For the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, I was contracted by Yumi Eto (Head Designer at Aritzia), on behalf on VANOC as a sewing contractor for the Olympic Medal Bearer and Athlete Escort Costumes.
The following is an excerpt on Blanche Macdonald Centre website, written by Robert Collins:
“As one of Canada’s top Fashion Schools, VANOC called on Blanche Macdonald’s fashion skills as well. Looking for Vancouver-based talent, designer Yumi Eto had contacted Fashion Program Director Peggy Morrison before the Games. Peggy recommended Fashion Design graduates Amanda Montgomery, Mickelli Orbe, Jillian Rothert and Sayaka Toyoda, who were hired as sewing contractors to work on the indoor medal bearers’ Heritage Sweaters, the outdoor medal bearers’ toques, and the caged petticoats on the athlete escorts’ costumes.
“My tasks included weaving the colours into the sweaters,” explains Amanda Montgomery. “Blues, browns, teal and orange – and finishing the details for each sweater.
“Yumi Eto, the designer for this project with Aritzia, had contacted me personally for this project as I had been recommended by the staff at Blanche Macdonald. The highlight of this experience was working and learning under Yumi. She has an incredible eye for design, and her immaculate attention to detail was great to observe and learn from. It’s really been the most rewarding experience, and I’m truly grateful!”
Medal and flower bearer, indoor: “The Heritage Sweater” — Inspired by the knit and woven heritage of Canada’s First Nations artisans, each sweater is original, hand-knit and finished with a color palette influenced by the sky, forest and ocean. Complemented by a hand-tooled belt embossed with First Nations artwork, silk embroidered scarf in hues representing the flags of all nations, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police boot.
Medal and flower bearer, outdoor: “The Cocoon Parka” — Reflecting the subtle hues of a night sky and the sculptural shape of a cocoon, the parka features corset-style seaming and interwoven blues in a subtle plaid. Complemented by a cobweb-influenced scarf interlaced with leaves and foliage, a heritage toque updated with brushed gradients of blue hues, vintage knit ski top and pant, and RCMP boot.
Athlete escort/indoor-outdoor: “The Vintage Ski Coat” — A vintage-style ski coat, accented with sport detailing in the seaming and finishing, is hand-flocked with the art of the medals created by a renowned Canadian First Nations artist. Complemented by a caged fringe reminiscent of First Nations costumes, cracked-ice hat and scarf mimicking ice veins illuminated in clear blue water, and RCMP boot.
Image via Wikipedia
While at Aritzia, I began working on the “Heritage Sweaters” (Left). in the chunky knit, we wove dyed raw wool (by artisan yarn company local to Vancouver Sweet Georgia by Felicia Lo.) The wool was dyed in the ‘Sea-to-Sky” color palette, consisting of blues, teal, orange, grey, browns and cream. Most of our time was spent on these sweaters, stabilizing the fit, the wool accents, etc. However, we were able to contribute some work to the other 2 costumes. “The Cocoon Parka” (Middle) –I assisted in the construction and the felting process of the toques as well as creating the scarves. “The Vintage Ski Coat” (Right) — I was involved with some of the preliminary work of the flocking, and I assisted in cutting the caged underskirt. I also attended and assisted at fittings in both Whistler, and the RCMP Headquarters in Vancouver.
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