mr.x
Feb 3, 2010, 12:38 AM
Olympic victory ceremony outfits for Vancouver volunteers unveiled
By CHANTAL EUSTACE, Vancouver Sun
February 2, 2010 1:03 PM
VANCOUVER - Chunky knit sweaters, chic coats and ethereal scarves are highlights of the outfits designed for volunteers in the Olympic Victory Ceremonies.
The looks — designed by Vancouver designer Yumi Eto and her creative team from Aritizia — were showcased at a downtown press conference today.
The Sun spoke to Eto a week ago and got a sneak peek inside Aritzia's east Vancouver headquarters. There, Eto walked us through what makes each piece so unique.
The trio of outfits is a micro-collection of creative West Coast couture, and that's exactly what Eto said she hoped to achieve.
"I'm thrilled. I'm really happy with the results," said Eto, standing inside a large studio, surrounded by fabrics, boxes, finished outfits and plenty of busy people.
"I hope the world feels the same."
Seated behind her, a young woman worked busily sewing tufts of multi-coloured, hand-dyed yarn into a sweater. She was one of several staffers working to finish the outfits on time.
Special knitting needles, resembling fat drumsticks were required to create just the right "chunkiness" needed in the sweaters' knit.
Though the sweaters looked done, Eto explained, finishing touches were needed.
"It's great that we're making it look good for the camera for two or three weeks, but what's more important is the longevity of it."
The volunteers were considered throughout the design process, she said.
"They've inspired the work," she said, of the 100 or so young women who'll be handing medals to dignitaries, or escorting the winning athletes to accept medals.
"The most important element was, we wanted [the clothing] to be special but we didn't want it to feel like a costume," said Eto, adding that many of the volunteers are aged 15 or 16, with their own athletic ambitions.
"We have girls of every different age as well as every different size and proportion and so we also looked to styles that would be flattering to all of them," she said.
"We didn't want them to go onstage feeling uncomfortable."
To ensure a good fit, each outfit was made specifically for the volunteer who'll be wearing it.
"We took it very seriously," she said. "We wanted to take a couture approach to this."
There was a lot at stake.
"We wanted to make [the volunteers] look as energetic and youthful as possible but as well, really fashionable," she said.
Much of the wow factor comes through in the small details of each piece, from the artistic-looking scarves to the thoughtful tailoring.
Eto said the victory ceremonies will also be a big moment for her and her design team.
"We're all really proud to be a part of it," she said, smiling.
"Even in a small way, it's an honour to do it."
Here's more about the three outfits:
Indoor outfit
The oversized hand-knit wool sweater is a key part of the indoor victory ceremony outfit.
It's paired with a gauzy multi-toned scarf that Eto said includes all the colours of the world's flags.
"It's the world coming together," she said, of the reference. "But we wanted to interpret it in kind of a fresh way."
Worn with ski pants and leather boots, the sweater's form is set off nicely by a thick, leather belt. "[The belt] was based on a First Nations artwork pattern that we had embossed," she said.
Outdoor ceremony
For the outdoor victory ceremony volunteers, "we really wanted to have a really cocoon-like effect," Eto said, pointing to the rounded shape of the coat."We also wanted to go back to a really subtle plaid as well as incorporating kind of night sky colours into it."
The coat is elevated by a decidedly fashion-conscious accent at the neckline, a netted scarf in vivid blues.
"We wanted to have a little bit of colour around their face," she said. "It was really inspired by a spider web and catching little elements of foliage or leaves into it."
Medal escorts
The third outfit, to be worn by the volunteers who will escort athletes to accept their medals — is more formal.
The vintage ski coat-inspired jacket is worn over a caged petticoat and boots.
Eto pointed out the subtle pattern stitched across the coat's fabric.
"We've incorporated this blocking into it which is actually the medal artwork," she said, a nod to the volunteer's role at the ceremonies.
"These are the women who will accompany the athletes as they reach their big moment."
ceustace@vancouversun.com
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun
http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Olympic+victory+ceremony+outfits+volunteers+unveiled/2513644/story.html
http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/www.vancouversun.com/life/Olympic+victory+ceremony+outfits+volunteers+unveiled/2513644/2513622.bin?size=620x400
http://www.marketwire.com/library/20100202-RONA0202_300.jpg
By CHANTAL EUSTACE, Vancouver Sun
February 2, 2010 1:03 PM
VANCOUVER - Chunky knit sweaters, chic coats and ethereal scarves are highlights of the outfits designed for volunteers in the Olympic Victory Ceremonies.
