American Airlines chooses Lands’ End for uniform redo
American Airlines is turning to Lands’ End to replace uniforms that employees blamed for health problems and which left the airline and the previous supplier facing a lawsuit.
Those uniforms, introduced in 2016 and made by Twin Hill, led to thousands of complaints from flight attendants and crew members who said they caused hives, wheezing, vertigo and headaches. American ultimately agreed to seek a new supplier. Twin Hill is a division of Houston-based Tailored Brands
Before choosing Wisconsinbased Lands’ End, which is also making uniforms for Delta Air Lines, American sought proposals and conducted site visits domestically and abroad, executives at American and union leaders said Tuesday in a letter to employees. Members of the uniform committee and union leaders will begin making fabric and color choices, and the airline expects to begin testing the clothing as early as October.
As part of the wear-testing process, about 1,000 employees in a range of roles and regions will try out the uniforms. American expects it will be about two years before the uniforms will be ready for all 51,000 employees, spokeswoman Leslie Scott said.
American’s pilots, however, are still looking for a new uniform supplier. When American agreed to seek replacement uniforms over the summer, each group of employees had the option to independently pick a supplier, Scott said.
In the meantime, airline employees can choose to wear the Twin Hill uniforms or an approved alternative.
Twin Hill said it will continue to provide uniforms until its contract ends in 2020.
“We remain confident of the quality and integrity of our products,” Twin Hill said.