In-flight fashion show celebrates Southwest’s new uniforms

One day next June — the exact date is not yet set — all Southwest employees will show up for work wearing the new uniforms that a specially selected group of their colleagues designed.

While not yet officially in the sky, the uniform collection was shown off in a recent in-flight fashion show during a delivery flight from Everett, Wash., to Dallas.

During the flight, employee-models walked down the aircraft “runway” to DJ-spun music onboard a Boeing 737-800 aircraft sporting the carrier’s new “Heart” interior and the new employee-designed galley.

That aircraft was the seventh aircraft delivered from Boeing in this configuration, but the first on which the complete collection of new uniforms was on display.

The new uniforms incorporate Southwest’s Bold Blue and Signature Red brand colors and were designed by a committee of 43 employees from across the company, including Ground Ops, Inflight, Provisioning, Technical Operations and Cargo. Southwest said 120 employees across 37 cities then tested the pieces for fit and comfort, performance and functionality, durability, aesthetics, style and ease of care.

"Our energetic Employees are the Heart of our airline, and they were the perfect choice to design and develop our new look," said Sonya Lacore, Vice President Cabin Services and Executive Sponsor of the uniform redesign project, in a statement. "Our brand, our planes, and our People are bold and modern, and the new uniform represents who our Employees are — spirited, professional, unique, and approachable."

Harriet Baskas is a Seattle-based airports and aviation writer and USA TODAY Travel's "At the Airport" columnist. She occasionally contributes to Ben Mutzabaugh's Today in the Sky blog. Follow her at twitter.com/hbaskas.