Moncler stole the show at Milano Cortina’s opening ceremony Lucas Pinheiro Braathen has been the coolest flag bearer

The opening ceremony of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics was nothing short of spectacular. For one night, San Siro became the center of the world, with 9,500 athletes from 93 nations turning the pitch of the Cathedral of Football into a marvellous cat walk. The formalwear was impeccable, but in this context, one brand truly stole the spotlight: Moncler. The quintessential winter label made its Olympic comeback for the first time since 1968, stepping in as the official sponsor of the Brazil Olympic Committee and technical sponsor of the Brazilian Snow Sports Federation with a striking collection. The classic down jacket was reimagined in multiple variations, but the look that truly captivated attention was worn by flag bearer Lucas Pinheiro Braathen: a white robe, crafted in true Moncler style, lined with the Brazilian flag and paired with a jacket-and-shorts ensemble. The rest of the Brazilian delegation, meanwhile, marched in deep navy kits with vibrant green accents, completed with explorer-style hats.

These are iconic looks destined to be remembered forever in Olympic history. To learn more about this collection, we spoke with Oskar Metsavaht, the Brazilian designer who collaborated with Moncler to curate the entire line.

Moncler has returned to the Winter Olympics for the first time since 1968. How did you feel when they asked you to design the collection for Milano Cortina 2026?

“When Remo Ruffini invited me to design the collection for the Brazilian team, of course I got delighted, not only by the pleasure of the creation process of it but for the responsibility of working with him in a brand that has legacy. His vision to return Moncler to the Winter Olympics marks an important moment for the brand’s history. And contributing to that return, the great moment of Lucas, a great athlete who has the alpine skiing skills, who is a brazilian that evokes the spirit of joy of the country and has a cool sense of fashion in his style. This mix of winter Olympics, legacy of a sports luxury brand, the spirit of Brazil and Gen Z is very contemporary universally, it represents the zeitgeist of today. It was for me a great source to inspire the collection for the team to the opening ceremony.”

Blending your own creative vision with Moncler’s aesthetic codes, what was the biggest challenge for you?

“The challenge was balancing the diverse inputs of inspiration with the precision to achieve a powerful synthesis of it. Moncler’s design language is highly defined, technically rigorous, functional, and disciplined. Also, Remo in our first meeting sent me some images from 1968’s collections. So, my approach was to work within those codes while introducing elements of the inspiration I described in the previous answer and my own elements of style related to my background in snowboarding since 1990 (I’ve participated in some few competitions in South America for the Brazilian team), in biomechanics/ergonomy from my experience in sports medicine, and as a fashion designer at Osklen. I could say it was less about imposing a signature and more about calibrating sensibility to bring a meaningful image in the opening ceremony to Moncler and the Brazilian team.”

How is Brazilian heritage, which is hardly connected to winter sports, reflected in this collection?

“Everything starts with a white surface, the canvas for a painting, a notebook page for a sketch, a snowy mountain... So I propose the uniforms of the flag holders to be total look in white, with small details in the colors of the Brazilian flag. White, for me, is confidence and sophistication especially for an Olympic opening ceremony in Milano! Brazil shows up quietly. The colors are subtle, but they hold a lot of energy. It’s the Brazilian Soul in a more restrained, elegant form.”

How did the idea of the flag bearers’ cape come about? Did you work closely with Lucas Pinheiro Braathen while designing these pieces?

“The cape came from the idea of movement and transformation. I was inspired by the spirit of Rio’s carnival, not the excess, but the way garments shift meaning as they move. From the outside, the cape is completely white. Inside, the fabric carries the shapes and colors of the Brazilian flag, revealed only through motion. Lucas is a friend, and there is a strong sense of mutual admiration. We didn’t work together on the uniformes collection itself, but his presence and personal style where definitely a source of inspiration. I loved the moment when Moncler’s team sent me a video of the first fitting with Lucas wearing the cape, full of energy, with a big smile - saying ‘Oskar, look it, we already own the Olympics!’”

Is there one detail in the collection that you’re especially proud of?

“I’m especially proud of the white cape. It stands for snow — the essential element of the Winter Olympics — and carries a quiet sense of majesty. Beneath this white surface, the colors of the Brazilian flag appear, inspired by the tones of our tropical forests. They emerge softly, like warmth rising through the cold. It’s my way of bringing a Brazilian presence into this alpine world — subtle, emotional, and intentional.”