Following a competitive pitch process for the design of Qantas’ new crew uniforms – the airline’s first major uniform overhaul in over a decade – the Australian carrier has selected Australian fashion designer Rebecca Vallance.
Since her first showing at New York Fashion Week in 2014, with a style of structured tailoring and luxurious fabrications, Vallance has become of Australia’s leading fashion designers. Her client list includes famous names such as Naomi Campbell, Rita Ora, Lady Gaga, Paris Hilton, Sienna Miller, Eva Longoria, Halle Berry, Sofia Vergara, Kate Beckinsale, Behati Prinsloo, and many more.
Vallance has previously collaborated with Qantas, on a business class pyjama and amenity kit offering for their new flight route for the Sydney to New York via Auckland route.
Rebecca Vallance said her vision for the new uniform will reflect the sophistication and spirit of the Qantas team. “To be entrusted with this redesign is a huge milestone for me personally and for my brand. I am looking forward to creating something iconic, yet wearable while celebrating the people who make this airline such a beloved part of Australia’s story. This is a defining moment in my career, not just because of the scale of the project, but because of the trust Qantas has placed in me.”
Earlier this year, Qantas surveyed more than 17,500 team members that wear uniforms, including pilots, cabin crew, engineering and airports, to gain feedback on elements such as durability, functionality and comfort. These insights will be incorporated into the next phase of the uniform design process.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said the uniform redesign will play an important role in marking the next era for the national carrier, with a fleet renewal programme (including an additional 20 Airbus A321XLR aircraft) and preparations for the launch of Project Sunrise underway.
“Our uniform represents the Qantas spirit all over the world. We’re proud to be working with Rebecca Vallance to define the new look and to reflect where Qantas is heading. We want the new uniform to reflect the pride our team feel when they wear it and this redesign is a collaborative journey that will be shaped by our people every step of the way.”
The new Qantas uniform will launch in 2027, replacing the current design by Martin Grant, which was introduced in 2014. Past designers of the Qantas uniform include Peter Morrissey, Yves Saint Laurent, George Gross and Harry Who, and Emilio Pucci.
