Red, white and they blew it

Red, white and they blew it

It’s going to be uncomfortable for a lot of people to watch the American athletes on parade during the opening ceremonies of the London Olympics knowing that the patriotic-looking red, white and blue uniforms they’ll be wearing were made in China.

What’s most disturbing, though, is what the outsourcing of those uniforms says about the culture of the apparel industry. A nation that once not only clothed itself, but clothed much of the world, doesn’t even get a second thought from most of the people who are making decisions about where things are going to be made.

No one — at least no one with a voice that was going to be heard — in designer Ralph Lauren’s entire organization thought to question whether it was the best idea to have “Made in China” rather than “Made in the USA” on the labels of the Olympic uniforms.

Of course, now Lauren himself has spoken up and said that while nothing can be done about these Olympic uniforms, those that he produces for subsequent Games will be made in America. Lauren has the uniform contract with the U.S. Olympic Committee through 2020.

That’s a small victory. But a greater victory could come if this incident were to increase consumer awareness that while it is difficult to buy “Made in America” for some things, and impossible for others, careful shoppers still can find items that are just as red, white and blue as the uniforms our athletes will be wearing and the flag that will be hoisted to the strains of the “Star-Spangled Banner” when they win gold. It just takes some effort.

You’d think that someone dressing America’s premiere athletes would understand that attention to detail and going the extra mile are part of the job. You’d think; the folks at Ralph Lauren just didn’t.