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that United first teased this past August.
Those new colors have already started to make it onto some of United’s updated cabin interiors, such as with the company’s new international-style “Premium Plus” seats.
Now, they’ll also be on bold display as United unveils the uniforms that have been in the works for more than a year, with fashion designer Tracy Reese and retailers Brooks Brothers and Carhartt working behind the scenes to craft the look and newly designed pieces.
“United should stand toe-to-toe with any global airline in terms in of how good their employees look and the quality of their uniforms,” Reese said to USA TODAY’s Today in the Sky blog.
“We wanted them to be proud of what they’re wearing, but I also I didn’t want to be cookie-cutter like the typical uniforms that are out there,” Brooks Brothers designer Brian Lane added about the challenge of perfecting the new look.
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He said it was important to present workers with something that would give them an emotional lift.
“When you get on the plane, they’re the first people you see,” Lane said. “They want to express their pride and their uniform to the customer who comes in. Because at the end of the day, flying is still something special.”
The new designs for flight attendants and customer-service agents will feature some of the most sweeping changes to United’s current color scheme, which is heavy on neutral blues and grays. (see photos above)
A purple-hued dress accented with a curving light-blue stripe will be among the options for female attendants. Purplish “Atlantic Amethyst” ties are among the accessories for male attendants. Customer service uniforms will include United’s signature “Rhapsody Blue” as the main color, but they also have pops of United’s bright teal-like color dubbed “Pacific Blue.”
The uniforms will be worn by all of United’s customer-facing staff – everyone from pilots and flight attendants to airport gate agents and ramp workers.
TODAY IN THE SKY: First look: United shows off its first Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner (uniform story continues below)
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More than 70,000 American Airlines workers debut new uniforms Tuesday
United’s effort comes after its three biggest U.S. rivals – American, Delta and Southwest – have each already rolled out their own new employee uniforms since 2016.
The look of those carrier’s uniforms generally were well-received, but American ran into unexpected headwinds after some workers complained the new garments were making them sick. American has repeatedly said it could find no evidence linking the uniforms to the reported illnesses, but the subsequent back-and-forth with the union has remained a pain point for the airline since the rollout.
United believes it’s taken steps to make sure its workers are on board with its new options.
The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) that represents United’s cabin crew went so far as to include a staff hygienist in United’s testing of fabrics considered for the uniforms.
Saying the uniforms “are integral to every part of our job,” union spokesman Jeff Heisey added: “When AFA staff participates from the beginning of the process with our experts of staff and our flight attendant representatives, the outcome is better for flight attendants. This uniform rollout is the product of close coordination with the company and union – and we know it will mean a better result for flight attendants.”
TODAY IN THE SKY: December route roundup: Where airlines are adding, and cutting, service
United has leaned heavily on employees for input, sending Reese, Brooks Brothers and Carhartt on frequent trips to United hubs to solicit feedback from the workers they were designing the uniforms for.
Reese credited that employee road shows for “allowing us to talk to so many employees and travel to all the hubs and see the customer-service agents and flight attendants in action.”
She added that the in-person visits, which began in August 2017, helped her and the other designers “understand the job and understand what that required of the clothing. That made the process longer, but it was so important.”
TODAY IN THE SKY: United’s Boeing 747 farewell flight was one to remember
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