Olympic podium uniform sets the pace

He didn't want to use specific, symbolic elements like the dragon, the Great Wall or panda to frame the image of China.

Instead, he added the Tang-style round stand collar to the uniform.

The line of the collar goes all the way to the elixir field, referring to the Chinese system of deep breathing exercises, sinking breath to the lower belly to gather qi together. The design fits in different occasions, and it adds artistic charm to the athletes.

Besides, Yip designed the uniform emphasizing the contours of the shoulders with an oversized design, and the visual impact is strengthened while the waist curve is handled with slim-cut design; the upper body is shaped into an inverted triangle, weakening the line of the legs. The overall look is polite and dignified.

"As a designer, I need to see 'the rhythm of the movement': how fast or slow does a piece of fabric float, how heavy is it? I have to be very familiar with all this," Yip says.'

In the choice of fabrics and materials for the podium uniform, the design team took care of the body parts which are most prone to sweat with breathable fabrics; stitched a wide variety of fabrics with different thickness to free the movement of the body.