Ace designer Manish Malhotra will bring his design prowess to the uniforms of Air India which is expected to roll out in the next two months. Malhotra’s team has already begun meeting Air India’s frontline staff, conducting discussions and fitting sessions with them to better understand their specialised needs.
The national carrier has been known for its white dresses and hats ever since it was founded in 1932 by Tata Airlines. But the tradition changed in 1962 with sarees, first sourced from Binny Mills, Chennai, which was also the largest supplier of uniforms during both world wars. The ethnic drapes in Bhagalpuri tussar silk and Pochampally silk will now see a “stylish and contemporary overhaul”. Sources close to the development said that the uniforms will change from a saree to a style and pattern which will be a mix of Indo-western and chic dressing in bold red, and gold shades.
Commenting on how it’s an honour to collaborate with Air India, Malhotra on his social media posted, “Brace for a runway revamp as we weave a unique aesthetic for the crew of our iconic national carrier. Reimagining their uniforms is the onset of a journey of joy and collaboration, and I am excited to embark on it. We aim to intertwine tradition with the future, crafting uniforms where comfort meets authenticity, wrapped in timeless elegance.” FE contacted Manish Malhotra and he declined to comment on the new Air India uniform as the styling and design is under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). The uniforms will be designed for over 10,000 Air India employees on the frontline, including cabin crew, cockpit crew, ground and security staff. The new look is part of Tata Group airline’s new global brand identity as part of its ongoing modernisation programme.
“Getting Manish Malhotra to design new uniforms is a wonderful move,” says Lloyd Mathias, investor and brand strategist. “Since transfer of ownership to Tata’s Air India has begun transforming the airline step by step, Malhotra will be able to transform the staff’s look – both on and off air — which passengers experience. He will also be able to contemporise the look while keeping the Indian feel, an essential part of the Air India identity,” adds Mathias.
The airline is working closely with the designer and his team to combine elements of the brand, heritage and culture, together with the unique requirements of the airline environment. Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD, Air India, said in a statement that the brand is delighted to be collaborating with Manish Malhotra to realise shared ambition of representing the very best of a vibrant, bold, and progressive India on the world stage.
Recently, British Airways’ cabin crew, pilots and airport colleagues has begun wearing their new uniform. The look has been designed by British-Ghanaian fashion designer Ozwald Boateng, alongside 1,500 colleagues who work in Britain and across the globe. As much of British Airways’ former uniform, designed by Julien McDonald, will be repurposed as part of a sustainability initiative, the airline has partnered with fellow iconic British brands, Ghd and Elemis to set up ‘treat yourself bars’ across various airports, to help colleagues look and feel their best.
Combining style with functionality, 125 individual garments feature in Boateng’s collection; the largest choice of garments the airline has ever offered its people. The female wardrobe offers the option of a dress, skirt, trouser suit, or in an airline first, a stylish jumpsuit. A sleek three-piece tailored suit with the option of slim or regular fit trousers is available as part of the male wardrobe. A staggering 850,000 uniform items have been ordered by the airline’s more than 30,000 colleagues, with British Airways disclosing that most popular garments ordered are the dress and trench coat.
Sustainability has played an important role in the development of British Airways’ new uniform, which has been created with suppliers of the ‘Better Cotton Initiative’, the world’s leading sustainability initiative for cotton, with a mission to help cotton communities survive and thrive, while helping to protect and restore the environment.
The airline’s uniform repurposing includes donating shirt fabrics to schools in Bangladesh and giving unworn garments to schools and homeless charities in Hounslow, near to the airline’s home at London Heathrow Terminal 5. The airline is also partnering with various companies to upcycle the Julien Macdonald garments into items like teddy bears, passport holders and bags for customers to purchase.
Last year, Akasa Air in India also had its uniforms designed by designer Rajesh Pratap Singh with black trousers, snug jackets and sneakers made of recycled polyester fabric. Vivienne Westwood designed uniforms for Virgin Atlantic using polyester yarn manufactured from recycled plastic bottles.
