IATSE International president Matthew D. Loeb offered the services of the IATSE’s 44 chartered theatrical wardrobe unions in the U.S. to assist in production of U.S. Olympic team uniforms.
This decision came after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other members of Congress expressed outrage that the uniforms to be worn by the U.S. Olympic team were made in China rather than the United States.
“Our people design and build costumes for all sorts of events and entertainment and have done so since 1893,” Loeb said.
With the Olympics opening day ceremonies are scheduled for less than two weeks away, July 27 in London, the IATSE will be on a tight schedule.
“Members of the IATSE create all types of clothing under the tightest of schedules and we welcome the opportunity to be engaged by the U.S. Olympic Committee to help produce these uniforms with skilled American workers,” Loeb said.
“We are extremely proud of our U.S. Olympic team as they represent us in the London games, but we want them also to be proud to wear uniforms that were made by workers in their own homeland.”
