Pictured: British Airways unveils brand new uniforms for the first time in nearly 20 years

British Airways has unveiled a new uniform for the first time in almost 20 years, with the apparel collection set to “take the airline into its next chapter.”

For the past few months, the airline crew have been testing the uniform in secret tests in the sky and on the ground.

Designed by British fashion designer and tailor Ozwald Boateng OBE, the uniform, to be released in the spring, features a “modern jumpsuit” for female cabin crew that is billed as an “airline first.”

The collection also includes women’s dress, skirt and pant options and a men’s tailored three-piece suit with regular and slim-fit pant styles. A robe and hijab option has also been created for the wearer.

British Airways has unveiled a new uniform for the first time in almost 20 years, with the apparel collection set to “take the airline into its next chapter.”

British Airways says Boateng took great care to ‘design a truly original collection, drawing inspiration from the airline, its people from the art of flying’.

The airwave pattern featured throughout the uniform collection, including jackets, shirts, buttons and ties, was inspired by the movement of air over an airplane wing, while the jacquard weave throughout the tailored garments features a variation on the airline’s iconic speedmarque. .

Boateng has been developing the collection since 2018 with “painful care,” the airline reveals. He says he followed a series of roles at the airport to understand how the uniform should work for each job and to ensure a “sleek, modern British look” with high-quality, hard-wearing fabrics that are easy to care for.

There are women’s dress, skirt and pant options, as well as a ‘hip’ jumpsuit that advertises itself as an airline first.

The air wave pattern featured throughout the uniform collection, including jackets, shirts, buttons and ties, was inspired by the movement of air over an airplane wing.

To make sure each garment is fit for purpose, the airline has put the uniform through its paces over the past six months in secret tests.

More than 1,500 airline crew members participated in 50 workshops to help ensure garment fit, from design workshops to prototype feedback and garment fittings. British Airways says these workshops have helped “create an iconic collection that will stand the test of time.”

In the secret tests, flight and cabin crew uniforms were put to the test on cargo flights across Europe, while engineers secretly wore the new uniforms while keeping planes out of sight at Manchester airports. and Cotswolds.

Many of the outerwear garments have also been tested in torrential downpours and freezers down to minus 18 degrees Celsius to ensure they are waterproof, durable and suitable for extreme weather conditions.

During testing, the team gave feedback on the feasibility of the garments, which led to modifications prior to the uniform’s release.

For example, British Airways says engineers have asked for easy-access tool pockets for when they’re working on planes, while ground handlers have asked for touchscreen-enabled fabric on their gloves so they can use their devices in cold weather without having to take off the. .

Sustainability and quality have been front and center throughout the uniform design process, the airline reveals, adding that more than 90 percent of the garments are produced using sustainable fabrics from recycled polyester blends.

As part of British Airways’ BA Better World commitment to working with sustainable suppliers, the airline only works with manufacturers who are members of the ‘Better Cotton’ initiative, the world’s leading sustainability initiative for cotton, whose mission is to help cotton communities to survive. and prosper, while protecting and restoring the environment.

Airline engineers and ground operations agents will be the first to wear the new uniform starting in the spring. All British Airways cabin crew, pilots and check-in agents will have a changeover date from their current uniform to the new one in summer 2023.

Savile Row tailor Ozwald Boateng (pictured) was commissioned to design BA’s new kits.

Many of the outerwear garments have also been tested in torrential rain and freezer tested to minus 18 degrees Celsius to ensure they are waterproof, durable and suitable for extreme weather conditions. The airline’s engineers and ground operations agents will be the first to wear the new spring uniform

The previous British Airways uniform (above) was designed by Julien MacDonald

When they pick up their new uniform items, they’ll turn in their old Julien MacDonald garments, which will be donated to charity or recycled into toys, tablet holders and more, with a number of items donated to the airline museum.

Emma Carey, British Airways cabin crew, who was one of the colleagues who carried out secret tests of the uniform, said: “It has been a real honor and responsibility to help test the new uniform and put it to the test at 35,000 feet to making sure it’s fit for purpose, with thousands of my colleagues counting on me. It was great to see adjustments made after our feedback. The apron pockets, for example, were enlarged after testing so we had more room for everything we needed during inflight catering, I can’t wait for our customers to see the new collection.’

Sean Doyle, Chairman and Chief Executive of British Airways, said: “Our uniform is an iconic representation of our brand, something that will carry us into our future, representing the best of modern Britain and helping us to deliver great British original service to our clients.

‘From the beginning, this has been about our people. We wanted to create a collection of uniforms that our people would be proud to wear, and with the help of more than 1,500 colleagues, we’re sure we achieved that.”