Even though the Rio Olympics is drawing to a close, the influence that fashion has had on it remains timeless.
Search and comparison website ShopAlike has created beautiful illustrations which showcase how Olympic outfits have evolved since the first Games in Athens 1896. They feature some of the biggest stars at Rio, including gold medallists Usain Bolt and Mijaín López (wrestling), as well as Renaud Lavillenie (pole vaulting), Serena Williams (tennis) and Federica Pellegrini (swimming).
What's amazing about these illustrations are how the clothing, hairstyle and looks of each era perfectly capture the style and spirit of that time. The design team, comprising Mona Torgersen, Kerem Bas and Guilherme Pina, also took care to present the outfits of the earlier Games in black and white, since colour photography didn't exist then.
Evolutionary Olympic Graphics
These Gorgeous Illustrations Showcase Olympic Outfits Over 120 Years
Trend Themes
1. Evolution of Olympic Outfits - There is an opportunity to design new Olympic outfits using modern technologies.
2. Historical Fashion Trends - Fashion designers can draw inspiration from historical Olympic fashion trends to create new designs.
3. Visual Storytelling - There is immense potential for visual storytelling through illustrations showcasing fashion trends over time.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - Fashion designers can use historical Olympic outfits as inspiration to create new fashion lines.
2. Sports Equipment - Sports equipment manufacturers can use the illustrations to design equipment that complements the athletes' outfits.
3. Graphic Design - Graphic designers can create visually appealing illustrations showcasing the evolution of various industries, not just Olympic fashion.