Emilia Wickstead couldn’t maintain her composure. The renowned fashion designer, London-based but native Kiwi, kept tearing up and sweetly apologizing for it, as she stood at the podium in Auckland to unveil her designs for the new Air New Zealand uniforms, the first new designs in 15 years. The emotion, pride and attachment to her homeland were clearly on display. So much so that it’s hard to imagine any other airline, even national carriers, announcing a uniform update with so much feeling.
A Passion Project For Designer Emilia Wickstead
For Wickstead, though, the three year development was a passion project. “My godmother worked for the airline for 25 years,” she said in a conversation earlier that day. “Her father, my uncle, my cousin all did so it feels like it’s been a big part of my life, when you think about the way you grew up, the place that you come from. I’ve put elements from my past, which make me love home so much, into the uniforms.” She admitted that she’d also emailed airline executives several times to volunteer her design services before they announced a competition to choose a new designer. “I’ve wanted to do this since I was a little girl,” she says.
The Prints Based On Te Rangitu Netana’s Drawings
To design the prints inspired by Māori heritage, she turned to tā moko (Māori tattoo) artist Te Rangitu Netana, another New Zealander living in Britain, who drew distinctive pattens such as Purapura Whetū (inspired by the stars used by Māori ancestors for navigation), designed to be worn by cabin crew and ground staff members. Pilots will wear bold pinstriped suits with a Kiwi feather lining, symbolizing leadership and prestige.
Wickstead chose a rich shade of purple, the airline’s signature color, along with crisp black and white, the colors of the planes’ livery and wearable, durable, sustainable but soft fabrics: recycled cottons and polyesters. But the sharpness of the tailoring and finishes are very much in line with her trademark designs often seen on famous clients such as Catherine, the Princess of Wales. “If I’m going to put my name to something, it can’t feel like a completely different project,” she explains. “We pride ourselves on architectural design lines and a great fit.”
The Range Of Designs
Since the designs will need to fit many different body types among the 6000 staff members who will be representing the airline, she conducted extensive fittings and conversations with staff members about what worked and what didn’t in previous uniforms. And just to make sure that all of the uniforms perform as they need to, they will be fine tuned in onboard tryouts before debuting system wide next year. When that happens, Wickstead hopes that the airline will be instantly identifiable when staff members walk through the airport. “We also sometimes forget how powerful clothing can be, how it can make you feel incredibly confident, to be the best version of yourself.,”she says.” That’s exactly what I want this uniform to be.”
Air New Zealand’s New Business Class
Also due to make its debut onboard on May 19: the much delayed, hugely improved Business Premier pods replacing the angled, not particularly private pods now in the air. They will make their appearance first in retrofitted 787-9 aircraft on the Auckland-San Francisco route followed by Auckland-Brisbane and other destinations where Dreamliners fly; New York will have to wait until next year, though, for the new 787s to arrive from the factory. But it will be worth it: these private, 21 inch wide, forward facing seats will now be in line with the best offerings of other premium carriers with extensive storage space, lie flat seats that extend to 80 inches long and can be extended easily by the passenger (the current ones require the flight attendant to flip the seat over to get into sleeping position), 24 inch, high resolution monitors and a wireless charging pad to charge personal devices. There will be 22 Business Premier seats plus four Business Premier Luxe seats which have all of the features of Business Premier plus privacy doors.
The Innovative Economy Class Skynest
In the back of the plane on the new 787-9 aircraft due for delivery next year: the innovative Skynest which resembles a train bunk bed in triplicate allowing economy passengers the ability to also stretch out on a long haul flight. But there’s a catch: bunks can only be reserved for a four hour stretch.
MORE FROM FORBES
ForbesAir France Introduces Enhanced, Private First Class Suites This SpringBy Laurie WernerForbesFirst Delta One Lounge Opens At New York’s JFK AirportBy Laurie WernerForbesMaster Chef Dominique Crenn Creates Sublime Meals For Air FranceBy Laurie Werner
