Quest for Adventure: Olympic Equestrian Outfit Design
Quest for Adventure: Olympic Equestrian Outfit Design Outfit Features: Outfit Materials: Outfit Properties Cloth covered equestrian Riding helmet with wool padding Structured riding coat with elbow pads. Knee high black Boots: the green and blue tonal shield represent the commonwealth Green and brown long sleeve cargo fitness top with breast pocket and fur collar- Bright colours symbolic of cockatoo bird Belt with brass buckle and vibrant cloth decoration. Slim fitted white protective gloves White loose cargo pants - Side pockets with two decorative buttons per side Polo (knit): Merino active wear fibre Collar: 100% merino shearing fold over. Gloves (woven): 10% silk and 90% pure merino wool. Pants (knit): 20% nylon, 10% cotton and 70% pure merino wool Boots: Leather and rubber sole with merino wool lining. Laces: 100% merino yarn lacing Helmet: Plastic with 100% merino wool cloth cover and 30% stereo foam 70% wool filling. Coat (woven): 80% merino wool, 20% polyamide Lining: 30% viscose, 70% acetate Style: plain weave, woollen spun Belt decoration: 70% merino wool, 10% nylon Coat: Light weight, breathable and flexible. Shape retention and crisp structure. Diameter: 26 micron Pants: Stretchy and comfortable. High UV resistance Helmet: Soft with light weight padding and washable insides. Polo: Moisture absorption and has gentle texture against skin. Very breathable. Laces: Long wear and durable insuring the rider can perform well and boots stay up.
Creative Statement: Quest for Adventure: Olympic Equestrian Outfit Design My design is inspired by traditional horse riding equestrian gear with a slight modern twist which makes it innovative and fresh. The sleek design will allow the Australian team to stand out through the creative design. The highlight of the outfit is the use of layers and contrast of colours. The thick woollen, feathered collar of the polo shirt provides a stark contrast to the dark blue tone of the structured, woven coat. This makes the outfit unique and trendy. The snow white cargo pants and plain, tightly fitted, black riding boots further exemplify this theme. Furthermore, the small details are what really make the design reflect Australian team spirit. The incorporation of the cloth accessory attached to the belt help bring out the colours which are commonly seen in sport crowds. The touch of red, the yellow, and black incorporated not only add a splash of colour but are representative of Australia's multicultural and aboriginal interconnectedness in relation to sports events. This outfit truly represents the Australian peoples sporting spirit. Australians have been competing in equestrian since the Melbourne 1956 Olympics and has a qualified team of four riders for the 2016 Olympics. In the 2014 World Equestrian Games three riders finished in the top 20 which is a very strong performance. My design conveys the Australian team spirit through the symbols, shapes and colours utilised. The colours are vibrant yellows, blues and greens which are commonly associated with Australia. Furthermore, a powerful symbol used throughout is the cockatoo which is a native Australian bird species. This is represented in the traditional colours in the design. These not only add an aesthetically pleasing feel to the design but help convey the Australian team spirit. The pattern on the helmet is flowing and smooth representing Australia s ongoing involvement in sport. Overall, the bright colours used show how vital sport is to Australian culture and highlight the enthusiastic and happy nature of Australia s sporting spirit. Equestrian is a challenging adventure sport which means the rider needs to be able to ride in comfort with an outfit that suits the often unexpected complications they may experience in their race. This was taken into account when deciding the materials that were used. The gloves and helmet included in my design are essential equipment for equestrian riders for safety. The helmet is designed to fit in with the traditional colour scheme of the outfit. The materials chosen make their qualities and properties perfect for their purpose. Choices such as the incorporation of silk, nylon, cotton and whether the wool is knit or woven fitness wear were made. These help add durability, resilience and wearability to the outfits. For example, the incorporation of silk into the gloves with merino wool not only provides warmth but adds a sense of comfort you can not achieve with other fabrics. This was chosen so riders could perform comfortably and perform to their full capabilities due to properties such as odour resistance, stain resistance and wrinkle resistance which merino wool provides. Also, properties such as the thickness of the coat (26 microns) were taken into account to provide the equestrian rider with warmth. Merino wool also helps regulate temperature to prevent the rider from becoming too warm. The use of knitted fabric in the gloves and cargo pants also adds stretchability so the rider doesn t have to worry about their pants splitting when performing! Merino wool is the basis of all materials because it allows for these attributes to exist easily. All in all, merino wool was an ideal material utilised in the creation of the design because of the various unique properties it brings.
Quest for Adventure: Olympic Equestrian