Runway to runway: When big designers dress the crew

In 2017, Hainan Airlines made headlines by introducing haute couture uniforms inspired by the traditional qipao for their flight crew. More recently, Riyadh Air unveiled its collection for the crew at the Paris Haute Couture 2025 fashion show, garnering significant attention from potential passengers and the luxury lifestyle community.

Beyond these haute couture designs, let's explore the top five remarkable flight uniforms created by renowned designers for leading global airlines.

Riyadh Air x Mohammed Ashi

Riyadh Air, the newly established national airline of Saudi Arabia, was introduced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2024. The airline aims to be the world’s most progressive airline, implementing the best sustainable practices and enhancing the travel experience.

At the prestigious Paris Haute Couture Week, Riyadh Air confidently launched a collection of 15 designs for its crew, including both male and female uniforms. These included luxurious cashmere coats, fine wool skirts and trousers, custom leather shoes, amethyst earrings, and iconic box-shaped hats. All designs adhered to the strictest haute couture standards.

Designer Mohammed Ashi drew inspiration from the “golden age” of aviation in the 1950s and 1960s, as well as the film “Catch Me If You Can” (2002), to create the 15 designs he described as bold, modern, and luxurious. Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, declared at the press launch:

“When our cabin crew walk through the major airport terminals, like JFK, I want them to make a statement, for people to notice, and for them to respectfully stand out in the crowd, and to showcase that graceful fashion charm.”

With meticulous tailoring, the elegant amethyst tones reminiscent of Saudi Arabia's lavender fields, and a blend of classic and modern styles, Ashi successfully fused haute couture, national symbolism, and impressive customization into the airline uniforms.

Hainan Airlines x Laurence Xu

Back in 2017, also at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week, Hainan Airlines and renowned fashion designer Laurence Xu unveiled a haute couture collection exclusively for the airline's crew.

Laurence Xu drew inspiration from the qipao, a traditional Chinese dress often worn by women at formal events. The dresses featured motifs reminiscent of Chinese art, such as cloud patterns, mountains, waves, and eagles. While the collars, buttons, and jade-hilted pins evoked Eastern aesthetics, tailored vests added a touch of modern Western sophistication.

Hainan Airlines revealed that during the design process, the airline and Xu engaged in frequent discussions, reviewing over 1,000 designs and testing more than a hundred outfits and accessories before finalizing the collection. According to Hainan Airlines, the new design reflects the airline's ongoing development and creativity, with uniforms playing a crucial role in visual impact.

“When waiting at the boarding gate, stewardesses will be wearing Cheongsam, coats, hairpin, beret-style hats, and high heels to show their full respect to passengers,” said Laurence Xu.

First impressions are vital, and uniforms undoubtedly draw attention at airports. However, these outfits were designed not only to be beautiful but also practical and durable. Xu explained that the materials used include polyester, cotton, silk, and spandex, making the uniforms lightweight. This is a critical detail for onboard uniforms, as every added weight impacts fuel consumption. Therefore, the lighter the weight, the more environmentally friendly the flight.

Singapore Airlines x Pierre Balmain

The sarong kebaya has long been an icon of Singapore Airlines. This creative work was crafted by French haute couture designer Pierre Balmain in 1974 using traditional Asian Batik fabric. To this day, the uniform not only highlights the beauty of the female flight attendants but also pays homage to the country’s heritage.

In 1968, Balmain first introduced his design for Malaysia-Singapore Airlines. By 1974, he adjusted it for Singapore Airlines (which had just been renamed), and the design has been in use ever since. Notably, there are no standard sizes for the flight attendant uniforms. Each female crew member's sarong is tailored to fit her body measurements.

The sarong kebaya for female attendants features traditional batik patterns and a timeless silhouette, combining practicality with elegant beauty. Meanwhile, the male attendants’ uniforms were updated in 2008, featuring navy blue suits, light blue shirts, and striped ties. The ranks of the attendants are indicated by the color scheme of the kebaya. There are a total of four sarong colors representing four ranks for female attendants, corresponding to four tie colors representing the four ranks for male attendants.

Balmain designed with situational and job requirements in mind. For instance, the slit at the front of the sarong allows the attendants to tie up their skirts for easier movement in emergency situations. On the 50th anniversary of the iconic design, Sheldon Hee, General Manager of Singapore Airlines, shared:

“We’re proud to say Balmain’s timeless Asian batik female and male designs have made the Singapore Airlines cabin crew one of the most instantly recognisable in aviation.”

Etihad Airways x Ettore Bilotta

Designed by Italian designer Ettore Bilotta, the uniforms for Etihad Airways’ crew exude elegance and classic style, making a strong impression at first sight.

The airline requested a design from Bilotta that would embody sophistication, charm, and timeless elegance. Bilotta successfully translated the airline’s aspirations into a design that captures the brand’s spirit through the silhouettes of the crew's uniforms.

Crafted from 100% Italian wool, the uniforms are meticulously designed and produced across various locations throughout Italy. Notably, around 30% of the uniform production process is done by hand. Bilotta used chocolate brown as the primary color to create different variations. While deep purple adds highlights for the cabin crew and lounge team, burnt orange is designated for the ground staff.

To celebrate the unveiling of the new uniforms, the airline collaborated with renowned photographer Norman Jean Roy—who frequently works with leading fashion magazines - to create a photo shoot showcasing the new collection.

Air France x Christian Lacroix

This list would be incomplete without mentioning Air France, one of the pioneering airlines in elevating the attire of its flight crew.

The airline’s latest uniforms, introduced in 2005 by Christian Lacroix, evoke the elegance of France. Lacroix used navy blue as the base color, accented with red and added details to highlight the high-end design. The overall look exudes luxury, modernity, strength, and sophistication. The designer commented:

“You can recognize an Air France crew in any airport in the world, not just by their ‘colors’, of course, but by this inexpressible blend of allure and style.”

Previously, in 1951, inspired by Christian Dior’s classic “New Look” design, Air France introduced elegant French-style uniforms for its flight attendants, featuring carefully tailored jackets, knee-length pencil skirts, and chic berets. In the late 1960s, the famous designer Cristobal Balenciaga further modernized the female uniforms for Air France, with high-waisted skirts and a sophisticated four-button double-breasted coat.