Wool at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

From the slopes of the Italian Alps to the opening ceremony parade, natural fibres made their presence felt at the 2026 Winter Games.

Wool and cashmere appeared in ceremonial dress, performance base layers, and iconic knitwear. This proves once again that nature’s original performance fibre has a place at the very highest level of sport.

Wool on the World’s Biggest Stage

Four countries, four distinct wool traditions — and one consistent conclusion. When performance, heritage, and sustainability matter, wool is the fibre teams and designers reach for. In this blog, discover the wool behind the iconic Olympic looks of Norway, the United States, Mongolia, and Australia.

Norway: Seventy Years of Wool on the Podium

This year marks a remarkable milestone: 70 years since Dale of Norway created its first official Olympic sweater for the Norwegian team. Ironically, that was also in Cortina d’Ampezzo, at the 1956 Winter Games.

The 2026 edition reimagines that original Bitten Eriksen design for a new generation (pictured above). The exterior is knitted in 100% Norwegian wool, known for warmth, breathability, and durability, and the interior in skin-soft merino for added comfort.

The Norwegian wool in both Dale of Norway’s sweaters and the official team shoes, the Alfa Lun, was supplied by Norilia. The Alfa Lun shoe uses fabric woven from 100% Norwegian wool at Gudbrandsdalens Uldvarefabrik in Lillehammer, a mill certified with both the Swan Ecolabel and EU Ecolabel.

From farm to fibre to finished garment, Team Norway’s wool story runs deep through the domestic supply chain.

USA: Ranch to Ceremony, Made in America

Ralph Lauren’s official Team USA uniforms put American wool front and centre at the Opening Ceremony: a winter-white toggle coat, wool trousers, earflap hat, mittens, and a sweater bearing the American flag and Olympic rings.

Every piece was crafted entirely within the United States, from fibre to finished garment.

At the heart of that story is Shaniko Wool Company, founded by Oregon rancher Jeanne Carver, which works with a network of western ranches to produce traceable, certified American wool.

Carver has partnered with Ralph Lauren since the brand launched its Made in America Olympic uniform programme in 2014.

Shaniko wool is also present in the Closing Ceremony sweater , marking a full-circle demonstration of domestic sourcing that connects ranching communities to one of the world’s largest stages.

Image credit: Ralph Lauren

Australia: Merino Where It Matters Most

When athletes move from freezing start lines to high-exertion competition and back again, the base layer is critical. For Team Australia, that layer is Australian Merino wool.

XTM Performance, the official supplier to the Australian Winter Olympic Team for more than 17 years, incorporates Woolmark-certified Merino into thermals, balaclavas, and Merino-blend socks. Australian Merino wool is chosen for its ability to regulate temperature, resist odour, and insulate even when damp.

Beyond performance apparel, Sportscraft supplied a wool-blend ceremonial blazer for team Australia, featuring gold medal buttons and the names of all previous Australian Winter Olympians stitched into the lining.

A third brand, Volley, contributed sheepskin-lined footwear.

Together, Australia’s wool story at these Games spans the full value chain, from Merino paddocks to podium.

Image credit: XTM.

Mongolia: Ancient Heritage, Finest Cashmere

Team Mongolia’s ceremonial attire at Milano Cortina 2026 is a stunning example of cultural storytelling through fibre.

Goyol Cashmere LLC, selected through an open tender by the Mongolian National Olympic Committee, created ceremonial deels inspired by the Great Mongol Empire of the 13th–15th centuries.

These Olympic deels draw on traditional design elements including a functional skirt slit for freedom of movement and a raised collar for wind protection.

The deel, hat, and sweater are crafted from 100% pure Mongolian cashmere. They are finished with silk trim and embroidered with traditional horn motifs.

A distinctive detail: the hat’s white fluffy section, resembling lamb fur, was achieved using a looped cashmere knitting technique.

This refined craft flourish sets this collection apart on the world stage.