When my mom called to tell me she was the proud owner of this season’s hottest clothing item, I thought she may have bought some boots with the fur. Lo and behold, she got her hands on some of the red Olympic mittens, an early birthday present from my dad. The latest craze, these branded mittens feature a maple leaf on the palm and Olympic rings on the back. Stitched with the words “Vancouver 2010,” this collector’s item is now one of her favorite keepsakes. To put it bluntly, she thinks she just reached a whole new level of cool.
Evidently, she is not the only fan of these mittens. According to the Vancouver Sun, retailers have sold every last pair. At less than 10 dollars a pair, over 3.5 million pairs were sold over the five month promotion. The profits from the mittens helped fund the Own the Podium Program which launched in 2005 to prepare Canada to become the top winter sporting nation in the world by 2010. More than just a souvenir, the mittens became a top item to show support for the Games.
Oprah Winfrey promoted the red mittens when she handed out 300 pairs to her talk show audience. After expressing her fondness of the mittens, the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) shipped a box to her studio, drawing further attention to the mittens. Who knew they would create such a stir.
The Olympic brand encompasses all of the names, phrases, marks, logos and designs related to the 2010 Winter Games. What better way to promote this major international event then by sporting some stylish red mittens? They’re both affordable and practical!
Contributed by: Ashley Popham