The 2020 Olympics are coming up in Tokyo this summer and Nike has released its highly anticipated Team USA uniforms. This year, the uniforms are making not only a fashion statement but a sustainability statement as well. The athletic clothing features sustainable recycled materials such as polyester made from recycled plastic bottles as well as rubber and yarn waste from Nike factories.
What athletes wear has a big impact on their comfort and performance and Nike designs Olympic clothing to be worn during the entire event, from competition to the podium. Specific uniform items include windbreakers made of recycled plastic bottles and logos crafted from waste rubber. Footwear includes Nike Air Vapormax sneakers created from 75 percent manufacturing waste. The shoes also use Nike’s Flyknit platform which cuts fabrics to optimize material use and reduce waste.
Basketball and soccer uniforms will be made from 100 percent recycled nylon and Nike has designed the first-ever Olympic skateboarding uniforms created with 100 percent recycled polyester.
One of the world’s largest athletic brands using sustainable materials to design the uniforms for the world’s highest level of competitive sports is a powerful statement about the role of environmentally friendly initiatives across all industries. Highlighting sustainable fashion at one of the world’s most globalized events demonstrates how, much like athletics, sustainability efforts transcend borders and nationalities.
