Haiti’s delegation made a strong impression not only on the slopes during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, but also with an official uniform that quickly went viral and gained global attention for its cultural symbolism.
During a press conference on March 20, the Haitian Olympic Committee highlighted the unexpected international impact of the uniform worn by Haiti’s athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
The delegation—represented by a skier and a cross-country skier—stood out visually thanks to a hand-painted outfit designed by Italian-Haitian fashion designer Stella Jean. The uniform features a striking red horse in motion on a blue background set within a tropical landscape.
The design draws inspiration from the artistic universe of renowned Haitian painter and sculptor Édouard Duval-Carrié, whose work often explores themes of history, memory, and Caribbean imagination.
Beyond its aesthetics, the uniform was meant to showcase Haitian cultural identity on a global stage. Stella Jean described the design as a symbol of the Haitian spirit in an interview with the Miami Herald.
This is not the designer’s first collaboration with Haiti. She previously created the Haitian delegation’s outfits for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, which were also added to the collections of the Olympic Museum.
The secretary-general of the Haitian Olympic Committee confirmed that the new 2026 uniform will likewise be preserved in the museum’s collection, underscoring its cultural and symbolic importance.
Officials also announced that the outfit is now commercially available, with a percentage of sales going to support the Haitian Olympic Committee—creating a new funding stream for sports development in Haiti.
