Savile Row Tailor Ozwald Boateng Unveils New Uniforms for British Airways

Acclaimed Savile Row tailor and designer Ozwald Boateng, along with his team led by Head of Design & Production Angelica Colucci, has unveiled a new uniform for British Airways for the first time in nearly 20 years. The collection includes unique bespoke fabrics and designs, including a first for an airline: a jumpsuit. The inspiration for the designs came from the people of British Airways and the experience of flight, as the team spent time shadowing staff in their roles at the airline. The new collection artfully combines functionality with the elegance expected from Ozwald Boateng.

The new uniform collection for the airline includes a tailored three-piece suit for men, with regular and slim fit style trousers. Women's options include dresses, skirts, and trousers, as well as a modern jumpsuit – a first for an airline. Additionally, a tunic and hijab option have also been created for the global carrier. The airwave pattern that features across the entire collection, including jackets, T-shirts, buttons, and ties, was inspired by the movement of air over an aircraft wing. The jacquard fabric on all of the tailored garments features a variation of the airline’s iconic speedmarque logo.

Boateng and his team have been working on the collection since 2018, studying various airport roles to understand the needs of each job and create a modern, stylish look with high-quality, easy-to-care-for fabrics. Over 1,500 colleagues from the airline participated in 50 workshops to provide input on the design and functionality of the garments, from design workshops to prototype feedback and garment trials, resulting in a collection that will stand the test of time. The outdoor garments were put through rigours testing such as being in deluge showers and freezers at -18 degrees Celsius to ensure that they are water-resistant, durable and suitable for extreme weather conditions.

British Airways, the airline that launched the world's first daily international scheduled air service in 1919 between London and Paris, had military-inspired uniforms in its early days. The first fashion designer to create a uniform for the airline was Maurice Helman in 1946, with a grey, military-style utilitarian outfit that included a tie and stylish hat. Since then, British Airways has collaborated with several renowned fashion designers, including Hardy Amies in the 1960s and 1970s, Baccarat Weatherall in the late 1970s, Roland Klein in the 1980s, Paul Costelloe in the 1990s, and most recently Julien MacDonald, whose designs will be replaced by Ozwald Boateng's new collection this spring.

According to Ozwald Boateng, designing the new uniform collection was a comprehensive and meticulous process that went beyond clothing creation. He aimed to create an internal energy shift, with a main objective of designing something that spoke to and for the airline's colleagues, something that would inspire and empower them, and make them proud to conduct their roles. He also intended for them to feel seen and heard. Despite the airline having a strong heritage, it was important to support the creation of a fresh narrative of change and transcendence, while still being timeless.

Sustainability was a crucial aspect in the design process of the new uniform. Over 90% of the garments were created using sustainable fabrics made from blends of recycled polyester. Additionally, in keeping with British Airways’ commitment to work with sustainable suppliers through their "BA Better World" initiative, the airline is collaborating with manufacturers who are members of the "Better Cotton" initiative, a leading global sustainability initiative for cotton, with a goal to support cotton communities, protect and restore the environment.

The new uniforms will first be worn by the airline's engineers and ground operations agents starting Spring 2023, and later, all British Airways cabin crew, pilots, and check-in agents will transition to the new uniforms in the summer of 2023. As they receive their new uniforms, they will turn in their existing Julien MacDonald uniforms, which will be donated to charity or recycled into various items such as toys and tablet holders. Some of the uniforms will also be gifted to the airline’s museum.