Australian footwear and apparel brand R.M.Williams and Paralympics Australia have just unveiled the Official Australian ceremonial uniforms for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games at a special event at Australian Fashion Week (AFW).
Held on-site at Carriageworks in Sydney, the official ceremonial uniforms were unveiled to media, industry and key supporters today, May 17.
The uniforms include accessibility features such as push studs in place of buttons, allowing the wearer to button up or down with minimal contact. Elasticated waistbands have been added to shorts and chinos, and the addition of a zip closure to the brand’s Surry Sneaker negating the need to use laces.
Alongside shirts, chinos, pants, jackets and shoes, the range also includes socks crafted by Humphrey Law, an Akubra hat and an R.M.Williams leather belt made in Adelaide.
Indigenous artist Rheanna Lotter's artwork ‘The Journey’ is also incorporated in the uniform collection. Lotter is a proud Yuin woman and founder of the aboriginal art collective Ngandabaa. Her artwork has featured in every Paralympic uniform since its introduction in 2016 and features eight circles to represent the Australian states and territories, tracks to represent the connection between the Paralympians, and boomerangs to represent challenges overcome in the journey to the games.
The unveiling also included the presentation of the casualwear uniforms designed by Belgravia.
Speaking at the event today, R.M.Williams chief design and product officer Rachel Allen acknowledged Australian Paralympic Team chef de mission Kate McLoughlin and the athletes who took part in the design process.
“It has been a real collaborative approach to make this the most comfortable, and functional, and purposeful collection,” Allen said. “I think one of the main features is having the elasticated waist, having an option for chinos and a short I think that's really key.
“The zips that we've added into the sneaker, that's pretty significant and that will just really transform athletes' experience.
And then just additional features like there's a magnetic popper on the jacket, so you don't need to fuss with the zip and you can close it with such ease.”
This marks the eighth consecutive partnership for which the R.M.Williams has supplied uniforms, following successful collaborations for the Australian Paralympic teams at every Summer and Winter Games since Vancouver 2010. Its other sporting partnerships also include the supply of uniforms for the two most recent Commonwealth Games and a multi-year partnership with Rugby Australia.
“R.M.Williams was founded on the premise of personal connection with our customers, understanding their lifestyles and crafting beautiful products that cater to their needs,” CEO Paul Grosmann said. “We’re proud to continue that legacy today and send Australia’s Paralympians off to Paris in uniforms that they can feel comfortable and confident in.”
McLoughlin welcomed the ongoing support from R.M.Williams
“We’re excited by these thoughtfully crafted designs that ensures accessibility for each Paralympian,” McLoughlin said. “When our Australian Paralympic Team marches down the Champs Elysses and into the Opening Ceremony at the Place de la Concorde they will do it with pride in their R.M.Williams uniform.”
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will take place from August 28 to September 8, 2024. Australia’s Paralympians will be wearing their R.M.Williams ceremonial uniforms at both the opening and closing ceremonies, in addition to formal Paralympic events associated with the games.