Brussels Airlines presented brand-new uniforms for all its employees, while modernising its style guides to make them more inclusive – meaning hair, makeup and jewellery guidelines will no longer change for men and women.
The new uniforms are made of innovative materials, such as grapes and cacti, to make them more sustainable and will be worn by 2,600 employees on-board and at the airport from March. From then on, all staff members will also be able to choose gender-neutral outfits.
"These uniforms perfectly embody everything Brussels Airlines stands for: Belgitude, a platform for young talent, sustainability, and inclusion. I am happy to see the result and cannot wait to see these uniforms live at the airport and on-board our aircraft," said Tilman Reinshagen, COO of Brussels Airlines.
Hair and make-up, ties and turtlenecks
The update to the airline's style guide aims to make everyone feel at home when they are at work. These new guidelines should contribute to better well-being at work of all uniformed staff members by making them feel comfortable wearing the uniform.
From now on, guidelines for hair, makeup and jewellery will no longer be different for men and women. For make-up and nail polish, for example, certain styles and colour palettes need to be followed – regardless of the gender of the employee. Previously, make-up was forbidden for men and mandatory for women. From now on, it will no longer be mandatory for women but optional for everyone (including men).
Credit: Brussels Airlines
There will no longer be a difference in gender for the hairstyle either: men were previously not allowed to have longer than shoulder-length hairstyles, but this rule is now scrapped. Anyone whose hair touches their shoulders, however, needs to tie it up or wear it in a bun for safety.
Additionally, tattoos are allowed to be visible as well, as long as they comply with certain rules, such as the position, the size and what the tattoo represents.
Credit: Brussels Airlines
The new uniforms are also giving staff the option of choosing gender-neutral options, such as a turtleneck sweater or sneakers. The 'manbag' is disappearing as well; all employees will be able to choose from the same line of bags. Additionally, men will no longer be required to wear a tie but may also wear a scarf, which was previously reserved for female staff only. Conversely, women can now also opt to wear a tie, if they prefer.
The new uniforms are dark navy blue with champagne-colored details. The collection is inspired by glamorous airline uniforms from the sixties, resulting in contemporary yet timeless silhouettes, hence the introduction of the turtleneck and the A-line dress, said Gabrielle Szwarcenberg, a young designer from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp.
Credit: Brussels Airlines
"I wanted the design to be elegant and sophisticated while prioritising the staff’s performance and comfort," she said. "That is why we introduce items like turtlenecks or sneakers, to make everyone comfortable. Throughout the design, you will also find subtle references to Belgian icons, such as the Atomium on the scarfs and on the inner lining of the blazers."
The more inclusive uniforms and style guide tie into the increasingly gender-neutral approach of the Lufthansa group, which includes Brussels Airlines. In 2021, the group also announced that they would no longer greet passengers with "ladies and gentlemen," but instead use more inclusive greetings such as "dear passengers," "welcome on board" or just "good morning/evening."
