International News - September 2005

Now, Designer Uniforms to Speak of Airliner's Ethos and Identity

New Delhi, August 5, 2005 (Web India) - Glamour world, ramp, and the film industry have always been a part of the fashion industry, but now, fashion designers are also designing uniforms for India's booming aviation sector as a fleet of new carriers take to the Indian skies.

" We have just presented our designs to Air India and we are still waiting. The brief was given and we have worked on that and we have put together some two or three options, let's see what happens," said noted fashion designer J Valaya.

Valaya thinks that it's an evolutionary process that everyone in the world is going through, even when it comes to dresses donned by professionals. After designing couture, it's the institutional designing which is in trend.

"It's an evolution process which I think everybody is going through worldwide. We are capable of putting new looks to any sector whether it's aviation or hospitality or anything. Most designers are now into institutional designing," said Valaya.

Experts say that a special uniform would go a long way in projecting an airline company's long-term image. "The functionality to start with and then the identity, those two would be the key things with any airline or corporation when trying to project an image. There is that image that has to come through the clothes, so that uniforms or dress has to speak the ethos of the airline, the message they are trying to convey, as well as be extremely functional and user friendly ," said Valaya.

And it's not only for the aviation sector. Designers are also designing for corporations and the hospitality industry. Designers believe that these sectors, too, have become image-conscious. In order to project a professional image, a uniform has become an important part of the personality.

Apart from helping to enhance image, a designer can design the uniform in a timely and cost-conscious manner. "Companies have started to approach designers because image has become really important for them. To bring in a professional who can design outfits within a given time frame with good wearability and color selections is important," said Anjana Bhargav, fashion designer.

Yet important as they have become, designers face limitations that are usually not a concern in other countries. Designers are given little feedback, for example, on variables such as weather conditions, where the uniform would be worn, its care or the materials preferred by the wearer. " We need to keep these things in mind during the design process," said Anjana Bhargav.

But developing a program for the corporate sector or hospitality industry can provide a platform for a designer to earn name recognition. "You are not capable of widening your market on your own on such a large level until you work with a corporation. Suddenly, your base becomes that much broader because you are known across the country,” said Anjana Bhargav.

Refuse Collectors Get Makeover

China, August 20, 20005 (The Star Online) - Refuse collectors in Yiwu, a city famous for its small commodities in East China's Zhejiang Province, are to bid farewell to sloppy clothes and to don uniforms.

The local government has issued a regulation to register vagrants who make a living by collecting and selling rubbish to offer them certificates, tricycles and free uniforms.

The move aims to tighten the management of refuse collectors and create a more pleasant milieu within the city, said Huang Yifu, director of the Yiwu Health Bureau.

Teams from local urban administrative units roamed the streets on Thursday to persuade rubbish collectors to join the program.

So far, six collectors have registered for a one-day training program on related environmental protection and urban administration regulations.