It is understandable why the online world is enamoured with Mongolia’s outfits for the opening ceremony of this year’s Olympics—they wow

With the summer games held in Paris this time, it would, of course, also be the fashion Olympics. Even before the opening ceremony on the 26th of this month (or 27th for us here in Asia), Netizens, especially TikTokers, are already picking out their favourite-slash-winning country for the looks to be sported during the Parade of Nations segment of the evening’s ceremony. And the gold, for now, goes to Mongolia. This is remarkable, considering that the Mongolian contingent would be up against France in the latter’s home country. With the French athletes outfitted by the LVMH-owned Berluti, it would also be a sapid showdown of the traditional against the moderne.

For the opening night, Mongolian athletes will be wearing a version of their traditional clothing deel (pronounced ‘dell’). The clothes, now widely shared online, are the work of Ulaanbaatar-based brand Michel&Amazonka. They are appreciated by social media habitues not only for their elegant ethnicity, but also for the couture-like details that make their designs such standouts. For the Olympics, they put together primarily mandarin-collared robes, over which are worn embroidered vests. These are given accessories, including ceremonial earrings and handy reticules for the women, as well as hats for the men, to evoke the 大草原 (dacaoyuan) look—one that is almost synonymous with what herdsmen wear in the Mongolian-Manchurian grassland.

Michel&Amazonka was founded in 2015 and is designed by two sisters: Michel and Amazonka Choigaalaa (with a third, Munkhjargal, acting as CEO). This isn’t the first time the duo conceived their compatriots’ Olympic wear. Back in 2020, for the Tokyo Games and in 2022, for the Beijing Winter Games, the sisters were also responsible for how their nation’s athletes turned out. This year, they created two outfits each for the male and female athletes. They feature Mongolia’s national symbol, the Soyombo (stacked graphic characters in the Soyombo alphabet, first designed in 1686), juxtaposed with the Olympic torch and rings. The Mongolian National Olympic Committee shared that each outfit took more than 20 hours to complete. Reportedly, flag bearers will don even more traditional (read: dramatic) garb that would include buryat hats and gutal boots.

The Mongolian athletes’ costumes were revealed via a sleekly produced video featuring models that had fans across the causeway contrast the “unfortunate” offerings that the peninsula provided to their contingent. Although Mongolia is considerably smaller than their neighbour to the south, they have, for many observers, exceeded even what China has come up with for their athletes. The predictable red-and-white suits that place the nation in a decidedly Mao era drew considerable derision from Chinese Netizens. Teams USA and France, likely to field large contingents, are outfitted by Ralph Lauren and Berluti respectively. With the American’s preppy suits and the French’s neo-modern two-piece and the ombre lapels, the Mongolians will very likely standout—to the cheers of the world.

Screen shot (top): michel&amazonka/YouTube Photo: Michel&Amazonka