Ozwald Boateng takes to the track with a first design for British Airways

LONDON — Ozwald Boateng has given new meaning to runway design with the launch of his first collection of clothing and accessories for British Airways staff.

The Savile Row tailor created the first new uniforms for air and ground workers in close quarters 20 years old. The last designer to dress the staff was Julien Macdonald.

The uniforms, which were made from bespoke, easy-care fabrics, put time to arrive. Boateng began working on it in 2018, but faced delays during the pandemic when the airline grounded its fleet and temporarily suspended staff.

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For the past four years, he has treated the job as a high-security mission, observing the BA staff in their various roles; conduct “secret air and ground testing” and interview more than 1,500 employees about fit and comfort, according to BA.

Ozwald Boateng designed BA's new flight and ground crew uniforms.

Sean Doyle, Chairman and CEO of British Airways, said the uniforms represent the brand and " the very best of modern Britain, helping us to deliver excellent, original British service to our customers."

The collection includes a tailored men's three-piece suit with classic, slim-fit trousers, while he there are dress, skirt and pant options for women.

Women can also wear coveralls as part of their uniform, which BA described as " a first airline". ” Boateng has also created tunics and hijabs for female staff.

The designer created a pattern inspired by the movement of air on a metal fender. It floats throughout the collection, appearing on jackets, T-shirts, buttons and ties.

Jacquard fabric on bespoke garments features a variation of the airline's signature blue and red , ribbon-shaped speed mark.

Prototypes were tested on cabin and flight crew members during flights freighter across Europe, while engineers 'secretly' tested their new uniforms out of the public eye at Manchester and Cotswold airports.

Many outerwear has been tested in deluge downpours and in minus 18 degree freezers Celsius, or minus 0.4 degrees Fahrenheit, to ensure they were water resistant and suitable for extreme weather conditions.

More than 30,000 people will don the new uniforms...