Iflyforcash

Sky-High Rowley to Design United Uniforms

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By Liz Behler
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By Liz Behler
November 6, 2009
World-famous designer, Cynthia Rowley, has been tapped to create new uniforms for United Airlines employees.

The designs, which will be sported by everyone from flight attendants to maintenance employees, will be created with both fashion and function in mind. Modern aesthetics will be incorporated into designs—along with breathable, durable fabrics—to update the airline’s current image.

“New uniforms, with an improved look and feel, are a key investment in our company and our people, who are the face of United,” said John Tague, President of United Airlines in an official press release. “We have chosen Cynthia for her keen sense of style and for her commitment to involving our employees' important input throughout the design process.”

Rowley, who previously appeared as a judge on “Project Runway”, is noted for her whimsically feminine design style and affordable prices. The award-winning designer has dressed countless numbers of Hollywood’s fashionable starlets, including Julia Stiles, Kristen Stewart, and Scarlett Johansson.

“Travel is a huge part of my life and authentic to our brand,” said Cynthia Rowley in a press release. “It's such an exciting opportunity to design for United, a company with a rich history, expansive global reach and, like myself, Chicago roots.”

The decision to bring Rowley on board is only one of the investments United has made in their future. The company has already begun work on improving their aircraft interiors, and is striving to better their on-time reliability performance and customer satisfaction.

Rowley will kick off a month-long world-wide tour of open forum meetings with United employees to gather input for the new designs, which will debut in 2011.

The collaboration is another project in Rowley’s already-diverse portfolio, which includes approximately 50 stores located throughout the world, a recently debuted kiddie collection for Babies’R’Us, and a line of home accessories, branded Swell, sold at Target stores nationwide.

Jetjok

Not trying to fan the flames of discontent, but are you guys (UAL) either entering into or exiting bankruptcy? Of course you're not, so I'm wondering why your management has picked this time, a time when the company lost only $57 million last quarter, to redesign everyone's uniform. Do they actually think that new uniforms will put asses in seats? This reminds me of airline managements, when faced with huge losses, they decide to have all the jets stripped and repainted, to the tune of Zillions of dollars. What folly.

JJ

cal73

It helps hide the pie.

GuppyPuppy

Maybe they will change the pilot uniforms to black with gold stripes. White shirts with embroidered wings. It will help in the transition that is to come.

GP

SOTeric

Yeah we stuffed the suggestion box in ops with requests for new, fancier uniforms. Like VA's! Or CALs?

Come on, whataya thinking?

eaglefly

It's actually a symptom of denial.

This management team apparently is convinced that changing the colors on its planes (repeatedly) and now employees will somehow either get them out of the trouble they got themselves in (15 years ago) or will make it look like they are not in the trouble they have been in for that period of time.

Perhaps there is also the belief that the employees will suddenly become "happy" with shiny new fresh uniforms.

This company is in a hopeless tailspin and I cannot see how they are going to pull out before impact. Their altitude is not confirmed yet, so the sickening thud that appears inevitable cannot accurately be predicted at this time, but people below are scattering in all directions.

Iflyforcash

May be UAL is changing their image a bit or NOT

YouTube - Mad TV - United Airlines

CANAM

Right before I was furloughed from Flyi, we got these awesome new leather jackets. It didn't really help anybody.

On a lighter note, if anybody is in the market for an almost new leather jacket - pm me.

Dustoff44

It's just like putting a silk ribbon on a Pig. It may look a little better, but it's still a Pig..

LifeNtheFstLne

I have mine too. I liked the removable patch in case we were shot down over Canada. I also have the license plate frame, beach ball, redskins bumper sticker, 40+ hats, and other useless garbage. I think I made more money selling Flyi junk on ebay than I did as a Flyi CRJ F/O.

Back to the topic at hand: aren't the current uniforms at UAL only a few years old? I think I'm the only CAL pilots who refuses to wear the embroidered wings shirts. They make me feel like I should be working at a bulk retailer selling electronics.