: China
Design Objectives
Choose a country and two Olympic events.
Design a uniform for male and/or female athletes participating in those chosen events.
Use deep research and story-building to help create a profound, overarching theme that the athletes and their native country can relate to.
Men’s Table Tennis
Team History
China is the world's leading force in competitive table tennis. They have won the most Olympic medals in table tennis with 58, while the second best nation (South Korea) has only won 1t8. Prospects are groomed at such early ages that it is not uncommon for them to enter their first professional tournaments between ages 16-18.
Inspiration
The Chinese legend, Nine Sons of the Dragon, mythicizes the nine different offspring of the first dragon and their unique symbology within Chinese culture. Yá Zì (the second son) is a mongering, part-wolf dragon that embodies combat and war.
Mood Board
Red and gold are musts for the country’s most dominant Olympic event, with black for added intimiation. Until the end of the Ming dynasty (1644), Chinese soldiers believed carving and/or forging Yá Zì's likeness into their weaponry and armor would increase their strength and speed in battle.
Uniform Designs
Primary Sketches
Shoulder GraphicWomen’s Gymnastics
Team History
China's female gymnasts are renown for their petite stature and intense discipline. They are consistently among the top five national teams vying for medals through each recurring Olympiad. China's gymnastics team is known for having arguably the most brutal training regimes in the world.
Inspiration
Cháo Fēng (the third son of the dragon) is the part-phoenix dragon that symbolizes risk-taking and fearless curiosity. The Chinese phoenix is a symbol of high virtue and femininity. This is why the Phoenix Crown is worn by noblewomen and brides as far back as the Ming dynasty.
Mood Board
Staying away from the predictable red and yellow–this royal color scheme would prove equally eye-catching. The colors are inspired by the kingfisher feathers that were traditionally used for coloring the Phoenix Crown.
Leotard Design
Primary Sketches
Chest Graphic