3 July 2024 |
Sami Miro designed the piece for the athletes headed to Paris.
The atmosphere at the Target Center was electric on Sunday night. It was the final evening of the U.S Women’s Gymnastics Olympic Trials and 16,000 plus fans filled the arena in anticipation of seeing history get made. They would not be disappointed. There was Simone Biles, arguably one of the greatest athletes of all times, defying logic and biology with her accomplishments at 27 — an unheard of age in this sport. Hometown hero, Suni Lee, fought back to compete this year, after liver disease nearly caused her to end her career. And for Nike, all eyes were on Jordan Chiles, who was hoping to make a second trip to the Olympics. By 10 P.M., it was official: All three were headed to Paris, joined by Jade Carey and newcomer Hezly Rivera as well as alternates Leanne Wong and Joscelyn Roberson. To commemorate this momentous evening, the women as well as members of the women’s rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline teams emerged on stage clad in all-white custom Sami Miro for Nike jackets, made especially for the occasion.
This was a full circle moment for the Los Angeles-based designer, and founder of Sami Miro Vintage. She’s a longtime Nike collaborator but her connection to gymnastics dates back to her childhood. “I was a gymnast for ten years, training for 40 hours a week and it came to a point where I either quit school and pursue it or try new things in my life,” she says of her journey as a junior Olympian. That’s not to say her training doesn’t heavily influence her life today, as Miro cites her high work ethic and attention to detail stemming from her days spent flipping and spinning. That drive came in handy, as she and her team had a mere three months to perfect the custom white jacket for the Olympic Trials. The result? A crisp, sculptural, and cropped design as inspired by Nike, the goddess of victory. “I wanted to lean into their strength, to symbolize the greatness and the glory that these women bring to the Games. The image that stood out to me the most was when her toga was flowing in the wind. It meant that even the goddess of victory, with the help of her clothing, could look even more powerful than she already was. And that is what these gymnasts are — out of this world,” Miro explains.
True to her brand’s sustainable ethos, she utilized dead stock silk combined with eco-certified leather to create the jackets. Cut to fit the petite proportions of the women, the monochromatic cropped design includes Nike’s signature swoosh, albeit in an exaggerated three-dimensional version, on the front while the back has the U.S.A Gymnastics logo. “I want [the team] to look like they’re in a tailored from head-to-toe look. Typically they’re wearing a tracksuit that is for everybody but this is made for them,” Miro explains of the couture-like approach to the jacket’s construction and design. And like couture, it’s extremely limited in quantity — these will be the only nine women in the world to own the design. Besides designing the jacket, Miro also styled the rest of the announcement outfit, opting for fitted white Jacquemus for Nike pants and the new Air Max Dn sneakers. The effect was striking, especially against the blue stage.
For the athletes, the custom jacket was the exclamation point to what was already an incredibly emotional and unforgettable night. “I trained so many years for this moment, so it is hard not to break down when you know this is the final time to show who you are to the world. When the music stopped, I knew I had done everything I could, and the rest was out of my hands. Tears and emotion just flowed out of me. The incredible support of the fans, my coaches, my teammates and my family was so overwhelming,” said Chiles of the minutes following her last rotation on the floor routine. Those tears quickly became joy, as the women swapped their leotards for their all-white team looks. “I felt powerful and was in awe when I saw it — the details are everything! We all love it. It means a lot to have a brand like Nike taking us to new heights when it comes to blending the worlds of sport and style,” adds Chiles, noting that she’ll be taking hers to Paris. After all, what could be more fitting than a couture-inspired jacket in the home of couture itself?
