Forget Brad Pitt’s baby yellow Burberry or A$AP Rocky’s Bottega Veneta ensemble; the internet’s most discerning fashion critics are crowning a surprising contender for menswear champion of Summer 2024: the Mongolia Olympics Uniform 2024. Revealed earlier this month, the Team Mongolia uniforms for the Paris Olympics opening ceremony have become an unexpected viral sensation, winning accolades from the notoriously critical Fashion Twitter. With their sharp tailoring, intricate detailing, and subtly cool vibe featuring embroidered collars and boxy vests, these uniforms are proving that athletic wear can be high fashion.
The masterminds behind this sartorial success are the sister duo at the helm of Mongolian fashion label Michel & Amazonka. These designers are no strangers to crafting impactful uniforms, having previously dressed Mongolian Airlines staff and designed for Team Mongolia in the 2020 and 2022 Olympics. However, the Mongolia Olympics uniform 2024 has struck a chord like never before, generating widespread positive buzz. “We are still in a state of shock,” admits Batbaatar Munkhbaya, director and general manager of Michel & Amazonka, speaking from their Ulaanbaatar workshop. Alongside her, Amazonka Chougala, one half of the design duo, nods in agreement as Munkhbaya translates, the workshop backdrop showcasing racks brimming with the new uniforms, their gold threadwork catching the light.
In an exclusive interview, Munkhbaya shared insights into the uniform’s unexpected viral fame, the fusion of modern design with Mongolian tradition, and the meticulous craftsmanship behind each piece.
GQ: What was the journey to designing this year’s Mongolia Olympics uniform 2024?
Batbaatar Munkhbaya: Initially, we weren’t selected. But in February, the Mongolian National Olympic Committee contacted us because the original designers had to cancel. Having created the uniforms for Tokyo and Beijing, we were approached with a tight three-month deadline.
GQ: That’s an incredibly short timeframe. Where did you find your initial inspiration for the design?
Batbaatar Munkhbaya: Our primary inspiration comes from Naadam, Mongolia’s grandest festival, which we consider our own Olympics. Held every July, Naadam’s opening ceremony sees people adorned in vibrant traditional attire. You’ll see echoes of these designs throughout Mongolia. While our Olympic uniform draws from this heritage, it’s been refined for a more contemporary aesthetic with subtler colors and fancier embroidery. It’s essentially a modern take on traditional Mongolian clothing.
GQ: The color palette is noticeably neutral. What led to this choice?
Batbaatar Munkhbaya: Considering the Paris location, the fashion capital, and the summer heat, we opted for lighter shades like white and gray, which are our preferred colors anyway. Darker colors wouldn’t be ideal for a Parisian summer Olympics. The Paris 2024 Olympics torch, with its neutral gold and silver tones, also served as inspiration.
GQ: The gold embroidery is exquisite. It features fish, mountains, and natural imagery. Can you elaborate on the vest’s design elements?
Batbaatar Munkhbaya: [Munkhbaya retrieves a vest to showcase]. The embroidery here [pointing to the upper section] depicts the ‘Nine White Banner.’ This banner heralds the start of Naadam, symbolizing new beginnings. We’ve incorporated the Olympic logo, of course. And these mountains [gesturing to the lower part] represent the climbers who conquer Everest, embodying hard work and perseverance. The gold thread is deliberate; we hope it symbolizes gold medals for our athletes.
The Mongolia Olympics uniform 2024 is more than just clothing; it’s a carefully considered blend of cultural heritage, contemporary fashion sensibility, and Olympic aspiration. Michel & Amazonka have successfully created a uniform that resonates on a global scale, proving that tradition and modernity, comfort and style, can indeed go hand-in-hand, even on the world’s biggest sporting stage.
