Team Nigeria is set to showcase their fashion at the Summer Olympics, with Actively Black, a Los Angeles-based label founded by former basketball player Lanny Smith, dressing them for the opening, closing, podium, Olympic Village, and track and field competitions. This small label, with only three employees, marks a significant milestone in promoting black-owned businesses globally and showcasing the fusion of sports and fashion.
The designs were created by Jordan Jackson and Danielle McCoy of Amen, Amen. Studios in Portland, Oregon, at the request of Mr. Smith for the Olympics. Amen, Amen. Studios then collaborated with Nigerian partners, the Lekki Garment Factory and Afrikstabel Textiles Productions, to assist with the project.
A blend traditional and modern styles, for the opening ceremony—men will wear a long vest and slim track pants inspired by the Nigerian senator suit, while women will wear a buba dress with traditional headgear. The podium looks will feature the shadow of the Nigerian eagle on Actively Black’s performance materials. The closing ceremony will include a dashiki-inspired top, wide white pants, gele, and fila hats.
First linked to Team Nigeria by Seun Adigun, this recent partnership builds upon their successful collaboration in 2022 with the Bobsled and Skeleton Federation of Nigeria. During this collaboration, they had the honor of providing custom outfits for the Nigerian teams competing in the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Smith, himself, was never interested in athletic wear. Soon after retiring from basketball, he founded Active Faith Sports in 2010 and later Actively Black, a Christian sports brand inspired by the “Black Panther” movie.
