News

Five new sets of airline uniforms

10 Apr 2013 by ReggieHo

Dragonair

Launch date: March 2013
Design: The new female collection has red and black as the main colours for flight attendants and pursers. The one-piece dress is mostly black but contrasted with a red section around the shoulders and collarbones, paired with a red jacket. The male uniform features an olive-colour jacket and vest, and white mandarin-collar shirt. The new uniforms showcase the signature dragon logo of Dragonair, specifically around the neckline and collar of the female uniform and the jacket pattern of the male one. For senior/chief pursers and managers, the female uniform contrasts black with champagne colour while the male uniform includes an Oxford shirt and a burgundy-based tie.
Designer: The new uniforms are the works of Hong Kong fashion designer Eddie Lau, who is best known for his high-fashion couture evening wear and sophisticated coordination in silk, wool, linen and viscose. He also designed the two latest uniforms for Cathay Pacific, Dragonair's sister airline.
Critique: The new uniforms now bear very distinct similarities to those of Cathay, and while it makes sense for the purpose of corporate image, one may also argue that Dragonair is losing its own identity.

www.dragonair.com
 
Bangkok Airways

Launch date: May 2012
Design: Blue, white and grey are the colour palette of Bangkok Airways new uniforms. The female collection has stripes in blue and turquoise, and shirts in the male uniforms are painted with grey and blue cobalt stripes. The new uniforms emphasise on lightness, comfort and smart looks, and echo the design of the carrier's aircraft.
Designer: Khun Polpat Asavaprapha, a talented Thai designer who founded and directs his own brand Asava, was trusted for coming up with these new uniforms. They were revealed at Bangkok Fashion Week in 2011.
Critique: Identifying itself as Asia’s boutique airline, Bangkok Airways seems to have made the right decision with the new uniforms. The scarf-shape collars add a touch of softness and warmth to the look, and the colour theme is much more soothing than the previous floral jackets.

www.bangkokair.com
 
Japan Airlines (JAL)


Launch date: December 2012 (but it is to be adopted between April and September 2013)
Design: The new uniforms have dark blue as the base colour. Female uniforms are further decorated with touches of red around the cuffs and the lower edge of the jackets and scarves. Female cabin attendants will wear one-piece dresses with half-length sleeves to the elbow, accented with white around the collar and cuffs. Male uniforms for cabin attendants and flight crew are straightforward dark blue suits – for the former, the silhouette is slender but it still allows easy movements of the arms and legs, while for the latter, it's a double-breasted design with a touch of military look for a sense of reliability and authority.
Designer: Japanese designer Keita Maruyama designed the uniforms for cabin crew and passenger service staff. He has won several design awards and held his own fashion shows in Paris, with wedding dresses and stage costumes being two of his specialities.
Critique: The new uniforms echo the Japanese aesthetics of simplicity and nobleness, but some might also find them lacking in surprises. The female uniforms are at least accessorised with the pink and dark blue scarves, but the male flight attendants will just blend in with the business passengers.
 
http://press.jal.co.jp/en/release/201212/002355.html

 
Virgin America

Launch date: August 2012
Design: The new crew uniforms of Virgin America have a modern and sharp look. Styles of the male collection include leather jackets, lined mac coats, striped sleeve cardigans, woven shirts and pants. And female collection features, depending on the staff grade, a classic pencil skirt, slim dress or trousers, with leather jackets and trench coats to match, accessorised with silk scarves and slim plaque belts.
Designer: The uniforms are designed and produced by global fashion
brand Banana Republic, which has collaborated with Virgin America since 2008. The brand is well known for its modern and soulful style.
Critique: The looks are casual but very smart, and befitting the image of Virgin America as a young and more "fuss-free" airline. On the other hand, when the male flight attendant has his cardigan on, it's hard to tell him from any other fellow passenger.

www.virginamerica.com/vx/newuniforms


Jetstar

Launch date: September 2012
Design: The airline keeps the use of orange and black colour combination in the new set. The female uniforms include an orange jacket, black tailored pants and an A-line skirt. For the male collection, the base colour of the whole set is black but with orange trim details. The new uniforms are being used in all Jetstar-branded airlines in Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Singapore and Japan.
Critique: The use of orange and black colour combination is nothing new to the airline, but the new Nehru jacket in the female uniform does have an edge over the previous lapel coat.

www.jetstar.com

Nino Lin

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