Alitalia logic: our airline loses money every year, costs are out of control, but let’s unveil totally new uniforms even though we just changed them a few years ago.
Tell me how you really feel…
Ok, I’ll try be even-handed. Employees were complaining about the existing uniforms, labeling them uncomfortable. What about them was uncomfortable, I don’t know. Perhaps they were too warm? The new uniforms are “breathable” and lighter weight.
But I love the current uniforms. I wrote about them here.
In a press release, Alitalia describes the new uniform:
Alberta Ferretti has created a new uniform that is timeless and elegant, dedicated to the Italian airline’s land personnel and inflight crew, including a suit for men and a skirt suit and dress for women. The pieces are created in a seasonless lightweight fine gauge blue wool that is breathable to ensure comfort and allow movement during flights and all airport activities. The clothes are customized with satin gold buttons engraved with the “A” for Alitalia, and the women’s jackets are marked at the waist with a gros-gain ribbon in the Italian tricolor of the flag.
The outerwear includes raincoats made of cotton and waterproof nylon, for both men and women, finished with a removable lightly quilted lining.
The look includes cotton poplin blouses with pocket detail, foulards and ties in matching silk twill, leather gloves and wool knitwear. For the in-flight crew, Ferretti designed a vest and an Alitalia logoed jacquard apron style dress.
Pictures:
When I saw these new uniforms, my first thought was that the Salvation Army was getting rid of its old uniforms…
Or that someone had some extra Christmas ribbon.
CONCLUSION
I can’t believe I missed out on this news: One Mile at a Time even covered it, but I discovered it browsing through the Daily Mail travel section (more photos there). I simply do not understand how Alitalia can justify an investment in these new uniforms, especially during such precarious times. Employee comfort is important, great uniforms do not lead to profit, but did the current uniforms truly justify revision? Will Alitalia’s entire image change yet again?
> Read More: Alitalia 777 Business Class Rome to Los Angeles Review
Sorry, but I’m not sure what exactly is going on with the ribbon waistbands. They look like something people put around suitcases.
This is what we call “fashion emergency.”
Wow. I make no claim to having good taste in clothing, but at least I can recognize good taste when I see it, and that ain’t it. Forgetting for a moment that Alitalia should have one or two higher priorities, such as avoiding bankruptcy, why change from tasteful elegance to flat out ugly? It’s like their priorities are set by the magic 8 ball.
I mean, staff have a right to be comfortable in their uniforms. Also, the LegaM5S government has made *crystal clear* that they will not be allowing Alitalia to fail and view it is an essential national asset: a flag carrier.
So, it is what it is.
Typical Italians. No wonder the country is in such bad shape!
The green and red Alitalia old uniforms were probably cooler but they were hated by hostesses because they were very uncomfortable and made with hot and cheap fabrics. So Alitalia decided to redesign the uniforms to meet the hostesses’s strong complains . Consider that after Etihad abandoned Alitalia, hats, long jackets and green and red stockings were rapidly thrown away because they were a torture for hostesses.
Alberta Ferretti , a famous Italian fashion stylist, designed the new uniforms for free. for them Alitalia has spent the budget used every year to change the consumed uniforms. the new uniforms are made in Italy with wool and other high quality fabrics. tho old ones were made in Romania using acrylic and polyester.
As a flight attendant ( 12 years in the bussiness) I understand why they changed the red and green uniform: a comfortable and easy -to-mantain uniform is needed when you pass your days inside a real plane,not on cat walk… Green and red stockings…where do you get them If you damage yours? And it wasn’t suitable for all the ages:on a 20 years old girls,it looks divine,but there are a lot of air-hostess,who are in their 40’s and 50’s,and in my oppinion,It adds age,looks too old-fashioned.
The new one is JUST PERFECTION,elegant,easy to wear,atemporal.
I think the new uniforms are a better more sober professional look. The green and red where HORRIBLE!! EVERYBODY hated them. I work as a flight crewwith Alitalia. Trust me these are better!