British Airways has unveiled its first new uniform for the first time in nearly 20 years.
The country's flag carrier has today released designs a new set of outfits designed by British Savile Row fashion designer and tailor Ozwald Boateng OBE.
The uniform is the outcome of four years of secret work during which more than 1,500 British Airways ’ employees submitted designs and took part in testing.
Secret trials took place in the air and on the ground.
The collection features a tailored three-piece suit for men with regular and slim fit style trousers and dress, skirt and trouser options for women.
It also has a a modern jumpsuit – which is a first for the airline - along with a tunic and hijab option.
Boateng shadowed workers in a number of roles as part of his research and also developed unique bespoke fabrics and designs for the collection.
The garments will be worn by more than 30,000 of the airline’s employees from Spring 2023.
Sean Doyle, British Airways’ Chairman and CEO, said: “Our uniform is an iconic representation of our brand, something that will carry us into our future, representing the very best of modern Britain and helping us deliver a great British original service for our customers.
"From the very start this has been about our people. We wanted to create a uniform collection that our people are proud to wear and with the help of over 1,500 colleagues, we are confident that we have delivered this.”
The airwave pattern that features across the entire uniform collection including jackets, t-shirts, buttons and ties was inspired by the movement of air over an aircraft wing.
The jacquard fabric across all of the tailored garments features a variation of the airline’s speedmarque.
To make sure that each garment is fit for purpose, the airline has been putting the uniform to the test over the last six months in secret trials.
Cabin and flight crew uniforms have been put through their paces on cargo flights across Europe while engineers have been secretly wearing the new uniforms while maintaining aircraft out of sight in Manchester and Cotswold Airports.
Many of the outdoor clothes have also been tested in deluge showers and freezers at -18 degrees Celsius to ensure they’re water resistant, durable and fit for extreme weather conditions.
The trials led to some practical upgrades, such as engineers requesting and receiving easy access tool pockets for when they’re working on aircraft.
Ground handlers asked for touch-screen technology fabric in their gloves so they can use their devices in cold climates without having to take them off.
Emma Carey, a British Airways’ cabin crew member, was one of the employees who carried out secret trials of the uniform.
She said: “It’s been a real honour and responsibility to help test the new uniform and put it through its paces at 35,000ft to make sure it’s fit for purpose, with thousands of my colleagues counting on me.
"It was great to see that adjustments were made after our feedback. The pockets on the apron, for example, were widened after the trial so we had more room for everything we need during meal services on board.
"I can't wait for our customers to see the new collection."
More than 90% of the garments are produced using sustainable fabric from blends of recycled polyester, BA has said.
The airline is only working with manufacturers that are members of the ‘Better Cotton’ initiative.
The airline’s engineers and ground operations agents will be first to wear the new uniform from Spring 2023.
All British Airways’ cabin crew, pilots and check-in agents will have a switch over date from their current uniform to the new one in Summer 2023.
As they pick up their new items of uniform, they’ll hand in their Julien MacDonald garments, which will be donated to charity or recycled to create toys, tablet holders and more, with a number of items gifted to the airline’s museum.
