Oh, look: The U.S. Olympic uniforms totally could have been made in USA. And for less!

[Brickbat]

Women:
Scarf – $58 Made in China vs. Three Bird Nest’s Scarf $28.50 Made in San Francisco
Belt – $85 Made in China vs. O’Connell’s Ribbon Belt $39.95 Made in New York
Shirts– $179 Made in China vs. Organic by John Patrick Raw Hem Poplin Shirt $169 Made in USA
Skirt – $498 Made in China vs. A.L.C. Thea Waffle-Weave Skirt $495 Made in Los Angeles
Blazer – $598 Made in China vs. Thakoon Suiting Blazer $495 Made in USA
Total: Chinese-made = $1,418 vs. American-made = $1,227.45
Men:
Tie – $125 Made in China vs. The Hill-side Tie $85 Made in New York City
Belt – $85 Made in China vs. O’Connell’s Ribbon Belt $39.95 Made in New York
Shirt – $425 Made in China vs. Todd Shelton Baxter White Shirt $124 Made in USA
Blazer – $795 Made in China vs. Anderson Little Classic Blue Blazer $179 Made in USA
Trousers – $295 Made in China vs. Ovadia & Sons Flat Front Trousers $275 Made in USA
Total: Chinese-made = $1,725 vs. American-made = $702.95, a savings of over $1,000!

http://hauteamericana.com/2012/07/could-american-olympians-be-decked-out-in-american-made-uniforms-for-less-2/

[Wounded Bear]

1. And geez, the 'designs' are not that original anyway....

[DoBotherMe]

2. kick

[Sanity Claws]

3. What about the berets?

Just joking. They're not needed. How about a Stetson or a baseball cap?

[jberryhill]

6. What about berets?

It really toasted my bread to see the Fox morning news bunny making fun of the berets.

[4th law of robotics]

13. They are kind of a useless headgear

provide no protection from the sun or the rain.

I'm not sure why they ever caught on.

Boonie-hats are far more practical.

[uponit7771]

4. I've been telling peopel this for years, the "over there" is for pur profit and < 1yr ROI vs

...3 - 5.

[Lizzie Poppet]

5. Yep. Offshore production has NEVER been about keeping consumer prices down.

It's always been about increasing margin.

[Xyzse]

15. Agreed

I have to wonder how much that mark up is. 4-500%?

[laundry_queen]

55. Plus a million

That's exactly right, and that's exactly what they do.

[robinlynne]

59. interesting.

[Brickbat]

33. Yup. The savings gained in lower production costs is never passed along to the consumer. It goes

right to profit.

[xtraxritical]

43. Only price increases to maintain margin are passed along to consumers!

USA USA USA USA

[xchrom]

7. du rec. nt

[Renew Deal]

8. The markup on the chinese goods are being factored in unfairly

The chinese made stuff costs less than the amounts listed. I'm not saying it's not more expensive, but this isn't a fair comparison. A large part of the cost is the Polo guy.

I still think that the items could have been made and should have been made in NY and the rest of the US.

[mamayo]

24. who can afford these items

regardless of where they were made?

[ProdigalJunkMail]

9. i'll admit i didn't read the article

but, do these prices take into account the 'name' associated with these items? I wonder how much of the 'price' is the premium charged for the privilege of having the Ralph Loren name stamped in it?

sP

[HopeHoops]

10. Yeah, but that would be patriotic. rMoney wouldn't be interested.

[1monster]

11. I could have made all of those and had a tidy profit for less than $500.

Those prices are absurd.

[justabob]

31. I know!

1200-1700 dollars for an effing uniform? Really, that alone is over the top, and like someone else said, why do they have to use name brand designers? Do they really need a polo pony on their chest? It isn't a fashion show, it is a sporting event. Jeez, buy whatever off the rack generic brand... or find an up and coming American designer, if it is *that* important.

[robinlynne]

60. I would guess the designer is paying for everything, trading for the advertising

of having the polo on the athletes, aren't they? Probably Ralph Lauren is not only giving them the clothing but paying extra as well, as a "sponsor."

