Ghanaian- British designer to create uniforms for British Airways
Ghanaian- British designer, Ozwald Boateng, has been tipped to create uniforms for British Airways for their centennial as part of a multi-million pound brand overhaul.
Ozwald Boateng has had a great year. From releasing his first womenswear collection to being an integral part of the Black Panther style story and now, it gets better with his latest opportunity. Boateng has been tipped to design the new uniforms for prestigious British flight carrier British Airways.
According to WWD:
The OBE-honored designer will have his work cut out for him shadowing British Airways employees to get a better understanding of the demands of their various jobs. Boateng will be figuring out just how the uniforms need to hold up and will have booking agents, pilots, in-flight crew and other employees wear test the uniforms before final designs are approved. The airline’s new look is being ironed out in advance of the airline’s centennial next year.
Alex Cruz, British Airways’ Chairman and Chief Executive, said: “Our uniforms have been an iconic symbol of our brand throughout our 100-year history and our partnership with Ozwald will take us forward to the next chapter in our journey.
At a time when we’re investing for customers, new uniforms are a visual representation of investment in our people and we want them to feel proud when they wear the new uniform.”
889 Likes, 21 Comments - Ozwald Boateng (@ozwald_boateng) on Instagram: "Discovering the fluidity and the gender free nature of my designs have been a very inspiring..."
Ozwald Boateng OBE, said: “I am really excited about creating this new uniform for British Airways. It is important for me to create something that makes all of British Airways’ 32,000 uniform-wearing employees across the world excited, at the same time as enabling me to really demonstrate my skills as a designer. British Airways is investing £4.5 billion over the next five years and the uniform I design will form part of that, so I’m looking forward to taking a uniform and refining it into a collection.”
Boateng, who launched his first womenswear collection this year, will be working closely with the airline’s employees throughout the development process, from shadowing them to understand their roles and how the uniforms need to perform, to design, testing and final delivery.
According to British Airways:
British Airways has worked with a number of famous names throughout its history to design its uniforms. These include Paul Costelloe, Roland Klein, Baccart Weatherall, Hardy Amies and Julien MacDonald, the designer of the airline’s current uniform.
British Airways’ is investing £4.5 billion pounds for its customers over the next five years, investment includes the installation of the best quality WiFi and power in every seat, fitting 128 long-haul aircraft with new interiors and taking delivery of 72 new aircraft. The airline will also be introducing new Club World seat with direct aisle access next year.
