BS: Team USA or Team China?

Subject: BS: Team USA or Team China?
From: Sawzaw
Date: 12 Jul 12 - 07:00 AM

Team USA To Be Decked Out in Uniforms Made in China
ABC News

They are the pride of America - Team U.S.A. - and for the opening ceremonies of the Summer Olympics in London, they'll be proudly wearing red, white and blue, from beret to blazer.

The classic American style - shown in an image above - was crafted by designer Ralph Lauren. But just how American is it?

When ABC News looked at the labels, it found "made in China."

Every item in the uniforms that the U.S. athletes will be wearing at the opening ceremony in London will carry an overseas label.

Nanette Lepore, one of the top U.S. fashion designers, said she was shocked that none of the uniforms had been made in the states. Further, Lepore said that it was "absolutely" possible that the athletes could have been outfitted in U.S.-made clothing. She said U.S. manufactures could have easily made the uniforms - and for less.

Here's how much the uniforms cost:

Men:
Beret - $55
Tie - $125
Belt - $85
Shirt - $425
Blazer - $795
Trousers - $295
Shoes - $165

Women:
Beret - $55
Scarf - $58
Belt - $85
Shirt - $179
Skirt - $498
Blazer - $598

"Why shouldn't we have pride not only in the American athletes, but in the American manufacturers and laborers who are the backbone of our country?" Lepore said to ABC News. "Why? What's wrong? Why was that not a consideration?"

ABC News reached out to Lauren and the U.S. Olympic Committee and asked why American-made clothing had not been selected for the athletes.

The committee said: "The U.S. Olympic team is privately funded and we're grateful for the support of our sponsors. We're proud of our partnership with Ralph Lauren, an iconic American company."

Subject: RE: BS: Team USA or Team China?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 12 Jul 12 - 07:39 AM

'The committee said: "The U.S. Olympic team is privately funded and we're grateful for the support of our sponsors. We're proud of our partnership with Ralph Lauren, an iconic American company."'

In unison no doubt.

Subject: RE: BS: Team USA or Team China?
From: Sawzaw
Date: 12 Jul 12 - 08:46 AM

Lauren probably provided the uniforms for free and wrote it off to get more exposure for their name and sell more made in China clothes.

I find it repugnant that Team USA does not wear USA made clothing.

Subject: RE: BS: Team USA or Team China?
From: gnu
Date: 12 Jul 12 - 08:47 AM

I understand.

Subject: RE: BS: Team USA or Team China?
From: pdq
Date: 12 Jul 12 - 05:28 PM

The fashon and cosmetic industries are as filthy and corrupt as it gets.

If automobile, power or oil companies were as lacking in morality, their CEO's would be under indictment or in prison.

Subject: RE: BS: Team USA or Team China?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Jul 12 - 05:37 PM

But that's the American Way.

Subject: RE: BS: Team USA or Team China?
From: Sawzaw
Date: 12 Jul 12 - 06:17 PM

Authoritarian Mormon asserts his authority:

"They should take all the outfits, put them in a big pile and burn them and start all over."

U.S. Olympics Uniforms Were Made in China, and Harry Reid Is Mad
Time

The revelation that the U.S. Olympic team's uniforms were manufactured in China has prompted an outpouring of patriotic rage from U.S. politicians

Ralph Lauren publicized its designs for the U.S. Olympic team's opening ceremonies uniforms yesterday. They feature smart berets, neckties, and double-breasted blazers in a sailor-inspired blue-and-white ensemble with red accents. Countless online outlets have mocked them for their aura of preppy elitism and the shameless self-promotion of the oversized Ralph Lauren logo on each blazer.

But U.S. lawmakers have a much bigger problem with the uniforms: every single item of clothing was made in China.

"I think they should take all the uniforms, put them in a big pile and burn them and start all over again," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told ABC News. "If they have to wear nothing but a symbol that says USA on it, painted by hand, that is what they should wear."

Reid's frustration is echoed by many other lawmakers who are offended that the uniforms won't benefit the American manufacturing sector. Two New York Congress members, Rep. Steve Israel and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, wrote a letter this morning asking that all U.S. uniforms be American-made in future years.

Some have called for more immediate steps. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio has asked the Olympic Committee to immediately find a domestic manufacturer to remake the team's uniforms. Brown is the sponsor of some pending legislation that would strengthen "Buy America" requirements for items paid for by federal tax dollars.[Hell Yess] And House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has also stated that she believes the Olympic team should wear American-made uniforms.

The U.S. Olympic Committee defended the uniforms in a statement to ABCNews . "The U.S. Olympic team is privately funded and we're grateful for the support of our sponsors. We're proud of our partnership with Ralph Lauren, an iconic American company," the statement said.

It's not the first time that the 'Made in China' issue has come up: in fact, the exact same thing happened four years ago, when Ralph Lauren also created the 2008 Olympic team's uniforms – which were also manufactured in China.

Subject: RE: BS: Team USA or Team China?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 12 Jul 12 - 07:11 PM

Maybe they were made in China because they're so uckin' fugly no self respecting American apparel manufacturer would stoop that low?

