Milano-Cortina 2026: Haiti and Mongolia have already won with their wonderful uniforms (which celebrate the identity of the two peoples)

At the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics the uniforms are much more than simple technical uniforms. From the inaugural ceremony, the delegations’ clothing becomes a powerful narrative tool, capable of telling national identities, collective stories and cultural memories on a global stage. In a context that combines sport with the visibility of social media and the centrality of Milan as the fashion capital, each garment is designed to be seen, shared and remembered.

Mongolia and the pride of the deel reinterpreted

Among the most celebrated cases is that of Team Mongolia (which had already amazed everyone at the Paris Summer Olympics) which went viral even before the Games began. The official uniforms were designed by the luxury brand Goyol Cashmere, which reinterpreted the deel, the traditional dress of nomadic peoples, in a contemporary key. Enveloping lines, high collars, front overlaps and golden embroidery interact with excellent materials such as Mongolian cashmere, known for its lightness and resistance to extreme cold.

The project is inspired by the clothes of the Great Mongol Empire between the 13th and 15th centuries, a strong historical reference that also met with the approval of national public opinion. The message that accompanies the collection, “What we carried through the winter, we carry to the world” (“What we brought through the winter, we bring to the world”), summarizes the meaning of the operation: what allowed a people to survive the harshest winters today becomes a symbol to bring to the world.

Haiti: two athletes, a huge visual impact

If Mongolia conquers with grandeur and historical continuity, Haiti strikes with symbolic force. The delegation consists of just two athletes, Richi Viano and Stevenson Savart, but their uniforms have attracted global attention. Designed by Italian-Haitian designer Stella Jean and made in Italy, the uniforms are hand-painted and inspired by the visionary art of Édouard Duval-Carrié.

Originally, the garments depicted Toussaint Louverture, a central figure of the Haitian Revolution. To comply with the IOC rules on political symbols, the image has been transformed: in its place a tropical forest, while the red horse remains visible, with the writing “Haiti” silhouetted against the sky. The feminine look is completed with golden hoop earrings and the tignon, a traditional turban full of historical significance. After all, in an era dominated by images and sharing, even a uniform can become a very strong and viral act of identity.

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