French house Berluti, has pulled out all the stops in styling Team France for the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024. For this prestigious partnership with LVMH, Berluti has seamlessly combined its renowned savoir-faire and the exceptional skills of its artisans to ensure that the French athletes make an unforgettable impression.
Between offbeat classics and technical virtuosity, Maison Berluti has always remained true to its character. Founded in Paris in 1895 by Italian master shoemaker Alessandro Berluti, the brand has cultivated exceptional savoir-faire in form, leatherwork, and patina, crafting models of unparalleled elegance and comfort. Berluti has made shoes for men of refinement, including the likes of Jean Cocteau, Andy Warhol, and Marcello Mastroianni. Its boutiques have played host to many distinguished clients, all passionate about the timeless elegance of its exceptional shoes.
Today, Berluti continues to prove its daring and creativity by designing and producing the Team France outfits for both Opening Ceremonies of Paris 2024. This exercise in style also marks historic firsts for the Maison both in creating outfits for women and for an event of such tremendous scope. The challenge that Berluti accepted was to compose an outfit – from head to toe – for each athlete, adapted to each body shape. “A big challenge, especially for a house like us”, said Agnès Fillioux, director of industrialisation at Berluti.
The French luxury brand’s sartorial excellence will adorn the athletes, embodying the pinnacle of elegance as they grace the Opening Ceremonies. Replete with a sense of ceremony, the tuxedo designed by Berluti for the Games is cut from luxurious midnight-blue wool. The jacket features a distinctive shawl collar, adorned with a bespoke ‘French flag’ patina motif. This motif, created exclusively for the occasion, celebrates the Maison’s storied savoir-faire with its rich shades of blue and red, symbolising a tribute to French heritage.
Athletes will be dressed in a unique Berluti white shirt and midnight-blue tuxedo jacket with a burnished lapel in the colours of the French flag. Men will wear matching plain pants with sneakers, while women will have the additional option of a wrap skirt complete with a pair of patent moccasins. Accessories include a pocket-handkerchief, with the same pattern as the burnished collar, that can be inserted into the men’s jacket, while a scarf of the same colour can be worn by women. In addition, a hand-varnished belt in the same tones will be complimenting the men’s outfit. Gracing their feet, will be a pair of Berluti Shadow trainers, whose emblematic navy blue has been redesigned with the French national colours while the female athletes and coaches, will sport either the Shadow or the Maison’s flexible Lorenzo leather loafer. “These outfits represent all the savoir-faire and creativity of Berluti, and I am certain that they will enable our athletes to shine for all the world to see. It brings me a great thrill to accompany each athlete during such a momentous occasion in their life!” said Antoine Arnault, LVMH Image & Environment.
In both its usual and classic collections, Berluti never writes the logo on the clothes. Instead, the French brand chooses small and subtle details that show it’s legend. For this outfit, a subtle Olympic or Paralympic logo has been embroidered on the side of the jacket, while inside there is a personalised message, revealed Fillioux. “We created a message to show them how proud we are to have contributed to making them elegant and beautiful for this ceremony, and also to pay tribute to them and make them feel confident. That was the goal.” More details include two small stitches, one blue, the other red, that have been sewn into the first small buttonhole on the shirts, a reminder of the flag of the French team. Finally, on each item, a label has been embroidered with the powerful slogan: Artisan of all victories. “The sentence was embroidered in gold thread for a symbolism of victory, but in a discreet way. To tell them that we are with them and behind them”, concluded Fillioux.