Virgin Atlantic crew gets new uniform
The British airline, Virgin Atlantic, debuted a new uniform for employees designed by the iconic Vivienne Westwood. The uniforms were shown last night in London where Vivienne Westwood launched her new collection, including the Virgin uniforms.
Westwood and Virgin Atlantic announced a partnership earlier this year to improve the airlines uniform across all areas of business.
The uniforms are made with polyester yarn made from recycled plastic bottles. If this isn’t environmentally friendly then I don’t know what is!
Regardless, the new uniforms are quite stylish and I personally think they are one of the nicest I’ve seen. The red jacket that females will wear is paired with a red pencil skirt with a design of a dart to the rear, women will also get a double-breasted drape coat. Their red shoes will have an hourglass heel.
Men will get a Saville Row-inspired three-piece suit “with a contemporary twist in a deep burgundy Oxford weave wool,” the company says on their website.
The airline currently has over 7,500 staff in-flight and on the ground. The uniforms will begin to debut in lounges, airports and inflight on July 12, 2014 with a full launch expected later this year.
Customers will be able to provide feedback on the new uniform after each flight and when in the club lounges.
Virgin Atlantic uniform fun-facts:
- All ties and scarves must be quick release for health and safety reasons
- Crew walk an average of seven miles on each flight so it is important that shoes are comfortable
- Many items of the new uniform will be produced using recycled materials – in particular working with recycled polyester yarn made from used plastic bottles
- Crew must go through a five and a half week training course to earn their Vivienne Westwood designed wings and uniform
- All crew must carry a torch and spare batteries in their handbag
- All shoes must have a non-slip sole and be SATRA (Shoe and Allied Trade Research Association) tested and approved
- Although male shoes have laces, we have designed them so they can be slip-on in case of a slide evacuation – it also makes it much easier for the crew to go through security!
