Alaska Airlines introduced a new Luly Yang-designed uniform program on Thursday, which has been designed to top safety standards. Alaska is the first U.S. airline to receive STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certification for their custom uniform collection.
On Thursday, Alaska Airlines introduced a new custom uniform program designed by Luly Yang. The new uniform collection has been designed to the highest safety standards, making Alaska Airlines the first U.S. carrier to receive STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certification for their uniform program. The standards ensure the garments meet or exceed international safety standards about harmful substances, with each component being individually certified, down to the material, thread and dyes. In Thursday’s announcement, Alaska Airlines’ Senior Vice President of Marketing and Guest Experience, Sangita Woerner said,
“This is a major milestone that was years in the making. Before the designs, before the first stitch, before the first button sewn, we took steps to ensure that employee uniforms were safe and of the best quality. It was important to take our time and to collaborate with our union partners to create a uniform that was safe, stylish, high quality and functional for all aspects of our business.”
The uniform collection first debuted in 2018 and has been refined and adjusted with over 175 employees participating in on-the-job wear tests. The program will now be rolled out systemwide in early 2020, with Horizon Air and Alaska Lounge concierge team mates already sporting the new threads. The whole process started nearly four years ago with focus groups and work-site visits that provided requests for additional pockets and uniforms that look great on all body types and were suited for various climates. The uniform program has also undergone 1,200 safety tests on more than 165 color combinations.
Based on research and testing, Luly Yang spent two years developing a signature silhouette for the collection focused on fit and function and incorporating water-resistant materials, active wear fabrics and longer shirt tails that don’t untuck. In collaboration with Unisync Group Limited of Toronto, one of North America’s largest uniform suppliers, Alaska Airlines and Yang designed and produced custom fabrics, buttons and signature accessories, ensuring optimal performance and STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certification. The standard, which was developed in 1992 by an international consortium of textile research and testing institutes is also used by many retailers including Pottery Barn, Calvin Klein, Target, Macy’s and children’s-wear company Hanna Andersson.
Alaska Airlines and their regional partners operate 1,300 daily flights to 115 destinations in the US, Mexico, Canada and Costa Rica. The award-winning airline serves over 47M guests annually and has been named “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Carriers in North America” by J.D. Power for the last 12 years.
Source: Alaska Airlines