[glowing]

12. And look at the woman's shirt...

No style to it. No curve through the right places to accentuate in a flatterin way. Looks like a guys shirt... Actually the man's shirt is more form flatering than that junk they r using for the woman.

[4th law of robotics]

14. Olympic athletes from the US should be garbed exclusively in bearskins

acquired from within the US, killed and cleaned with good old American flint.

That will strike fear in to the hearts of our enemies . . . er fellow competitors.

[XemaSab]

51. I vote that every country should come out in traditional dress

And the American athletes (ESPECIALLY the white ones) can all come out like this:



(This idea is so ridiculous that it's awesome. Who's on board?)

[LynneSin]

16. Rest assured the $1418/1725 it cost to make the outfits is the price we would pay..

if we went out to buy it. I mean they have the Ralph Lauren logo slapped on them so there's a premium to that.

I suspect the outfits probably cost less than $100 to make total!

[Spazito]

17. I don't get it, I don't get why...

it is an imperative the Olympic teams must be outfitted by a top name designer, it is not the clothes the athletes wear that define the games, it is, or certainly should be, the skills and abilities of the athletes themselves.

If the outfits, for some unknown reason, are to be designed, why not use a new designer from one's own country, showcase those talents instead of some big name designer whose name means a much higher price is to be paid than would be otherwise.

To repeat, I just don't get it.

[SidDithers]

21. I agree...

I can see the actual performance apparel being made by the big sport companies. There's a lot of science that goes into materials and fit and how athletic performance can be improved by wearing the right clothing. Companies like Adidas and Reebok and Nike have spent money on sport science research to develop equipment that can give even an tiny little edge to an athlete.

But parade costumes can be made by anybody. And they should most definitely be made domestically.

Sid

[Spazito]

23. Yes, I agree re the actually performance apparel...

providing it IS based on an possible improvement in performance ie the continuing evolution of the swimwear worn. If there is no difference then the performance apparel should not be purchased simply due to 'name brand'.

[robinlynne]

61. I would guess ralph Luaren is paying the Olympics, not the other way around.

[SidDithers]

18. But the American made ones don't say Ralph Lauren on them...nt

Sid

[mahatmakanejeeves]

19. Why do you Haute Americana?

OK, its sarcasm, but not this part: $275 for those trousers? Also, why is there such a huge difference in the cost of a men's blazer vs. a women's blazer?

Disclaimer: I buy a lot of my clothes at yard sales, but not all of them. I'm no expert.

[MADem]

20. I think the 4th Runner Up on Project Runway could have come up with a better outfit than that

Polo shit. And it IS shit--pure shit...ugly, ugly, fugly-ugly!

[Phentex]

32. the belts look like those preppy belts from the eighties...

I think the Project Runway idea is actually a great idea!

[MADem]

40. I'd watch that show start to finish! They could do a whole season of Olympic looks!

Opening ceremonies, track suits, swimwear, running gear, etc. Between all the sports they could get 12 episodes, easy! Then they could have the panel judge and cough up the top three, and have "America" vote for a 50% share of the winning look! If they really wanted to break it down, they could award this prize to one person, and that prize to the other, so that the entire ensemble was crafted by three talented amateurs.

Make it work, people!!!! That guy cracks me up!

[Starry Messenger]

22. k&r

[SidDithers]

25. There's something about the uniforms...

It reminds me of something, but I can't put my finger on it. They seem, I dunno, Ayn Randian?

Does that image look sorta familiar to anyone else?

Sid

[Berlum]

26. They look like the uniforms of Eeleet 1% Polo-Playing Republican WankerWimps

fer sure...

?1329400535

[itsrigged]

45. Here he is again...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/125159472

[Locrian]

30. they do

But I can't place it either. I think it reminds me of some parody or comedy? Maybe like Animal House?

[Occulus]

39. I think you're right but I can't place it either

Some movie? Or TV show?

[xtraxritical]

47. I think it's the captain or one of the characters from Gilligan's Island!

[MADem]

41. Hitler Youth in berets....? It smacks of "propaganda art."

Clean, strong, upright youth, staring resolutely off into the distance, flag flying...

The former Soviet Union did some rather iconic images along these lines, too.

