ParalympicsGB, ASOS team up to create formal wear for Rio 2016

One of Great Britain’s top fashion retailers has partnered with the British Paralympic Association to design formal and ceremony wear for ParalympicsGB. ASOS will help create a capsule collection for the team to don for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Paralympians Will Bayley, Jordanne Whiley, Sam Ruddock and Lauren Steadman took to the ASOS catwalk in London last week (22 April) for the announcement and met the teams who will flex their design credentials and experience to deliver the formal wear range.

“ASOS are an established, dynamic brand and our athletes will exude confidence wearing their designs,” Chef de Mission Penny Briscoe said. “We’ll be sending out the right message to the rest of the world when the team marches into the stadium.”

Plans are already underway, with teams on both sides sharing ideas and exchanging feedback. They were also joined today by BPA Chief Executive Tim Hollingsworth, ASOS CEO and Founder, Nick Robertson, COO Nick Beighton and General Counsel & Company Secretary Andrew Magowan.

Hollingsworth was delighted to welcome ASOS on board as the BPA’s 10th partner on the road to Rio.

“Working with ASOS, we have an opportunity to take a fresh look at our approach to formal wear for Rio over the next 500 days, and develop fashionable, stylish designs unique to ParalympicsGB,” Hollingsworth said.

“This is an exciting moment for the organisation, at a key time in the team’s preparation, and I’m proud to welcome a fashion brand of their calibre to our Paralympic family.”

As the countdown to the Games continues, the ASOS design team will use their expertise in celebrating individuality, whilst designing for a range of body types to create the team’s formal wear. Athletes will be provided with a capsule wardrobe of simple functional yet fashionable pieces to wear at a range of official team occasions.

Their designs will be worn by approximately 250-300 selected athletes, plus support staff, on any official ParalympicsGB business. This includes high profile team appearances, in addition to the colourful Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

“I’m sure our athletes will be just as excited about this announcement as we are and they’ll be keen to discover what they’ll be wearing in Rio when they swap their tracksuits for formal wear,” Briscoe said.