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Dublin designer Laura Weber to outfit team Ireland for Paris Olympics

Originally from Dublin and now based in New York, Weber was commissioned to create the uniforms for Team Ireland for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Summer Games in Paris.

Por: Alejandro Carrillo
Outfit team Ireland for Paris Olympics / Photo via Team Ireland
Outfit team Ireland for Paris Olympics / Photo via Team Ireland

For a designer to quietly work on a single project for three and a half years is quite a stretch, but Laura Weber can now finally reveal the details of a significant Olympic-level project.

 

The talented designer, originally from Dublin and now based in New York, has been tasked with creating Team Ireland’s uniforms for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Summer Games in Paris. In addition to outfitting approximately 158 Irish athletes, she will also be dressing Ireland’s hospitality staff and executive board.

Outfit team Ireland for Paris Olympics / Photo via Team Ireland
Outfit team Ireland for Paris Olympics / Photo via Team Ireland

With media coverage ramping up and fans growing excited, Weber commented on Monday, “The reality is only now hitting me, even though I’ve been working on this project for three and a half years. It has been so secretive for so long. Now that I can talk about it a bit more, it feels surreal that it’s happening.”

 

Weber is set to fly back to Dublin on Wednesday to begin fittings with the Team Ireland athletes over the weekend. She will also attend the opening ceremony in Paris this month and watch some events during the first week.

Outfit team Ireland for Paris Olympics / Photo via Team Ireland
Outfit team Ireland for Paris Olympics / Photo via Team Ireland

Fabric of victory

This significant assignment is expected to bring global attention to the 33-year-old designer, who usually prefers to stay out of the spotlight despite her impressive work with top-tier talents. She played a notable role in creating Gabriela Hearst’s outfit for First Lady Jill Biden on inauguration night in 2021, embroidering all the federal flowers from every U.S. state and territory on FLOTUS’ evening coat and dress.

Outfit team Ireland for Paris Olympics / Photo via Team Ireland
Outfit team Ireland for Paris Olympics / Photo via Team Ireland

Hearst’s recognition of her work on social media indirectly led to Weber’s first encounter with an Olympian—Ireland’s Natalya Coyle, a three-time modern pentathlon competitor, who sought her embroidery skills for her wedding gown. The two became friends through the process.

 

Embodying the boldness that led her to move to the U.S. without a job in 2013, Weber proposed to Irish officials that she design Team Ireland’s uniforms for this year’s Summer Olympics, coinciding with the country’s centennial in Olympic competition.

Designing the future

“We competed in Paris in 1924 for the first time as a free state, and the 2024 Games will mark 100 years. I really wanted to create something special for them and put together a massive proposal,” she explained.

Outfit team Ireland for Paris Olympics / Photo via Team Ireland
Outfit team Ireland for Paris Olympics / Photo via Team Ireland

Millions of viewers will tune in on their smartphones and TVs to see each country’s national team at the opening ceremony. NBC’s audience for the 2022 Beijing Winter Games drew 14 million viewers in the U.S. alone.

 

We hope you enjoyed this article about Team Ireland in Paris 2024, If you did, please share it with others. You might also be interested in reading our article about Nike x Alcaraz, or browsing other reviews in our Active section.

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