Olympic Fashion

The road to Rio goes through Houston as USA Olympic athletes outfitted here

The road to Rio is taking a detour through Houston as most USA athletes are stopping here first before the 2016 Summer Olympics kick off August 5.

Since July 23, athletes and staff have streamed into the George R. Brown Convention Center to be outfitted in Ralph Lauren attire for the Open and Closing Ceremonies in Brazil. Sixteen tailors and two stylists have been on hand to tailor the parade uniforms for the athletes, most of whom aren't regular department store size.

More than 700 Olympic athletes and staff and 400 participants in the Paralympics are expected to take part in "Team Processing," which includes official photos, uniform tailoring and cultural and security briefings for the Rio games. Olympic athletes will be processed in Houston through August 3, while Paralympic participants will be outfitted from August 30 - September 5.

The Rio Olympics run August 5 - 21. The 2016 Summer Paralympics for the world's best disabled athletes runs September 7 - 18, also in Rio.

The Opening Ceremony ensemble, released by Lauren on Friday, includes a patriotic striped T-shirt, white jeans with a navy belt, a navy blazer with gold buttons, red-white-and-blue boat shoes and striped bracelets. The flag bearer jacket, also designed by the Lauren team, features electroluminescent panels, so that the letters "USA" glow. The Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation will give $1 to the United States Olympic Committee for every social media post during the opening ceremony using the hashtag #LikeToLight.

The Closing Ceremony look for athletes from Lauren include a Pony-logo button-down shirt in red, white or blue, over a striped T-shirt, chino shorts, repp stripe belt, boat shoes and bracelet.

More than 100 athletes from the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Track & Field, Badminton, Taekwondo and Wrestling teams will depart from Bush Intercontinental Airport for Rio on August 3. United Airlines president & CEO Oscar Munoz and United employees will be on hand to show their support. United is the official airline of Team USA, flying athletes, their families and their gear to competitions, Trials and the Games.

Michael Phelps of the United States carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on August 5, 2016.

Team USA in Ralph Lauren at Rio Olympics Opening Ceremony

Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Michael Phelps of the United States carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on August 5, 2016.

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UNIFORM UTOPIA

Luxury scrubs brand FIGS opens first Texas location in Rice Village

Photo courtesy of FIGS

FIGS will open its new Rice Village Community Hub on December 6.

Healthcare apparel company FIGS is opening its first brick-and-mortar store in Texas with a new Community Hub in Rice Village. The retail space is designed to serve both as a store and a gathering spot for the city's healthcare community.

The Rice Village location opens this Saturday, December 6, with a public grand opening event on December 13 from 6 to 8 pm featuring giveaways, music, food, and drinks from local vendors. Joining outposts in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and New York City, the Houston location is the fourth Community Hub for the company and the only location in the South.

The store will carry the full range of FIGS products, including scrubwear, loungewear, and accessories. It will also host events and programming focused on healthcare topics, offering visitors opportunities to meet and share experiences.

At the new FIGS boutique, shoppers will find the Color Clinic, offering scrubwear in core colors with rotating seasonal options. The store also has a Customization Station, which provides embroidery for names, titles, practice or hospital logos, and local icon options available only at Community Hubs. Personalization is also available for scrub caps, outerwear, and accessories.

FiGS The new FIGS store will offer a Color Clinic and Customization Station to let shoppers personalize their FIGS uniforms. Photo courtesy of FIGS/Instagram

The brand, founded in 2013 by Heather Hasson and Trina Spear, is known for fashion-forward medical uniforms made from a proprietary fabric with four-way stretch, antimicrobial technology, moisture-wicking, and wrinkle resistance. Hasson and Spear began selling directly to healthcare workers in Los Angeles-area hospital parking lots before growing their presence as an online retailer.

CEO and co-founder Trina Spear believes Rice Village was the perfect choice due to its proximity to the Texas Medical Center. She said the company wanted a space that supports Houston healthcare professionals and gives them a place to shop and connect.

"Houston is home to the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex in the world, and we are honored to bring a FIGS Community Hub to this city. This space is designed to serve and celebrate Houston healthcare professionals," said Spear. "Our Community Hubs create opportunities for customers to not only shop in a way that never previously existed, but to connect with each other and with FIGS on a deeper level."

FIGS Community Hub, 5515 Kelvin Dr., Suite 130, 77005

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