United Airlines Partners with Cynthia Rowley to Design Its New Uniforms
United Airlines has enlisted the help of American fashion designer Cynthia Rowley to makeover all their employee uniforms for 2011. Known for her sophisticated and flirty designs, Rowley will be create new uniforms for United’s diverse range of staff from the flight attendants to pilots, customer service representatives, ramp service and maintenance employees.
“Travel is a huge part of my life and authentic to our brand,” says Cynthia Rowley. “It’s such an exciting opportunity to design for United, a company with a rich history, expansive global reach and, like myself, Chicago roots.”
Rowley will spend a month meeting with United employees around the world to find out what they want in their employee uniforms. Like a Project Runway challenge, Rowley has been tasked with creating new uniforms that increases functionality in more breathable and durable fabrics.
“New uniforms, with an improved look and feel, are a key investment in our company and our people, who are the face of United,” says John Tague, President, United Airlines.
The new uniforms, available in mid 2011, will provide a modern, consistent look for our colleagues, as well as improve how they feel with increased functionality in design and more breathable and durable fabrics. New uniforms will also be more cost-effective as a result of the updated fabrics and a streamlined inventory process (Fiber2Fashion).
Rowley is the latest designer to join the ranks of fashion industry icongs who have designed uniforms for airline conglomerates. Since 1966, designers such as Christian Lacroix (Air France), Julien McDonald (British Airways), Richard Tyler (Delta Airlines), Gianfranco Ferre (Korean Air), Pierre Cardin (Air India) and Peter Morrissey (Qantas) to have designed uniforms for major airlines around the world.