Olympic Games Paris 2024

The costumes of the Olympic and Paralympic Games ceremonies: a well-kept secret waiting to be revealed

By Marion Theissen
5 min|
Atelier de fabrication des costumes de la cérémonie d'ouverture de Paris 2024

The Olympic Games Paris 2024 is just weeks away, with the opening ceremony taking place on 26 July.

Four ceremonies will be held during the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024, with two opening and two closing ceremonies.

While each ceremony is expected to be spectacular - including a groundbreaking event to launch the Olympics on the river Seine, one element of the ceremonies has been prepared in secret for the last 18 months: the costumes.

The makers of the costumes are still hard at work in a sewing workshop located in Saint-Denis, near Paris. They include Thomas Jolly, artistic director of the ceremonies, who has been commissioned by Paris 2024, and Daphné Bürki, the fashion designer in charge of the costumes. Accompanied by Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024, they took Olympics.com for a tour of the workshops where hundreds of people are busy making about 3,000 outfits - all of which are unique.

Hidden by a tarpaulin, the costume-making process is a top-secret affair. Discover what the creators of the costumes told Olympics.com about these one-of-a-kind designs that will light up the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Daphné Bürki: from French fashion houses to the heart of the Games

The costumes are being created in Saint-Denis, on the premises of a sewing workshop. Several hands are busy sewing, restitching, cutting or even combining pieces of fabrics of different colours to achieve the vision of the designers. As of today, nobody has seen the final product.

Against the background of the noise of the sewing machines and the iron steamers, Bürki, Jolly and Estanguet explain how the idea of the show began to take shape.

"We have been working together for 18 months,” said Bürki. "I wanted us to be able to call on several outfit creators to highlight the vitality of French fashion, but also to do things internally – like I do in theatre and opera – to highlight the drama and the story we want to tell."

Bürki is a fashion designer who has also worked as a journalist in the fashion industry for several years, and Jolly entrusted her to create and tailor these costumes.

"Daphné got her experience at Dior. As well as her personal expertise with fabrics and creation, she has a strong understanding of young creators,” he explained. “I told myself that she would be a valuable ally within the artistic team, managing the artistic direction of the costumes. They are very flamboyant and that is thanks to her.”

The biggest show of the 21st century

Bürki, 44, has strong experience working on large-scale international events. However, Paris 2024 has presented challenges she has never encountered.

“I have been hiding away for almost two years, even from my family” she explained. “What you will see is a secret that has even been hidden from my parents, my brothers and my best friends. We are creating the biggest show of the 21st century four times over. That’s crazy.”

While no costume has been revealed, 3,000 are being made - each unique and most constructed from recycled materials.

The ceremonies themselves will showcase French history and sport through 12 different scenes.

“These ceremonies will allow people to travel,” explained Estanguet, who has also not seen any of the final costumes. “The costumes embody diversity and richness. We will travel to completely different universes. I love it!”

To come up with such diverse designs, several French fashion houses and creators were consulted.

“I am passionate about showcasing all the talent, the entire French cultural scene, which is so rich,” continued Bürki.

Time for last-minute alterations before the Opening Ceremony of Paris 2024

With the days until the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony running out, it’s time for the last details to be put in place.

“We are meeting the performers one by one, to take their measurements and make alterations,” added the artistic director. It’s almost time for dress rehearsals and nothing is being left to chance.

“We listen to them to understand what is important for them to be comfortable, because we have performers from a wide range of disciplines, including some with disabilities. Everything needs to be taken into account for them to feel at ease, as if we were creating their best pair of shoes.”

“We are on schedule,” said Estanguet. “It’s great to be in contact with these teams because it makes me realise the extent of everything. You can see the passion, the life, and the work being done in this workshop is amazing. The ceremonies will be spectacular.”

While most of the costume-making process is secret, one thing that is known is the message of peace they convey.

“It’s fascinating, it’s exciting. Especially at this time when the world is quite gloomy, there is plenty of light in Paris 2024. Lots of peace, lots of reconciliation, so I am proud to be a part of it.”

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