Dubai: Emirates on Monday said it is redesigning uniforms for its 16,000-plus staff to give them a sharper and more business-like look.
An in-house team from Emirates worked with UK-based uniform supplier Simon Jersey on the two-year project that will replace its current uniform launched in 1997.
The most noticeable elements of the new uniform, on the women's side, include beige piping detail on the new red hat, subtle red pinstripes throughout, more fitted, chic blouses and eye-catching, red kick-pleats in the skirts.
Male cabin crew members will wear chocolate brown suits, also featuring pinstripes, with a cream shirt and a caramel, honey and red tie.
The new uniform will make its first public appearance on July 28 when Emirates receives its first A380 aircraft during a grand ceremony at the Airbus facility in Hamburg.
"Carrying forward the strongest components of the existing iconic outfit, the new, stylish and contemporary look will be unveiled when the airline receives its first A380s over the next months. The cabin crew assigned to Emirates' flagship aircraft will be the first to wear the new uniform," an e-mailed statement said.
Terry Daly, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice-President for Service Delivery, said, "The Emirates uniform has been the same since 1997, with a few tweaks here and there. In this new design we have addressed style, comfort, the suitability for different climates - for cabin crew and ground staff -- and managed to retain the iconic and instantly recognisable hallmark of our uniform worldwide."
"Using a catalogue approach with mix and match items, they have produced a superb uniform that can be adapted to suit different environments and climates. This is vital when the conditions on the ground for staff can vary from Sao Paulo in Brazil to Newcastle in England to Hong Kong in Asia."
Emirates' A380 cabin crew will be the first to wear the uniforms onboard, with a full rollout across all 16,000 cabin crew and uniformed ground staff expected to be completed by May 2009.