White men's dress shoes? I don't think there's been a pair of those made in the US since 1971.

Subject: RE: BS: Team USA or Team China?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Jul 12 - 05:26 PM

"If they have to wear nothing but a symbol that says USA on it, painted by hand, that is what they should wear."

That would, be fun. Getting back to the way the Olympics used to be back in the (Greek) day. But where should the symbol be painted?

Subject: RE: BS: Team USA or Team China?
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 13 Jul 12 - 06:30 PM

I hereby propose that SAWZAW, be named most TeaPublican person on this Forum.


Started the thread against the uniforms but now for them because Harry Reid is against them.

Subject: RE: BS: Team USA or Team China?
From: Sawzaw
Date: 13 Jul 12 - 10:40 PM

I agree with Harry Reid.

Obviously Jack wants the uniforms made in China because he believes the workers here in America are oppressed.

Subject: RE: BS: Team USA or Team China?
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 13 Jul 12 - 10:54 PM

You agree with Harry Reid? There is hope for you yet. And I wasn't saying that the US workers were oppressed like in China. I was saying that Silicon valley had higher labor costs than places dominated by the GOP agenda.

Subject: RE: BS: Team USA or Team China?
From: Sawzaw
Date: 13 Jul 12 - 10:55 PM

Jack likes it when America looses so he can blame it on Republicans.

He likes it when Americans can't get a job so he can blame it on Republicans.

He argues with people that say anything positive about America.

Long Live Jack. I wish you the best ol' buddy. May all sorts of horrible things happen so you will be happy.

Here, I'll dedicate this one to you:

Happy Jack wasn't old but he was a man
He lived in the sand at the Isle Of Man
The kids all would sing, he would take the wrong key
So they rode on his head on their furry donkey

But they never stopped Jack or the water lapping
And they couldn't distract him from the seagulls flapping
The kids couldn't hurt Jack
They tried and tried and tried
They dropped things on his back
They lied and lied and lied and lied and lied

But they never stopped Jack or the waters lapping
And they couldn't prevent Jack from feeling happy

They never stopped Jack nor the waters lapping
And they couldn't prevent Jack from feeling happy

Subject: RE: BS: Team USA or Team China?
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 14 Jul 12 - 01:45 AM

You think that "America" loses because Ralph Lauren is making better margins the Olympic team's dress uniforms?

Weird.

Subject: RE: BS: Team USA or Team China?
From: Sawzaw
Date: 30 Oct 13 - 04:58 PM

I don't want to piss on Jack's screw American workers candles but:


The official U.S. Winter Olympics outfits created by Ralph Lauren were unveiled on TODAY Tuesday, and just like the athletes that will be wearing them in Sochi, they're made in the USA.

The emphasis on having the uniforms manufactured domestically came in the wake of controversy over the Team USA outfits from the London 2012 Olympic Games. Ralph Lauren was heavily criticized for having manufactured the clothing in China. The U.S. Olympic Committee announced that while it was too late to change the outfits ahead of the London Games, it had agreed with Ralph Lauren to make apparel for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games domestically.

While 97 percent of apparel sold in the United States is currently produced overseas, mainly for economic reasons, Ralph Lauren sourced more than 40 domestic manufacturers for its Sochi line. The North Face, which is the outfitter for the freestyle ski team, also joined in on the effort by building a factory in Alameda, Calif., to produce its line.

On Tuesday, the Team USA apparel for Sochi was modeled by a group of Olympic medalists and Sochi hopefuls that included figure skater Evan Lysacek, ice hockey player Julie Chu, the ice dancing tandem of Charlie White and Meryl Davis, and freestyle skiers Hannah Kearney and Alex Schlopy. Lysacek and Chu sported the Closing Ceremony parade uniforms featuring a wool turtleneck with reindeer and snowflake motifs and a navy wool peacoat adorned with a red banner stripe and patriotic patches. That look was paired with cream fleece athletic pants, black leather boots and red laces.

In addition, Ralph Lauren designed a unique collection of village wear apparel and accessories for the teams. Davis, White and Kearney wore pieces from the collection, including a mesh polo, a half-zip mockneck pullover, a long-sleeved Team USA T-shirt, and a full-zip fleece sweatshirt.

Subject: RE: BS: Team USA or Team China?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Nov 13 - 10:25 PM

When did this stuff about national team uniforms start anyway? Back in 1948 I see the British host athletes had to supply their own kit, and no doubt that applied to a lot from other countries ad well. And all the athletes from all the countries wore the same kind of gear.

Which seems far more in keeping with what was supposed to be the Olympic spirit.

Subject: RE: BS: Team USA or Team China?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 04 Nov 13 - 01:47 AM

Buy any local souvenir in a souvenir shop anywhere in the world - one of those nice little models of Big Ben, King's Chapel, The Eiffel Tower, St Basil's, The Empire State, Sydney Bridge... - & I'll bet you'll find it stamped 'Made in China'.

So what else is new...?

~M~