Ralph Lauren debuts new personal cooling technology in Team USA uniform

By

Robin Driver

Published
Jul 15, 2021

Iconic American fashion brand Ralph Lauren has unveiled the uniform set to be worn by Team USA’s flag bearer during the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic opening ceremonies. The outfit features the company’s new RL Cooling Technology, an integrated self-regulating temperature cooling device intended to help the wearer deal with the Japanese capital’s notoriously humid summer heat.

 
The RL Cooling system is integrated into the white jacket that will be worn by Team USA’s flag bearer. Located at the back of the neck, the battery-powered device disperses heat from the wearer’s skin in order to optimize temperature and create a long-lasting cooling sensation.
 
The technology, which was developed especially for Team USA, builds on Ralph Lauren’s previous exploration of personal thermal management. The brand’s research into this area began with its production of the Ralph Lauren Heated Jacket at the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang in 2018.

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In a release published on Wednesday, the company said that its interest in this field ties in with its wider sustainability initiatives, pointing out that research conducted by the United States Department of Energy suggests that personal thermal management could have the potential to reduce consumers’ reliance on energy-intensive cooling devices, such as HVAC systems.
 
“Through the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Ralph Lauren celebrates America’s pioneering spirit and tradition, while embracing modernity and innovation – and it is with that ethos in mind that we approached the development of the RL Cooling technology,” said Ralph Lauren’s chief branding and innovation officer, David Lauren in the release. “Recognizing Tokyo’s summer heat, we sought to develop a solution for Team USA that fuses fashion and function—allowing them to look and feel their best on one of the world’s biggest stages.”
 

Only the flag bearer will wear the white jacket for the opening ceremony in Tokyo on Friday, July 23. The full parade uniform designed by Ralph Lauren for the other members of Team USA includes a navy blazer made from U.S.-grown wool, a striped t-shirt, a printed scarf, a striped belt produced using recycled plastic water bottles, a slim denim pant, shoes and – in light of the ongoing pandemic – a mask made from U.S.-grown cotton.
 
The entire Ralph Lauren 2020 Team USA Collection can be purchased online, on the Ralph Lauren and Team USA e-commerce platforms, as well as in select Ralph Lauren brick-and-mortar locations and department stores.