The looks — designed by Vancouver designer Yumi Eto and her creative team from Aritizia — were showcased at a downtown press conference today.
The Sun spoke to Eto a week ago and got a sneak peek inside Aritzia's east Vancouver headquarters. There, Eto walked us through what makes each piece so unique.
The trio of outfits is a micro-collection of creative West Coast couture, and that's exactly what Eto said she hoped to achieve.
"I'm thrilled. I'm really happy with the results," said Eto, standing inside a large studio, surrounded by fabrics, boxes, finished outfits and plenty of busy people.
"I hope the world feels the same."
Seated behind her, a young woman worked busily sewing tufts of multi-coloured, hand-dyed yarn into a sweater. She was one of several staffers working to finish the outfits on time.
Special knitting needles, resembling fat drumsticks were required to create just the right "chunkiness" needed in the sweaters' knit.
Though the sweaters looked done, Eto explained, finishing touches were needed.
"It's great that we're making it look good for the camera for two or three weeks, but what's more important is the longevity of it."
The volunteers were considered throughout the design process, she said.
"They've inspired the work," she said, of the 100 or so young women who'll be handing medals to dignitaries, or escorting the winning athletes to accept medals.
"The most important element was, we wanted [the clothing] to be special but we didn't want it to feel like a costume," said Eto, adding that many of the volunteers are aged 15 or 16, with their own athletic ambitions.
"We have girls of every different age as well as every different size and proportion and so we also looked to styles that would be flattering to all of them," she said.
"We didn't want them to go onstage feeling uncomfortable."
To ensure a good fit, each outfit was made specifically for the volunteer who'll be wearing it.
"We took it very seriously," she said. "We wanted to take a couture approach to this."
There was a lot at stake.
"We wanted to make [the volunteers] look as energetic and youthful as possible but as well, really fashionable," she said.
Much of the wow factor comes through in the small details of each piece, from the artistic-looking scarves to the thoughtful tailoring.
Eto said the victory ceremonies will also be a big moment for her and her design team.
"We're all really proud to be a part of it," she said, smiling.
"Even in a small way, it's an honour to do it."
Here's more about the three outfits:
Indoor outfit
The oversized hand-knit wool sweater is a key part of the indoor victory ceremony outfit.
It's paired with a gauzy multi-toned scarf that Eto said includes all the colours of the world's flags.
"It's the world coming together," she said, of the reference. "But we wanted to interpret it in kind of a fresh way."
Worn with ski pants and leather boots, the sweater's form is set off nicely by a thick, leather belt. "[The belt] was based on a First Nations artwork pattern that we had embossed," she said.
Outdoor ceremony
For the outdoor victory ceremony volunteers, "we really wanted to have a really cocoon-like effect," Eto said, pointing to the rounded shape of the coat."We also wanted to go back to a really subtle plaid as well as incorporating kind of night sky colours into it."
The coat is elevated by a decidedly fashion-conscious accent at the neckline, a netted scarf in vivid blues.
"We wanted to have a little bit of colour around their face," she said. "It was really inspired by a spider web and catching little elements of foliage or leaves into it."
Medal escorts
The third outfit, to be worn by the volunteers who will escort athletes to accept their medals — is more formal.
The vintage ski coat-inspired jacket is worn over a caged petticoat and boots.
Eto pointed out the subtle pattern stitched across the coat's fabric.
"We've incorporated this blocking into it which is actually the medal artwork," she said, a nod to the volunteer's role at the ceremonies.
"These are the women who will accompany the athletes as they reach their big moment."
ceustace@vancouversun.com
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun
http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Olympic+victory+ceremony+outfits+volunteers+unveiled/2513644/story.html
http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/www.vancouversun.com/life/Olympic+victory+ceremony+outfits+volunteers+unveiled/2513644/2513622.bin?size=620x400
http://www.marketwire.com/library/20100202-RONA0202_300.jpg