Aisles become in-flight runways

New York fashion darling Zac Posen has become the latest designer-to-the-stars to be tapped by a major airline for an image upgrade.

In the same tradition of enlisting Michelin-starred chefs to design in-flight menus, airlines have been turning to the runways of high fashion for decades when it comes to seeking sartorial inspiration.

In the latest collaboration, flight attendants at Delta Air Lines will be sashaying down the aisles wearing threads designed by the 34-year-old designer, whose celebrity clientele includes First Lady Michelle Obama, Reese Witherspoon, Kate Winslet and Gwyneth Paltrow.

“Excited to announce my partnership with Delta Airlines for the redesign of the uniforms #ZacPosenxDelta,” he posted on Facebook last week.

The Zac Posen brand is described as “modern American glamour,” a philosophy that aligns with Delta’s own brand attributes, says the airline.

Over the next few months, Posen will work with Delta employees to design a uniform tailored to meet their workday needs. Before being rolled out systemwide, prototypes will undergo wear testing by members of the airline’s cabin crew and airport customer service agents.

Delta says the new uniform is part of a larger brand transformation.

Now-defunct Texas-based carrier Braniff International Airways is widely credited as the industry pioneer in bringing high fashion to the skies, after having tapped Italian designer Emilio Pucci to design its stewardess uniforms.

It was the 1960s: the heyday of air travel. Flying was largely reserved for the affluent, and the journey itself was a glamorous affair, filled with champagne flutes, whole roast turkeys carved seat-side, and pretty, young ‘stewardesses’ (long before the term was replaced by the more politically correct term ‘flight attendants’).

Since then, it's become common strategy to collaborate with fashion designers and national icons.

Last year, Virgin Atlantic rolled out a new collection with iconic British designer Vivienne Westwood, who was tasked with redesigning the signature red uniforms for all 7,500 staff.

In 2013, Qantas unveiled staff uniforms designed by Martin Grant, who has clothed Cate Blanchett, Blake Lively, Kate Hudson and Juliette Binoche.

And Giorgio Armani has worked with Italy's national flagship carrier Alitalia, while uniforms at Air France are designed by Christian Lacroix.

Delta's new look will roll out in 2018.
Source: Relaxnews