Designer Stella Jean Creates Uniforms for Team Haiti at Paris Olympics
Haitian-Italian designer Stella Jean has designed uniforms for Team Haiti at the upcoming Paris Olympics. The 15-athlete team will showcase the uniforms featuring artwork by Haitian painter Philippe Dodard at the opening ceremony along the River Seine on July 26.
The collaboration aims to showcase Haiti’s culture and artisanship, which has been overshadowed by recent political instability and natural disasters. Jean’s statement mentioned that the uniforms would incorporate Dodard’s painting titled “Passage.”
The women’s uniform includes a skirt with Dodard’s artwork, a chambray shirt, and a recycled fabric sleeveless blazer adorned with the Haitian Olympic emblem. On the other hand, the men’s uniform features pants with Dodard’s motif, a field jacket inspired by the Guayabera shirt, a striped shirt, and a printed scarf.
In the midst of chaos in Haiti following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse and recent gang violence, Jean’s statement highlighted the 15 athletes as symbols of peace, renewal, and rebirth beyond athletic achievements. The designer plans to exhibit the uniforms at the Haitian National Pantheon Museum in Port-au-Prince.
This unveiling of the Team Haiti uniforms follows similar reveals by other brands designing gear for national teams, such as Nike for the U.S. athletes, Lululemon for Team Canada, and Berluti for Team France.