LAURA Weber was inspired by Rhasidat Adeleke and Sonia O’Sullivan, among many others, when designing the Team Ireland outfits for this year’s Olympics. And the New York-based Dubliner, who embroidered Jill Biden’s outfit for Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration in 2021, believes Adeleke is one of the most stylish athletes at the Games. “So chic! She could look good in anything.
My God, she is chic,” said Weber. “I met 133 athletes that will inspire me for the rest of my life, but Rhasidat comes with such strength, such pride and such determination and she is just the perfect representation of what Ireland is today and who we are. “She is just so phenomenal, I cannot stress this enough.
” Weber started the process of creating the outfits nearly four years ago and spoke about her pride yesterday. “It’s so phenomenal to be here. I can’t believe it’s finally here after three years and eight months — no one’s counting!” she said.
“Thousands of decisions, 157 hours per uniform, just to manufacture. And that doesn’t involve any of the development and ideation. It’s just a lot of intense labour and I’m embroiderer, so all the embroidery is done by hand.
“It’s a really, really special moment for these athletes and I’m just really glad they get to go out and represent Ireland in something they feel proud to wear.” 100 years after sending its first independent team to the Games, Ireland has sent a squad of 133 athletes to Paris and that po.