New USA Snowboarding Uniforms Look Like Your Grandma's Quilt
New USA Snowboarding Uniforms Look Like Your Grandma's Quilt
Burton Snowboards CEO Jake Burton says that nothing “represents Americana more than handcrafted patchwork quilts and the American flag,” so that's exactly what the company put all over the Team USA Snowboarding uniforms they were asked to design for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. They used a vintage quilt found at an antique fair as inspiration, going so far as to hire a Vermont quilt maker to deconstruct the quilt in order to replicate it on the jacket. In keeping with the aesthetic, the pants are made of a “highly technical corduroy” that was weatherproofed with a laminate.
Greg Dacyshyn, Burton’s creative director, says the ensemble gives the uniform a “heirloom hippy” vibe that lines up with snowboarding’s laid-back culture. He expects Team USA to stand out in Sochi. As long as waves of artsy Amish folk aren’t milling around the mountain venues, he’ll have his wish.
Tim Newcomb covers stadiums, design and technology for Sports Illustrated. Follow him on Twitter at @tdnewcomb.
