Ukraine SkyUp Airlines trades skirts and heels for comfy uniforms
"If the whole world and all fashionistas wear sneakers, why not to bring it to aviation?" said SkyUp Airlines flight attendant Zoryana.
Flight attendants of SkyUp Airlines will soon bid goodbye to their pencil skirts and heels, as they change into their comfier uniforms.
The Ukranian airline has released a new look for their FAs, which now include a loose orange pantsuit, a silk scarf, and a pair of white Nike Air sneakers.
"Times have changed, women have changed, so in contrast to the conservative classics, heels, red lipstick and a bun, a new, more modern and comfortable image of a 'champion' has appeared. Freedom, natural beauty, individuality, no patterns and sneakers in which everyone 'would like to fly,'" Marianna Grigorash, Head of SkyUp Airlines Marketing Department, said in a statement.
SkyUp Airlines has worked with fashion consulting agency Frame Fashion Consultancy to create a uniform that "embodies the idea of movement."
Studying the different uniforms from the decades past, as well as interviews with flight attendants, Olga Tsaregradskaya of Frame Fashion Consultancy said that the looks from the past were "caused by the needs of that time."
"Many of the details of the image that are considered classic, in fact, have outlived their own," she said.
Grigorash also added: "We found out that despite the fact that the image of a female flight attendant is very romanticized, their job demands a lot of physical training."
And so, creating this uniform was based on the new image of the SkyUp Champions, a modern girl who leads an active lifestyle, and a "champion who works for team result and shows respect for herself and her health."
Pantsuit
The blazer and trousers combo by Ukranian fashion brand GUDU is made with soft tailoring that gives the wearer ease of movement. A light trench coate made of Italian eco-leather is also available for the ladies.
"The uniform embodies the idea of movement. The form is created for active, bold, bright; those who do not like superfluous officialdom, but appreciate style; reacts quickly, acts in a balanced manner, accepts challenges and finds a way out of any situation. These are clothes for those who are open to new things, those who love travel and life," SkyUp said on Instagram.
Shoes
One of the major changes in their uniform is their shoes. Alexandrina Denysenko, a senior flight attendant with SkyUp told Reuters that heels do look "beautiful," but also added that "feet suffer and swell by the end of the flight."
"God forbid, but if a crew has to do a landing in water and an evacuation, heels can damage the ladder and it won't be very comfortable to swim in a skirt," Denysenko added.
So instead of heels, FAs will wear the Nike Air Max 720—an ergonomic pair of sneakers that's made of 75% recycled materials. "The key feature of these sneakers is the record high air cushion along the entire length of the sole. This gives the Air Max 720 incredible cushioning and resilience for maximum comfort all day long," said SkyUp.
Accessories
Instead of tying a scarf around the neck, the new uniform has it attached to the epaulettes of the coat. The FAs will be wearing a sky blue silk scarf by the Gunia Project. Complementing the look is a bright orange suitcase by Have A Rest.
Makeup and hairstyle
Inspired by the colors of the sky (as seen from the cockpit), Backstage Beauty & Refresh created a look that features soft colors of orange and blue, focusing on the eyes. For the hair, ladies are styled in effortless soft waves.
Reuters also reported that male flight attendants will also see a uniform change. They will wear light suits, T-shirts, and black Nikes.
The launch for the new uniforms will be on Oct. 22.