Air India gets a style makeover with Manish Malhotra’s designs as it changes uniforms for cabin crew and pilots after 60 years.
After much speculation about whether Air India’s flight attendants would likely transition to more modern attire, the new couture for cabin and cockpit crew is out, and no, they did not abandon the saree; instead, ace designer Manish Malhotra gave it a twist with the trendy pant sarees or saree pantsuit in “three quintessential Indian colors – red, aubergine, and gold, representing the confident, vibrant new India.” In a rebranding event on August 10, the airline’s CEO and managing director (MD), Campbell Wilson, announced that the new livery will first be seen in the A350 aircraft, the first of which is expected to arrive in October.
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Air India and Manisha Malhotra shared a video on their respective social media accounts that featured an animation of the new outfit sketches and promised a “new journey.” “We are proud to present to the world, the all-new Air India Pilot & Cabin Crew uniforms, designed by @manishmalhotraworld,” the video captioned. Each design represents where we come from and the window of possibilities ahead of us through its colors, style, and elements.
“There have been times when halfway across the world I have caught a glimpse of an Air India and felt closer to India again,” Manish said of designing these uniforms in his Mumbai studio. They (cabin crew) used to dress in lehengas and maang teekas in the past. Creating these uniforms for the new era was a thrilling opportunity for me. I wanted to stay true to Air India’s roots while also incorporating my own vision to represent the new chapter we are embarking on.”
Until 1962, the female crew of the airline wore a skirt, jacket, and hat, but the late JRD Tata had the idea to make them drape sarees, and the first sarees were sourced from Binny Mills. According to rumors, churidars will be one of the options for women, while male crew members may wear suits and sarees will take a back seat.
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The only difference in clothing is that for some female flight attendants, the traditional petticoat has been replaced with pants or trousers, providing a more comfortable and modern alternative. The photographs still show women draped in sarees, as well as some wearing palazzo pants or wide-leg trousers beneath a draped saree in a stylish and fashionable manner, resembling the traditional saree drape but adapted to accommodate the pants.
If you keep your finger on the sartorial pulse, you’ll know that pant sarees have gained popularity for their fusion of traditional and contemporary elements following the Covid-19 lockdowns, providing a chic and hassle-free option for women who want to embrace the elegance of a saree while enjoying the comfort and ease of wearing pants. Manish Malhotra, India’s leading couturier, successfully gave this modern twist to traditional attire where a blend of tradition and modernity was desired as “an ode to Air India’s rich history and a promise of a bright future.”
# Uniform For The Air India Crew
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