Singapore Airlines uniform heralded design classic

The distinctive uniform of the gracious and iconic Singapore Girl has been officially recognised as an enduring design classic by one of the world's most influential design magazines, Wallpaper*.

In its continuing quest for design's enduring icons, this month's (September issue) Wallpaper* Design Classics section is dedicated to the Singapore Airlines uniform, designed exclusively for the airline by French couturier, Pierre Balmain, in 1968. Never before has Wallpaper* featured a uniform.

Wallpaper* Editor-in-Chief Tony Chambers said: "Wallpaper* always champions the best in design and high quality production – and great design should stand the test of time. The Singapore Airlines uniform ticks all those boxes and is the perfect symbol for one of the worlds best airlines."

With just a minor tweak in the collar in 1974, Balmain's design, based on the traditional Malay sarong kebaya costume, has been worn by Singapore Airlines flight stewardesses for 39 years.

Mr Huang Cheng Eng, Singapore Airlines’ Executive Vice President Marketing and Regions, said: “The Singapore Girl icon, and her hallmark sarong kebaya uniform, symbolise our reputation for excellence in customer service and hospitality. We are very proud that the uniform should be recognised as a design classic by such an influential and respected source in the world of design."

Wallpaper* notes that part of the allure of the uniform is down to Balmain's insistence that it was fully tailored, not off the peg. To this day, a team of tailors carry out a minimum of two fittings per year and each crew member is provided with four new uniforms per year. Approximately 20,000 kebayas (for all ranks) are tailored annually.

Over the years, the uniform has evolved with different colour backgrounds to represent the rank of the stewardesses:

Brown - Inflight Supervisor
Red - Chief Stewardess
Green - Leading Stewardess
Blue - Flight Stewardess

You can read the full article online at wallpaper.com/fashion/singapore-airlines-uniform/1638.