LONDON- Flag carrier British Airways (BA) passengers worldwide will now observe the airline’s customer-facing staff, including cabin crew, pilots, and airport teams, donning the airline’s fresh and iconic uniform collection.
The airline offered a sneak peek of its new uniform in January, and starting in May, operational ground staff began wearing these new uniforms.
British Airways New Uniform
This collection was meticulously crafted by Ozwald Boateng OBE, a British-Ghanaian fashion designer and master tailor, with the active involvement of over 1,500 colleagues from various facets of the business. This engagement spanned the entire process, encompassing design workshops, prototype assessments, and wearer trials.
Boateng’s collection marries style and functionality, comprising an impressive 96 distinct garments, marking the airline’s most extensive selection ever offered to its personnel.
For female cabin crew and airport staff, the wardrobe includes choices like a dress, skirt, trouser suit, and, in an airline-first, a chic jumpsuit. Meanwhile, the male wardrobe features a sleek three-piece tailored suit with the option of slim or regular-fit trousers.
British Airways has manufactured a staggering 850,000 uniform items in a remarkable feat to accommodate its over 30,000 employees.
The dress and trench coat have proven to be the most popular choices among these items. Additionally, it’s worth noting that short-sleeved blouses and shirts have outperformed their long-sleeved counterparts in popularity.
Executive Insights
Calum Laming, the Chief Customer Officer of British Airways, expressed his enthusiasm for the final phase of rolling out the brand-new uniform designed for over 30,000 colleagues.
He noted that this stylish and contemporary collection offers more choices to employees, allowing them to express their unique personalities while at work. Laming emphasized the vital role of British Airways’ staff in representing the brand and caring for customers, making this launch a celebration of their dedication.
The airline’s uniform boasts custom fabrics and patterns throughout the ensemble. Notably, the suits, a key component of the customer-facing attire, are crafted from jacquard fabric featuring a subtle homage to the airline’s heritage, with a pattern reminiscent of its iconic speed marque.
Additionally, the scarves and ties incorporate an airwave design inspired by the airflow over an aircraft’s wing, serving as a distinctive element of the uniform.
Sustainability has played a significant role in the development of British Airways’ new uniform, aligning with the airline’s commitment to a “BA Better World.” Over 90% of the garments are fashioned from sustainable fabrics, including blends of recycled polyester.
Moreover, the cotton used in the new uniform is sourced through the ‘Better Cotton Initiative,’ which is the world’s leading sustainability program for cotton. This initiative aims to support cotton communities, promote environmental protection, and foster sustainability in cotton production.
Good Initiative
The airline’s uniform repurposing efforts encompass several initiatives, including donating shirt fabrics to schools in Bangladesh and donating unworn clothing to schools and homeless charities in Hounslow, located near the airline’s base at London Heathrow Terminal 5.
Furthermore, the airline is collaborating with various businesses to creatively transform Julien Macdonald’s garments into items such as teddy bears, passport holders, and bags, which will be available for customers to purchase.
The airline is actively exploring additional methods to repurpose its remaining clothing items, and further details regarding these efforts will be disclosed later this year.
To enhance the well-being of its colleagues and help them feel their best in their new uniforms, the airline has established ‘Treat Yourself’ bars at airports.
In partnership with prominent British brands ELEMIS and GHD, the airline offers colleagues a selection of refreshing products for self-pampering and the option to style their hair at these dedicated bars before their shifts.
Skilled makeup artists and hair stylists are on hand to provide express touch-ups, ensuring that colleagues can feel and look fabulous in their brand-new uniforms. Additionally, skincare advice is readily available for those who prefer a more natural appearance.
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