Brussels Airlines has started off the new year by unveiling its new uniforms for its cabin, cockpit and ground operations employees. Gabrielle Szwarcenberg, a young designer from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, was responsible for the design of the clothing pieces and by choosing her, Brussels Airlines tries to put the accent on the ‘Belgitude’ of the brand. Moreover, the company made an effort to make the uniforms more sustainable through the use of innovative materials and the new line is said to be more inclusive than ever before.
These uniforms perfectly embody everything Brussels Airlines stands for: Belgitude, a platform for young talent, sustainability, and inclusion. I’m happy to see the result and can’t wait to see these uniforms live at the airport and on-board our aircraft.
Tilman Reinshagen, COO of Brussels Airlines
The new uniforms, which will be worn by over 2,600 cabin, cockpit and ground operations’ employees from March 1st onwards, was unveiled to both staff and press during a small fashion show. As far as colours go, the airline has made the choice to keep things simple. The main hue of the garments is navy blue, which is only disturbed by small details of gold here and there. That colourway isn’t arbitrary and matches Brussels Airlines’ rebranding dating back to 2021. Even though the broad lines of the clothing pieces are timeless and said to be inspired by uniforms from the 1960’s, many unisex items have been added to the collection, as well as sneakers, making sure employees can be comfortable at all times. Even the shoes that go with the new uniforms were designed by Belgian brands, Atelier Content and Ambiorix to be precise, once again underlining the ‘Belgitude’ of the airline.
“I wanted the design to be elegant and sophisticated, while prioritising the staff’s performance and comfort. That’s why we introduce items like turtlenecks or sneakers, to make everyone comfortable. Throughout the design, you’ll also find subtle references to Belgian icons, such as the Atomium on the scarfs and on the inner lining of the blazers. I really hope the staff enjoys wearing the uniform as much as I enjoyed creating it”, designer Gabrielle Szwarcenberg said of the collection.
As far as sustainability goes, a lot of effort has been put into the matter in order to make the collection as eco-friendly as possible, such as BCI-certified cotton, mulesing free wool and leather from cacti and grapes. The materials were chosen with care and, moreover, all production sites were screened on both sustainability and fair working conditions.
With its new uniforms, Brussels Airlines also made an important step towards a more inclusive approach of clothing, making hair, make-up and jewellery guidelines the same for both men and women. That means, amongst other things, that make-up will no longer be required for female personnel. Tattoos will be allowed, as long as they comply with certain rules, such as the position, the size and what it represents.
