Simon Jersey finished kitting out Team GB for Rio 2016

With the Rio 2016 Olympic Games under way, Accrington uniform supplier Simon Jersey has kitted out all 366 athletes that make up Team GB.

The company, which is supplying Team GB with both suiting for formal events plus clothing for the closing parade, fitted all of the athletes for their outfits during the ‘kitting out’ process.

Kitting out is when athletes and officials receive all of their kit for an Olympic Games. This year it was held in Birmingham and Simon Jersey built a full-scale, Saville Row-style tailors shop to fit the athletes for their outfits.

A wide range of sizes and lengths were provided to kit out the diverse team, including everyone from petite gymnasts to Amazonian rowers, but to ensure everyone feels their very best in Rio a team of tailors were also on site to perfect the look.

Simon Jersey is the first uniform supplier ever to have been selected to supply Team GB. Kitting out marked the end of an almost two-year collaborative design process during which Simon Jersey worked with current and former athletes to create the two outfits it is providing for Rio 2016.

James Saunders, managing director for Simon Jersey, said: “It was fantastic for our team to meet all of the athletes heading to Rio and to kit them out in Simon Jersey.

“It’s always a pleasure to take designs from concept to reality and see customers wearing them, but to see the diverse range of body shapes in Team GB united by our clothing has been really special.

“We hope that our design for the closing ceremony will be a real talking point and can’t wait to see the athletes wearing it at the end of the games on 21st August.” To find out more about Simon Jersey’s design journey with Team GB visit simonjersey.com/team-gb-suppliers