LONDON — Australian designer Rebecca Vallance is airline Qantas’ newest uniform designer.
“This appointment is both a great honor and a responsibility I don’t take lightly. The Qantas uniform carries a legacy, and I’m excited to contribute to its next chapter while respecting its history,” said Vallance.
Vallance is the latest in a string of prominent designers to take on the airline’s uniform. Emilio Pucci was the first in 1974, unveiling brightly colored blazers and psychedelic dresses. By the ‘80s, Yves Saint Laurent had taken up the mantle, debuting navy sets with zippy red accents.
Emilio Pucci’s 1974 Qantas uniforms.
Courtesy of Qantas
Vallance takes over from fellow Australian designer Martin Grant, whose tenure began in 2013.
“My approach is to listen, observe and celebrate the people who wear these uniforms with pride. This redesign is about functionality, style and storytelling — ensuring the design feels authentic to Qantas and its values,” Vallance added.
The designer is in the midst of creating the uniforms, which are set to take flight in 2027.
Yves Saint Laurent’s Qantas uniforms.
Courtesy of Qantas
Vallance’s collaboration is the latest in high fashion flights of fancy.
In March, it was announced that Air France had tapped French designer Jacquemus to create a loungewear set for its first-class passengers.
Dubbed “Le Pyjama,” the navy-blue cotton set features the airline’s winged seahorse emblem on the front and an embroidered grosgrain ribbon with the Jacquemus logo on the back.
In April, Emilia Wickstead’s uniforms for Air New Zealand were announced. The collection celebrated New Zealand’s cultural heritage, with uniforms featuring bespoke hand-painted prints from ta moko artist Te Rangitu Netana.