The dream of having the Cowichan sweater as part of the official team apparel for Canadian Olympic athletes unraveled with the unveiling of the new garb.

While designers of the 2010 Winter Games line were obviously inspired by the distinct and world-famous Cowichan sweaters, the genuine articles did not make it to the racks as part of the official Canadian Olympic Team apparel.

“I think it indicates another failure to advantage the Olympics for British Columbians, including small business and First Nations,” said Doug Routley, NDP MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan.

“It’s been a windfall for huge corporations, but a disappointment for small companies,” said the man who once rose in the Legislature to ask his colleagues for their support in making the Cowichan sweater part of the official uniform.

The clothing designs that were revealed Thursday by the Hudson’s Bay Company displayed, among other items, a $350 hand-knitted sweater, which resembles of a Cowichan sweater.

Having an authentic local sweater as part of the uniform was the dream of many in the valley.

In addition to Routley federal NDP MP Jean Crowder (Nanaimo-Cowichan), former Cowichan Tribes Chief Harvey Alphonse, the Cowichan Valley Regional District board and the City of Duncan all endorsed the sweater for the Winter Olympics.

In addition, a Facebook site — Make the Cowichan Sweater the Official Canadian Olympic Uniform — had hundreds of members.

Only Premier Gordon Campbell and North Cowichan’s council declined to add their weight behind the sweater push.

But the decision to go with the faux Cowichan sweater has rankled some.

“It’s nice they would do something that’s reminiscent of a Cowichan sweater, but I fail to see the rationale as to why they would do a replica or a knock-off and not use the real product,” said Gerry Giles, Chairwoman of the Cowichan valley Regional District.

“It’s mind-boggling — the Cowichan sweaters are known around the world, they’re highly regarded and no matter how you look at this it is simply a knock-off.”

Crowder said the Olympic committee twice missed the boat to climb aboard great opportunities.

“The Cowichan sweaters are icons it would have promoted something truly Canadian and there has been a lot of talk about indigenous partnerships at these games and it would have supported that as well,” said Crowder, who noted the reproduction sweaters make as much sense as having an Inukshuk as the 2010 Winter Olympic logo.

“The Inukshuk doesn’t represent the west coast at all and I know there were people upset that the logo wasn’t more representative of British Columbia.

Doug Routley agreed.

“Using the Cowichan sweaters would have been an expression of partnership that would have brought real meaning to words like reconciliation,” he said.

“The Olympics are supposed to be all about shared cultures and I am disappointed there wasn’t a genuine effort to include the Cowichan sweater.”