Fashion wins its own medals

BEIJING, Aug. 18 -- The Olympic Games are not just about running faster or jumping higher, but they are also about looking better. While our athletes are competing in Beijing in high-tech outfits, fashion-conscious sports fans can also find their stylish gear in the market.

Adidas

Do these outfits look familiar? Right. They're the clothes our own Chinese athletes wear during awards ceremonies. Inspired by the colors of the national flag, the suits feature patterns of xiang yun, or auspicious clouds, a traditional Chinese cultural symbol representing harmonious communication, which was also seen on the Olympic torch. They are currently sold in Adidas stores around the country.

The limited-edition "Made for Beijing" outfit is worn by the Chinese athletes in the Olympic Village. Only 2,008 sets are available. The high-tech outfits comprise Adidas' Formotion, Clima Cool and Flow Mapping technologies. They come in finely decorated wooden boxes. The "Made for Beijing" range also includes T-shirts and shorts designed for men and women as well as shoes for different sports.

The outfits sold in the stores lack the Olympic rings - the only difference from those worn by the athletes.

Nike

Created in the 1980s, the windrunner jacket is a classic Nike style inspired by the capes worn by the Pacific Coast Native Americans. The jacket shown is Nike's first windrunner jacket made especially for one man - China's hero Liu Xiang.

The one-of-a-kind red jacket is extremely light and flexible, featuring a yellow-and-gold totem pattern on the forearm and chest. The totem pattern was inspired by the Chinese terracotta and holy animals that guarded houses in ancient times.

Eighty-eight similar jackets in black are sold today. They are available in only four Nike stores, two in Beijing, one in Hong Kong, and one in Shanghai at the Bailian Shimao International Plaza on Nanjing Road E.

A preview of what hurdler Liu will wear during the men's 110-meter hurdles finals on Thursday - the Nike Swift set and Zoom Aerofly LX shoes.

Chinese tennis player Li Na has made Olympic history by defeating Venus Williams during the women's singles quarterfinal. The shoes she wears during competition are Zoom Court Luna, Nike's latest design for professional tennis players. They weigh as little as 226.8 grams - normal tennis shoes weigh about 453 grams.

Crocs

Crocs' signature beach shoes were reportedly worn by athletes from more than 10 countries at the opening ceremony. The Canadian company has launched a limited edition collection specially for China, including its Hero Beach shoes and a multi-function bag.

The specially designed shoes and bags come in red with a bright yellow strap paying homage to the national flag.

The limited edition is available exclusively in Crocs stores in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Qingdao (Shandong Province). For the promotional period, the shoes are being sold for only 100 yuan (14.57 U.S. dollars) and the bag for 60 yuan.

Source: Shanghai Daily