WHEN the Rio Olympics kick off Saturday morning Beijing Time, viewers around the world won’t just be tuning in to a series of athletic competitions, they’ll also get a front-row seat to a global fashion show marathon.

    Normally, teams attending the Olympic Games are attired by designers and brands from their home nations. Ralph Lauren dresses U.S. athletes, Lacoste dresses the French, and Giorgio Armani dresses the Italians. It makes sense, considering the overriding patriotic spirit that swells during this international event. But because Cuba has been so sequestered from the mainstream fashion industry, it really doesn’t have a big fashion label to turn to. However, that doesn’t stop the Cuban team from presenting the most amazing sports fashion this year. Here we give you a glimpse of some of the hot looks.

    (SD-Agencies)

    Cuba

    Designed by: Christian Louboutin and Henry Tai

    He may be best-known for his red-soled stilettos, but Christian Louboutin’s latest venture isn’t exactly red-carpet ready. The French designer partnered with professional handball player Henri Tai — who also founded the athleticwear brand Sporty Henri — to create formalwear looks for Cuba’s Olympic team to wear for the closing ceremony.

    The pieces include tailored jackets in red for men and beige for women, with the Cuban flag emblazoned on the breast pocket and the five-pointed star on the back; and interchangeable black trousers, shorts and skirts. Not to be outdone are the shoes (of course), which comprise of a calf leather high-top trainers and Naza Star loafer style for men, and a kitten-heel sandals for women. As expected, the collection has a sporty vibe, but also has the polish and tinge of sex appeal that is indicative of the Louboutin name. It also marks the first time that Louboutin has designed apparel.

    United Kingdom

    Designed by: Stella McCartney

    The British fashion designer and daughter of rock star Paul McCartney has once again been selected to design her country’s Olympic uniforms, which features a new specially commissioned Coat of Arms as its logo, contrasting a traditional icon with a 21st-century look and feel. Alongside the coat of arms, the team kit features the red, blue and white colours of the Union Flag, which features as an abstract starburst graphic in the background of many pieces, while on others it has been badged more traditionally on the hip.

    United States

    Designed by: Polo Ralph Lauren

    The attire features preppy red-white-and-blue designs from the quintessential American brand. All of the pieces in the coed collection are made in the States and available for fans to purchase, including the men’s leather boat shoes (US$350), oxford button-down shirts (US$145), and twill shorts (US$98.5).

    Canada

    Designed by: Dsquared2

    The duo partnered with the Canadian department store Hudson’s Bay on the designs, which a press release describes as “an innovative mash-up of two diverse worlds: tailoring and sport.”

    The brand’s runway clothes are usually very luxe and expensive (think crystal-embellished gowns and US$2,000 suits), but these are a bit more subdued and laidback. There’s a nylon-cotton men’s and women’s jacket that combines the elements of a windbreaker and a blazer, an oversized white cotton T-shirt with V-shaped tails to play up the whole tuxedo look, and plenty of maple leaf motifs.

    Australia

    Designed by: Sportscraft

    The attire features a traditional green and white fine striped crested single-breasted blazer with green trim and prominent national coat of arms on the upper pocket.

    The men will wear a yellow tie complete with horizontal green stripe and white shorts and shoes, while the women will sport a green and gold silk scarf displaying the Southern Cross with a white skirt and shoes.

    South Korea

    Designed by: Beanpole

    The centerpiece is a preppy blazer. The natty-looking, navy blue notch-lapel linen jackets with white contrast tipping are worn with long-sleeve shirts in a sky-blue, jersey-knit linen with white, button-down collars and cuffs and white taper-legged trousers. Rounding out the look are knit neckties for the gents and knotted four-color scarves for the ladies (the colors yellow and green from Brazil’s flag and red and blue from South Korea’s).

    Despite the preppy/American vibe of the whole ensemble, it was inspired — at least in part — by South Korean garb. According to Beanpole’s website, the white contrast detailing on the front of the blazers is meant to reference the white cloth dongjeong attached to the collar of the hanbok top, explaining that the hanbok is a traditional ensemble that “symbolizes the pride of Korea.” In addition, the linings of the jackets have been embroidered with messages of encouragement for the Olympic athletes that were collected from across the country.

    Another hidden feature of the uniforms addresses the big health concern going into the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. All pieces used mothproofing materials to reduce the risk of the Zika virus in Brazil.

    Sweden

    Designed by: H&M

    The collection, which includes opening ceremony uniforms, select competition pieces and the podium outfits, is served up in a range of yellow and blue hues that pay homage to the color combination on the national flag.

    Because H&M has made eco-consciousness and sustainability a major focus over the last few years, it should come as no surprise that the Olympic threads — as well as the retail range they inspired — include recycled polyester fiber. The “For Every Victory” consumer collection, which launches online and in H&M stores July 21, is offered in a more muted color palette of blacks and grays with pops of dusty pink and gold.