International News - April 2005

Attendants Beef About Outfits

Toronto, March 3, 2005 (Winnipeg Sun) - Despite a high-profile endorsement from Celine Dion, Air Canada's flight attendants aren't happy with their new uniforms and say they don't need a makeover. The uniform Dion wore to promote the new image of the fresh-from-bankruptcy-protection airline was unveiled in front of Air Canada employees last fall.

But the "midnight blue with silver sky lining" uniform, with a tight skirt and wide-collared shirt, is being given a thumbs-down from the union representing flight attendants.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees has filed a grievance against the company and wants more time to consider whether the look is right for flight attendants.

"We've made so many sacrifices with our wages and making concessions, this new uniform program seems quite lavish," said Sherry Cameron, an Air Canada flight attendant with 31 years of experience.

The airline wants to project an image of "modern sophistication" as it fights rivals WestJet Airlines Ltd. and Jetsgo Corp. for passengers.

The uniform is described as having a tasteful design of blue wool-mix fabric and contoured lines.

But union members, who pay half of the uniforms' cost, think the company is being too quick with its fashion judgment.

The cost for every basic uniform set is estimated to be about $1,000. A basic set for women may include an all-weather coat, one blazer, one skirt, a pair of pants, two blouses, one belt and one scarf. However, many attendants choose to buy at least six blouses, adding to their costs.

With the uniforms set to be introduced on a trial basis in April, the lack of access to a prototype also bothers Cameron. "There hasn't been a sample of the fabric for us to see. We can't really tell what exact color it is."

By April, the Montreal-based carrier wants staff to start wearing the uniforms on selected flights.

If the spring test period goes well, the airline will introduce the men's and women's garments by the end of this year to 6,700 flight attendants and 2,900 airport counter staff, who are represented by the Canadian Auto Workers.

Fiji’s Air Pacific Has A New Set Of Uniforms

Fiji, March 1, 2005 (Fiji Times) – Fiji’s national carrier, Air Pacific, said yesterday that its 350-cabin crew and 50 ground staff now have new uniforms created and manufactured in Fiji.

The uniforms, it said, reflects a "colorful, modern and practical style" showcasing the vibrancy of Fiji throughout its international network.

"We are absolutely delighted to be able to launch a refreshed and updated appearance for Air Pacific staff in uniforms designed and manufactured in Fiji," airline managing director and chief executive officer, John Campbell said. "These showcase the best of Fiji's warmth, grace and vibrancy yet meet the practical needs of staff working in aircraft for long periods, with the stretching and bending that entails, whilst ensuring a professional experience at the end of flight just as much as at the beginning. "Our staff and the uniforms that so clearly identify them will appear in sixteen cities in nine countries and support our overall efforts in the promotion of Fiji."

The uniforms were designed by Dominic Sansom of Samba and manufactured by Asia Pacific Management and United Apparels in Suva.

"They reflect the colors of Fiji and Air Pacific's logo with Pacific Blue, Magenta, Orange and Yellow shades on blouses and shirts, which feature a stylized frangipani to capture our tropical identity," a statement from the airline said.

The suiting fabric is a polyester wool blend, giving a light weight but comfortable cloth which is also washable whilst the shirts and blouses are 100 percent polyester allowing color retention, non crush appearance and easy wash and dry maintenance between flights.

Men's shorts are open necked style whilst ladies blouses are round necked with flattering shapes featuring back darts for freedom of movement.

Ladies have the option of a medium length or sulu style skirt providing Fijian identity, with the sulu side split adding a splash of color keyed to the blouse.

Men wear a relaxed sports jacket style coat to harmonize the bula shirt whilst the ladies jacket is shawl collared and fitted. Overcoats are provided for travel to colder climates such as Canada and Japan during winter months.

Korean Air Continues Trend of Designer Uniforms

Seoul, Korea, March 29 (PRNewswire) -- When Korean Air unveiled new uniforms last week it joined an elite group of airlines that have introduced haute couturier attire.

