IT’S important athletes have a big say in the uniforms itself. These were the words of Oceania National Olympic Committee’s (ONOC) president Dr Robin Mitchell during the launch of the Team Fiji uniform at the Grand Pacific Hotel last week Saturday.
FASANOCs uniform commission which is made up of Dr Mitchell, chef de mission Cathy Wong and athletes representatives looked at how they would have a competition to attract designers to design Team Fiji uniforms.
“We knew this was going to be the biggest team so we decided to invite the Fiji Fashion Council,” said Dr Mitchell.
“Over the last four years or so Fiji Fashion Week has really grown and the standard of fashion in Fiji has been really improving over time. We thought it would be a great idea to show off the designers work as well as the sporting side so we sent requirements to Fiji Fashion Council president and asked him to distribute it to his members.
“Only three people had responded and when they had responded and I noticed that amongst them was Letila,” said Dr Mitchell.
“From then on I stood down and a different chairman took over the whole process.”
Mitchell adds once the three designers displayed their designs, the athletes then became involved in the selection.
“They short-listed two from the three and those two designers were asked to prepare a walking out outfit and the athletes had to vote for the designs they preferred,” said Mitchell.
“Once that happened, basically it was the team management and the athletes commission that worked with the fashion council. After talking to the athletes, the option was to have a modern design or a traditional design. The athletes opted for traditional design to maintain the sulu and jaba.
“I noticed they’ve gone with the sulu-i-ra which is also more Fiji but also flexible because you could have a dress if you remove the sulu-i-ra.”
“In 1984, I think it was the last time we wore a blazer and tie — we looked like everybody else in the world,” said Dr Mitchell.
“In Korea in 1988, Tiki Togs designed their uniform until we started the trend of wearing bula shirts and in some countries it’s over 40 degrees. During the opening in Beijing it was very hot so the blazers were totally inappropriate. From 1988 our uniforms had a flag bearer wearing traditional gear — usually this is worn by one of the athletes that’s selected.”
“In 1984 we had a traditional dressed athlete, Viliame Takayawa for judo and he attracted a lot of attention at the opening ceremony. This was well before selfies — people taking photos with him in the changing room while he was changing in the toilet and when he came out in the field. So in every Olympic since then all of our flag bearers have been Fijians — it was an attraction for photographers.
Since 1988 we’ve gone to shirts, which was more comfortable and it also reflects who we are, so we’ve had competitions like what we’re having. Hupfeld Hoerder has been the longest designer.
I’m glad they’ve maintained the idea of not wearing blazers and showing something that’s traditional.
I wish all the athletes all the best and hope they do us well in Rio.”
