Zambesi style
The Launch
In all, the new range consists of 20 mix-and-match pieces. This range allows staff to dress to suit their body shape and to suit prevailing conditions. Airline staff work in different time zones, climates, hemispheres and seasons. The uniform includes a lightweight, belted shirt-dress and sculptured jacket for women and, for men, merino straight-legged trousers teamed with a long-sleeve shirt, optional tie and a black belt with paua shell buckle insert. Air crew of both sexes get to wear a high-collared, schist grey overcoat with optional padded lining for cold weather. The uniforms were launched to at the 2005 Auckland Fashion Week.
While this was the first, much anticipated public showing of the new uniforms, Elisabeth says the process of acceptances and approvals meant plenty of people within the airline had seen the uniforms beforehand. "It's not like we pulled it out of a bag and said 'Wear it'." However, the colours of the new uniform were kept stricty under wraps until fashion week.
The October launch marked the end of one phase in the uniform development project; but rather than being a finished, immutable product, the uniform is a work-in-progress, Elisabeth says, and will be refined during its life.
"It will look the same but work better."
COP Outcome development and evaluation
By March 2006, all Air New Zealand staff had been issued with their new uniforms; a survey 6-months later revealed problems with the fine merino fabric used in the range. Staff complained about the fabric's tendency to crease and the difficulty of removing food stains from the uniforms used by in-flight staff. As a result, Zambesi changed the suiting, replacing it with pure wool material. Other modifications resulting from survey feedback include a more relaxed fit for the trousers worn by male staff and the addition of lightweight shirts and some additions to the range of knitwear and scarves in the range.
