Where do we sign up?
There have been a lot of exciting designer developments that caught our eye this year, from the Gucci Cruise Collection to some truly outstanding fashion advertising campaigns. Though here’s one unexpected couture collaboration we didn’t see coming - Hainan Airlines debuted their new cabin crew uniforms at Paris Couture Week and they’re top of the game.
Designed by haute couturist Laurence Xu, the mastermind behind some of Fan BingBing’s most breathtaking looks (including her 2010 Met Gala dream), the collection mixes both traditional Chinese and Western elements in a calming colour palette. High necked dresses inspired by cheongsam, a traditional Chinese garment for women worn on special occasions, were paired with cloudy grey form-fitting blazers, caped coats and embroidered berets.
The swirling prints on the dresses are what truly steal the show, based on old school Chinese painting techniques, and incorporate natural elements like the sky and sea - befitting for an airline.
The boys’ looks are pretty dapper as well, dressed in Chinese-collared suits as well as a more Western double-breasted trench coat in the same overcast shade. Hainan Airlines explained that the intention of the collection was to ‘combine elements of classical, time-honoured Oriental aesthetics and the silhouette of a modern Western suit’.
The collection debuted at a runway show at the Intercontinental Paris Le Grand during Paris Fashion Week 2017/2018, where a group of models took to the catwalk wearing the chic, yet undoubtedly professional looks. As the fifth generation of Hainan airline uniforms, it's a departure from the simple grey shifts and neck scarves of the past.
It was a big moment for the airline carrier, which happens to be one of the biggest names in aviation over in China. According to Jing Daily, the brand is seeking to expand their global presence and the amount of international attention their uniforms are getting certainly helps.
The collection debuted amidst heavyweights like Valentino and Chanel, who have been playing this game for years. To be honest, Laurence Xu and Hainan Airlines' collaboration fit right in. Best dressed airline of the year? We think so.
