Haitian-Italian designer Stella Jean was given the privilege of designing the official uniforms for the 12 athletes representing Haiti at the Paris Olympics 2024. The official uniforms of the Haitian delegation were unveiled at the Monte Carlo Fashion Week Fashion Awards Ceremony on April 27, 2024.

In a heartfelt statement on her Instagram, the designer called on her audience to take the time to hear the stories of the Haitian men and women who will proudly showcase their uniforms at the Seine’s opening ceremony on July 26. This symbolizes their commitment to leading the country out of international isolation in a positive manner.

She also mentioned that the 12 athletes will stand and compete for a nation that asks the world not to forget its historical significance. The 12 Haitian standard-bearers of peace have an even more demanding task than reaching the podium as medal recipients. They are living symbols of rebirth and militant hope.

“I am humbled to have joined forces with one of the greatest living Haitian artists: Philippe Dodard, whose painting was used as an all-over print for the skirt and trousers of the uniform,” she continued.

Haiti is currently a country working to emerge from civil turmoil and a past with France that speaks to lives lost and stolen dignity. While I wish not to detract from the moment at hand, I mention this as a testament to a nation’s need to see a brighter future. In celebrating and honoring the commitment and hope for a better Haiti in this post, I find Stella Jean’s work, in collaboration with Philippe Dodard, speaks volumes about driving visibility of a nation through fashion, art, and sports. These elements are connected in many ways, preserving a nation’s history. Philippe Dodard’s art titled “Passage” symbolizes resilience and renewal, contributing homage to the overall nuances of the team’s opening ceremony uniform. Following the Olympics, the uniforms will be showcased at the Haitian National Pantheon Museum, Mupanah, in Port-au-Prince.

“I believe that these athletes have already won the most important medal by their very own presence in Paris. The winning category: human sustainability,” she concluded in her Instagram post.