In 1924, Ireland made its debut in the Olympic games. One hundred years later, the country has another big debut at the 2024 Paris Olympics: that of Laura Weber, the New York-based Irish designer who has created the opening and closing ceremony looks for her native country.
While this is her first time undergoing such a task, Weber actually has some experience in this Olympic space. She embroidered the wedding dress of three-time Irish Olympian Natalya Coyle back in 2021, and aided in the embroidery of the Team USA Ralph Lauren uniforms when she worked for the brand upon first moving to America a decade ago. Now, she is taking on the task herself, creating two jackets for the athletes to wear at the two respective ceremonies, as well as a cotton jersey t-shirt, trousers, and sneakers. The opening ceremony jackets are white, double-breasted designs, a departure from the country’s go-to green. “I felt white really represents what the opening ceremony is about: the athletes going into the games with a blank canvas, feeling anything can happen,” she told Team Ireland. The design features each specific athlete’s county emblem, as well as four shamrocks, representing Ireland’s four provinces. Of course, Weber had to include her signature embroidery throughout the design, and each jacket will feature the athlete’s name, personalizing the piece even further.
When it came to the closing ceremony look, Weber decided to return to Ireland’s tried-and-true hue, creating a deep green jacket with a more retro cut, inspired by a piece worn by Irish track star and former Olympian Sonia O’Sullivan. Gold strapping details across the bodice form a five-pointed star, but if the athlete is lucky enough to score a medal during the games, their ribbon will deliver the sixth point when worn with the jacket.
