Wednesday, November 14
By STEPHANIE CESCA
Globe and Mail Update

Roots showcases its Olympic style

When Canadian athletes competed in the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, they did more than bring home medals and represent the country - they became fashion sensations. As a part of the red-and-white uniform, the poor-boy hat created a fashion frenzy where snowboarding gold medalist Ross Rebagliati, Prince William and Finance Minister Paul Martin were seen capped in the red beret. And it proved profitable for Roots Canada Ltd., which sold 500,000 hats after the games. Now Roots has aimed to re-create that craze in launching the 2002 uniform for the Games in Salt Lake City.

Ice dancers Marie-France Dubreuil and her partner Patrice Lauzon sport the official Canada Olympic team uniform (Paul Chiasson/CP)

Now Roots has aimed to re-create that craze in launching the 2002 uniform for the Games in Salt Lake City.

Canadian athletes strutted their stuff in fashion shows across the country Wednesday, showing off red-and-white fleece sweaters with the word "Canada" proudly spread across. They also donned red cotton jogging pants, red-and-white striped scarfs and a red headband.

"The headband's going to be a main part of the uniform this year," the fashion show's announcer said at the launch in Toronto.

Roots has also partnered itself with the United States Olympic Committee and is the official outfitter of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams.

Roots made its debut into the Olympic arena with jackets for the Jamaican bobsledding team at the Calgary Winter Olympics in 1988.

reprinted with permission

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