Emilia Wickstead, the luxury womenswear designer, has designed the new uniforms for Air New Zealand. The collection embodies the airline’s sense of pride in New Zealand and cultural heritage with bold prints, colors and intricate designs.
The uniforms are designed with bespoke hand-painted prints from ta moko artist Te Rangitu Netana. They will be worn by 6,000 Air New Zealanders around the world.
One of the key pieces is the “The Fine Print-Dress,” which features the intricate and meaningful kowhai print, which is inspired by Maori heritage and the story of Ngatoro-i-rangi, symbolizing protection, responsibility and belonging.
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“The Collective Thread-Shirt” features bold prints and a tui knot neckline, designed to be worn by any crew or ground staff member. There’s also The Warp-Around trench created in the suiting violet pinstripe, a waistcoat for male crew members and ground staff, and le Faitaga, a cultural garment celebrating the rich heritage of the Pacific community. New designs for pilots include a bold pin-stripe suit, with a Kiwi feather lining, symbolizing leadership and prestige.
The New Zealand-born Wickstead said, “Designing the Air New Zealand uniform has been an incredibly personal project for me. At the heart of it was a deep respect for the heritage and the unique identity of New Zealand’s people and land. It was essential to me that this uniform tells a meaningful story about Aortearoa (New Zealand). I wanted to create a uniform that empowers individuals and inspires pride in all who wear it and see it. For me, good design should always evoke a sense of pride and occasion, and I believe this uniform will do just that.”
It was more than just a design job for the designer — the project carried more sentiment.
“Honestly, I’ve always wanted to do this ever since I was a little girl. I left New Zealand when I was close to 15 years old and I used to come back every single year for holidays. All my best girlfriends, to this day, are from New Zealand. New Zealand for me is my home,” Wickstead said.
Her uncle worked for Air New Zealand for a number of years, as did her godmother for 25 years.
“I sort of always envisaged my godmother in [my] Air New Zealand uniform. I live in a dream world — I’m a designer,” she added.
When designing the uniforms Wickstead looked to those of the past, specifically the ones designed by Nina Ricci and Yves Saint Laurent when he was still creative director at Christian Dior.
She stuck with the color purple, but in a deep shade and incorporated in a kōwhai print, a plant that’s native to New Zealand. The print appears on some of the dresses, while pilots’ suits have been designed using pinstripes with a kiwi feather lining.
“As a female designer and founder of my own business, and since the very beginning of when I started designing for women and now for the uniform, also for men, is that I’m designing for women who are on the go and are doing 100 million things. We’re not sort of sitting behind a desk all day and then jumping in a taxi in high heels, necessarily,” Wickstead said.
She wanted to make sure that every aspect of the uniform would be practical and also a reflection of the kinds of clothes she designs for her main collections that she presents at London Fashion Week.
“For us, this is more than just a uniform; it is a celebration of our people, our culture and our values,” said Greg Foran, Air New Zealand’s chief executive officer. “Air New Zealand has never been about standing still or blending in. As an airline, we are all about being bold, celebrating what makes us unique and celebrating our team members. This new uniform encapsulates everything we stand for — a combination of innovation, rich cultural heritage and a sense of pride and belonging.”
The onboard trial begins in May. After a period of testing and feedback from uniform wearers across the airline, the new uniforms will be rolled out across Air New Zealand’s network, beginning in 2026.