[SidDithers]

52. Yeah, I think you're right...

I had the wrong end of the spectrum. It's probably more like Soviet era poster art.

Cheers,
Sid

[progressoid]

42. That pose looks kind of Communist propaganda ish to me.

Last edited Tue Jul 24, 2012, 02:48 PM - Edit history (1)

Or...

Duty Now For The Future

[Berlum]

56. this is more like, um, it. or whatever

[Odin2005]

48. Fascism-chic.

[bayareaboy]

27. When did the Olympics become so bizzare?

It seemed like a few years ago, perhaps when Mittens took over for the Salt Lake City Winter games. I know that the the central committee was slightly screwed before that, but it is just one scandal after another, and I do consider this thing about clothing a scandal. I mean if Mr Polopony wants his logo on them, what about having other folks know what you did and going from there instead of having our folks look like a NASCAR racer.

I am still trying to get over the drum thing in China last time.

[abelenkpe]

28. We can produce animation here cheaper as well

But we don't. Mostly because other countries provide tax incentives of up to forty percent to lure jobs away from the US and to their countries. Their taxpayers pay Hollywood studios to layoff Americans (And I'm sure it similar for many other industries) while our politicians cant figure out why tax revenues drop here and so many turn to unemployment and food stamps. Gee, do you think it's because we do nothing to stop offshoring?

As far as clothing goes I've watched as clothes from common places like the gap and Jcrew have gone down in quality (poor fabrics, poor craftsmanship, poor fit) while their prices have gone up up up. But hey, their shareholders and executives are making out.

[Kablooie]

29. Quick! Hide this post or our corporate overlords may display their displeasure!

[dballance]

34. Did we REALLY spend that much per outfit?

I thought we needed some austerity.

I've never owned a $795 blazer or a tie that cost more than $50. Hell the most expensive complete suit I could ever afford was just north of $500 and it was a Hugo Boss on clearance. $425 for a white men's shirt? Even Nordstroms and Macy's are more reasonable than that.

A freaking white blouse for $179? A skirt for $498??

Who the hell is setting the budget for these things? We could have gone to the Men's Warehouse for all the guy's clothing and spent a quarter of what they spent. Not that going to Men's Warehouse would assure Made in the USA but since none of this stuff was anyway the point is moot.

Why the hell did we need designer clothing for something these people will only wear once to represent the US?

[MADem]

44. I've never owned ANY items of clothing that hit those price points--ever.

I can't imagine spending that kind of money for clothing. Seems a complete waste to me.

[xtraxritical]

49. Especially such shoddy looking stuff, how square, how lame, how stupid.

[MADem]

54. Top of the line military uniforms don't cost that much--and they wear like iron. nt

[begin_within]

35. $125 for a tie?

Someone is pulling a fast one on the U.S. team.

[Moonwalk]

36. Well, but you only save $3 on the skirt....

[Lifelong Protester]

37. I appreciate the info, but I could

make that skirt for waaaaay less. Still trying to wrap my head around a $495 skirt. (Yes, I sew, so I know what I'm talking about).

General premise of the OP, I could not agree more. This entire situation is embarassing to the US. We can do better.

Who are the buffoons who got us into this mess? Not too sensitive, eh?

[itsrigged]

38. Here is what I think

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10844206

[Fawke Em]

46. Why are women's clothes so much more expensive, period?

A shirt is a shirt, a blazer is a blazer.

If anything, the woman's shirt and blazer uses less material, on average, than its male counterparts.

So why are women constantly being shat on?

[xtraxritical]

50. How about the price of a haircut?

[Historic NY]

53. If they went shopping at the largeest outlets centers they could..

outfit them even cheaper with name brand logos too.

All the Chinese & Japanese come here to buy the crap made over there.

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=7

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/travel_tourism.asp?id=7

this place is more popular than some of the tourist attractions in NY State

[valerief]

57. Yeah, but the funds would have to go to the clothier if Made in America.

Made in China allows for all kinds of syphoning of funds.

[robinlynne]

58. holy shit. We are 40% cheaper than China?

[ThoughtCriminal]

62. The extra value that kickbacks provide?