The Olympics is one of the few occasions where patriotism is at it’s peak among nations all around the globe and Stella McCartney‘s sleek new kit for the Team GB athletes is certainly fit for the occasion.

For this year’s games McCartney paired up with Adidas to produce a strong Olympic look that blends functionality with a contemporary silhouette and quintessentially British detailing.

In a traditional red, white and blue colour palette, each item features a specially designed coat of arms by the College of Arms, which has become an icon for the team’s official Olympics and Paralympics kit. For optimal performance, the pieces are crafted from ultra lightweight material, that is on average 10% lighter than those used in 2012 and Adidas‘ advance CLIMA® technology works to maintain efficient ventilation and temperature regulation in the Brazilian climate.

The meticulous design process spanned over two years, adopting the most advanced technical innovations, to ensure the kit was fit for the nation’s leading athletes. During this time 2012 medal winners  Jessica Ennis-Hill, Tom Daley and Laura Trott were all consulted for testing and creative input.

Speaking to the Guardian about her designs McCartney said:

“I want to deliver for the athletes, but I’ve got to please the nation as well. This project has to make a lot more people happy than I’m used to. In my day job, the women who buy my clothes come to me because they already identify with me in some way. This project isn’t like that – it has to emotionally and visually tick a lot of boxes for a lot of people, while keeping functionality paramount. In a way, it’s the most intricate thing I do.”