Originally created for the official torchbearer’s uniform, the Hudson’s Bay Company’s red mittens have become the much-talked-about hit of the Games. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly why the design has struck such a chord, though the strategically placed maple leaf – hidden inside the palm and only revealed with a wave or a victorious cheer – seems to strike the right humble/patriotic balance with Canadian audiences. Too bad the patriotism didn’t carry through their production; like most contemporary souvenirs, the mittens are manufactured in China.