Armani part of Italian olympic team

Giorgio Armani

Chic athlete alert: Giorgio Armani will design the complete wardrobe for the Italian Olympic Team, including formal and sporting togs, to compete in the London 2012 Olympics.  Armani is entering the uniform-design fray as a collab between the Armani Group and CONI, the Italian National Olympic Committee. The stylish sporting ware debuts with Armani’s formal, official outfit for the July 27, 2012 opening ceremony at the London Olympic Stadium.

Italy’s upper echelon sportsmen will exclusively don an array of clothing and accessories from Armani’s EA7 line, which launched in 2004 and is part of the Emporio Armani diffusion label. Hitting the field instead of the runway for the Olympic wardrobe design reflects the cultural importance of athleticism, according to the designer. “A passion for sport is central to the Italian way of life,” Armani said in a statement. Armani, who is the part-owner and honorary president of the Olimpia Milano basketball team, has also featured athletes like David Beckham, Rafael Nadal and Cristiano Ronaldo in Emporio Armani underwear campaigns.

But this isn’t Armani’s first time at the Olympic rings: In 2006, Armani designed garbs for the Italian flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Turin. In addition to Armani gussying up the Italy team, confirmed designers for the 2012 games are Stella McCartney dressing Great Britain, and Cedella Marley (Bob’s daughter) designing in tandem with Puma for Jamaica.