Korean Air's new outfits have been created by Italian designer Gianfranco Ferre, who is recognized worldwide for blending east and west aesthetics with traditional and modern concepts.

Korean Air is one of a handful of airlines to heighten its fashion image with the help of couturiers. Richard Tyler designed Delta's new look, Christian LaCroix will unveil for Air France this week, Yoshie Inaba created new uniforms for JAL and British Airways retained Julian MacDonald to spruce up its style.

This is the first time Ferre has designed an airline uniform and he's come up with clothing that he says "guarantees performance, comfort and practicality, and is simple, uncomplicated and informal. This can only be accomplished by paying absolute close attention to such fundamental matters as line and construction."

"Uniform designs are an integral part of the corporate image," said Ferre. "They must capture the airline's identity; express its values on the spot. The characteristics of the new uniforms have no trouble keying into the quiet elegance that has always distinguished Korean Air."

The new uniform signifies the first uniform change for Korean Air since cabin attendants selected the current design in 1991. The traditional skirt uniform will now be augmented with a dress pant option for female attendants -- a first in Korea. Colors convey a message of serene, self-possessed Korean elegance.

Korean Air is simultaneously changing the uniforms of all flight attendants, front-line staff, pilots and mechanics on employees in October. In addition to the new uniforms, Korean Air will be introducing new aircraft interiors and color schemes to enhance passengers' inflight experience.

“Our new uniforms and look are just part of our corporate effort to achieve 'Excellence in Flight' and provide our customers with enjoyable traveling experiences," said Korean Air Chairman and CEO, Y.H. Cho. "We are honored to be working with such a well-respected designer and know that his fashions will translate well into Korean Air's environments."

Cho said that Korean Air also will be introducing First Class Sleeper seats (Cocoon style), Prestige Plus Business Class seats, new inflight entertainment and inflight Internet, later this year. This is part of airline's reinvention of itself for the new century, spending more than $1 billion on a major makeover. Korean Air aims to be the largest commercial air cargo carrier by 2007 and one of the top ten passenger airlines by 2010.

For more on the uniforms and Korean Air, visit http://www.koreanair.com/

Uniform Change For London’s Tube Workers

London, March 21, 2005 (BBC News) – Starting next month, riders on London’s Tube will notice the LU Underground staff in new uniforms.

The clothes, which will be a darker blue than the existing uniform, will include fleeces and polo shirts made of improved fabrics.

Workers on the Central, Waterloo and City and Bakerloo lines will be the first to wear the uniforms on April 25, with other staff following by July 4 th.

The uniform has been designed after consultation with LU's train and station staff. LU managing director Tim O'Toole said: "I'm delighted that we were able to work with them (the staff) to improve the uniform.

"It is in a new, darker blue color, which I think makes Tube staff look very smart and professional."

Mountainsilk Uniforms for NZ Pavilion Staff

Japan, March 22, 2005 (New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Co.) – Staff at the New Zealand Pavilion at the World Expo opening in Aichi, Japan, on Friday will be wearing uniforms specially produced by Christchurch design company, Untouched World.

The uniforms have been developed using the superfine Merino fabric Untouched World has developed known as Mountainsilk (which so impressed Bill Clinton when he visited that he bought several garments).

Untouched World’s Managing Director Peri Drysdale says Mountainsilk was chosen because the expo’s themes of sustainability and living in harmony with nature made it a natural choice. She says the high performance fabric would cope comfortably with the wide temperature range expected over the six months of the expo, and would retain its sharp appearance.

The uniforms will team the Merino top with a pant of high quality cotton, the latter chosen because it gives the uniform “a casual but sophisticated lifestyle feel” according to Peri Drysdale.

New Zealand’s Commissioner General for the World Expo, Phillip Gibson says with the expo open to visitors from next weekend, the Aotearoa-New Zealand pavilion was in full readiness.

He says a media preview was “very successful” with journalists enthusiastic about both the pavilion’s visual aspects and the technologies used to inform and entertain visitors. And of the 60,000 who visited the expo on a “trial day” last Saturday, 16,000 were attracted to the New Zealand pavilion.