Runway Fashion Reveal: Riyadh Air Unveils New Uniforms in Paris

Riyadh Air, the emerging Saudi national airline, unveiled its new employee uniforms at the prestigious Haute Couture Week in Paris. This debut featured 15 distinctive looks designed by acclaimed Saudi fashion designer Mohammed Ashi, founder of the Paris-based couture house ASHI STUDIO.

The new uniforms for Riyadh Air’s cabin crew and front-line team members emphasize refinement and luxury. The collection includes ten female and five male looks, which were showcased by models on the Parisian runway. The uniforms will be worn by the carrier's flight attendants, pilots, airport agents, and concierges, marking a significant step in building Riyadh Air's brand.

Riyadh Air's CEO, Tony Douglas, highlighted the importance of this event, stating, "This has been a landmark occasion for Riyadh Air, and it shows just how far we’ve come in a short space of time. For a start-up airline to be showcasing our new fashion collection during Haute Couture Week in Paris shows what an impact Riyadh Air is having globally."

The uniforms draw inspiration from 1950s fashion and feature a deep purple color scheme. The women's collection showcases a lighter 'Electric Amethyst' theme, while the men's range features a 'Dark Amethyst' look. Ashi, who spent around six months perfecting the hues, incorporated key elements of the Riyadh Air brand, such as the iconic canopy twist in its logo.

The collection includes luxurious pieces like cashmere outerwear, pillbox hats, fine wool trousers and dresses, and amethyst earrings designed to match the airline's forthcoming cabin interior. Riyadh Air staff will have a variety of fashionable options to suit different seasons, with more concepts set to be revealed next year.

Mohammed Ashi expressed his vision for the collection, saying, "There is a practicality aspect of the fashion line that means it’s easy and comfortable to wear. We wanted to have the theme of the collection to pay homage to the golden age of aviation, so I took that literally and went back to the 1950s when luxury aviation was at its peak. What we’ve done here is modernized the lines and pushed them to be more relevant but with the glamour of the golden era."

Riyadh Air is on track to launch operations in the summer of 2025. The airline has already hired instructor pilots to train its new workforce and plans to begin certification flights in September. The fleet will consist of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, with orders for over 70 planes, and an undisclosed narrowbody aircraft, signaling the carrier's ambitious growth strategy.