Uniforms designed using divine inspiration
23 September 1998When the Australian athletes walk onto the arena at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games their uniforms should make a striking statement, said the costume designer.
Melbourne designer, Ms Maree Coote, could not say much about the designs as they are confidential, but she said that while the most important thing was how the athletes performed, the way the host country team looked when it walked onto the arena was "fundamental" and "the whole world should gasp with delight".
Ms Coote has been working on the uniforms - for the opening ceremony, competition wear and casual wear for during the Games - since January when she won the Australian Olympic Committee account.
She thought it was important the opening ceremony uniforms had an "athleticism" she said they had not had in the past. Ms Coote said they should also be a surprise.
Ms Coote, who came up with the design concepts, has been working with a team of fabric consultants, stylists and pattern cutters. Asked what was involved in creating the uniforms, Ms Coote said research, "divine inspiration", a lot of sketching and consultation.
