Looks so fine
What goes into the making of a cabin crew uniform in a culturally diverse environment?
WHETHER it’s at the airport or on the airplane aisle, female flight attendants have always commanded a sense of awe and fascination. Next to their male counterparts, air stewardesses exude a sort of effortless elegance and charm.
That fascination might have something to do with the uniforms that they wear. Cabin crew uniforms often feature beautiful designs and gorgeous materials.
But with beauty, comes great responsibility too.
The clothes may be pretty to look at, but don’t get any ideas – cabin crew members are expected to conduct themselves professionally at all times while in uniform.
For national carrier Malaysia Airlines, female flight attendants who wear its iconic sarong kebaya uniform must adhere to the highest sense of professionalism.
“All those wearing the sarong kebaya must carry out their duties professionally and put customer experience as the centre of gravity at all times,” it says.
Malaysia Airlines’ uniform must fit comfortably, fall smoothly and not be so tight that it pulls or wrinkles.
The length of the sarong must reach the dorsum of the feet and cover the ankles. It must always be worn with hosiery.
Meanwhile, low-cost carrier Firefly says its uniform – a striking knee-length orange dress – also comes with its own set of rules and regulations. Cabin crew manager Gladys Ong says this is to ensure the image of the company is always professional.
“Our flight attendants must abide by the rules stated in the grooming manual. Smoking and chewing gum while in uniform are strictly not permitted,” she reveals.
Malindo Air chief executive officer Chandran Rama Muthy says such guidelines for cabin crew go beyond appearances. The airline’s uniform is a white kebaya top paired with a purple sarong.
“While the superficial guideline will appear to be for them to be neatly groomed and carry their confident and friendly gestures at all times while performing their duty, you will be amazed to find meticulous guidelines in their daily routines in between,” he says.
Culturally pleasing
Operating in a culturally diverse landscape, local airlines do incorporate design elements befitting the country’s image and values associated with the region. Cultural sensitivities are also taken into consideration.
The Malaysia Airlines uniform, for one, was designed to reflect the country’s traditions and culture. “Back in the old days and even today, ladies from all races donned the kebaya during festive occasions or formal functions. The sarong kebaya itself represents Malaysia as it has been part of the Malaysian culture for centuries now,” a representative from Malaysia Airlines says.
The batik design features bamboo weave patterns. Superimposed on the kelarai leaves motif is a mixture of stylised local flora such as the cempaka, jasmine and the leaves of the hibiscus. Elsewhere, geometric Sarawakian motif is used for the lapels of the top, and the edges of the sleeves and sarong.
The national airline introduced the full sarong kebaya as its official uniform for female flight attendants since its inception as MAS in 1972. The uniform underwent several modifications in 1978, 1986 and 1991.
The cabin crew uniforms were again given an update in 2008, with a vivid red hue added for female In-Flight Supervisors.
Malindo Air also features an iteration of the kebaya in its uniform. Chandran says this is to highlight the carrier’s Malaysian identity.
“An airline’s uniform represents not only the airline, but also its country of origin. We want to demonstrate the beauty of kebaya and batik, which reflect local culture and hospitality,” he offers.
With its uniform, Malindo Air takes cues from several sartorial elements in the South-East Asia region. The white kebaya represents the elegance of the Central Java traditional clothing. The batik pattern and motif were inspired by the Sasak Tribe in Nusa Tenggara Barat Indonesia and the golden line on the motif is inspired by the kain songket from West Sumatera.
Firefly on the other hand, takes on a more global approach in the design of its cabin crew uniform – with some regional touches. The design incorporates the Mandarin collar.
“We are going for the modern professional look with our uniform. Our cabin crew like it too as it’s one full dress that’s easy to wear,” Ong says of Firefly’s uniform.
She adds that there’s also a fun reference to science fiction in the form of Star Trek-esque buttons on the collar.
Ong stresses that Firefly’s uniform is “acceptable by Malaysians” and that the airline is always open to feedback from passengers to enhance the design.
Form and function
For all its aesthetics, cabin crew’s uniforms are primarily designed with functionality and safety in mind – especially during emergency situations.
Malaysia Airlines says the design of the uniform has to meet the industry safety standards as set by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
“In terms of functionality, the design of the uniform has to ensure our cabin crew are able to perform all their duties. Their priority is the safety of our passengers.
“While on board, our crew has to be prepared to handle a wide variety of situations which include any anomaly in operations, such as medical emergencies or emergency evacuations,” Malaysia Airlines explains.
Malindo Air’s Chandran says an important consideration in the design of the uniform is to straddle between elegance and a professional look.
“The uniform must be comfortable to wear, easy to maintain and practical for the cabin crew’s day-today duties. These include bending, lifting items and attending to different types of passenger needs,” he offers.
Chandran reveals that some details such as the three-quarter length sleeves, slit at the sarong, matching slippers that are changed on board, and the serving apron are meant to be practical, maintain tidiness and hygiene as well as provide convenience.
“To add on what makes a good cabin crew uniform is the blend of fabric texture, colour combination and design that results in ultimate comfort, practicality and accurate brand positioning,” he adds.
Ong says an airline uniform must be able to clearly distinguish the wearer as a cabin crew member. She adds that tight restrictive design is avoided as freedom of movement is imperative in helping flight attendants carry out their duties effectively and efficiently.
Above all, local airlines believe that good service and exemplary conduct go beyond what a flight attendant is wearing. The way Chandran sees it, flight attendants deserve more credit for their work.
“A cabin crew plays multiple roles – mainly as safety professionals and caretakers to our passengers, as well as the brand ambassadors to the airline and Malaysia on the whole,” he offers.
“We believe that it is more than just the uniform. It’s about having your frontliners live the brand and deliver the service,” Malaysia Airlines concludes.