PIA cabin crew uniforms will carry a new look from October 31, when crew members begin wearing designs by fashion designer Hassan Sheheryar Yasin, known as HSY. Pakistan International Airlines unveiled the collection on Thursday, October 22, choosing his work from among entries by some of the country’s best-known designers.
Details of the New PIA Cabin Crew Uniforms
According to a press release cited by Dawn, the uniforms are engineered for long-haul durability and ergonomic movement, using soft, breathable fabrics and structured tailoring. Other reports on the launch say the designs draw on Pakistani textile traditions and craftsmanship while keeping a modern, professional silhouette suited to international service.
PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan said the collection marks a stylish step forward in the airline’s ongoing transformation, with passenger comfort and crew pride at its centre, as reported by The Express Tribune. The airline described the project on social media as bringing runway glamour back to the skies.
A Debut Aboard the Dreamliner
The new uniforms will enter service on October 31, starting with the inaugural flight of PIA’s newly acquired Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner from London to Islamabad. The airline has not provided details of how quickly the uniforms will be rolled out across its wider crew, according to Daily Times.
The launch is linked to a broader effort to refresh the airline’s image under its consortium-led new management, as described in several reports. The uniforms are one visible element of that effort rather than a change to operations.
How HSY Was Selected
The airline chose the winning designs after a competitive showcase in Karachi. Dawn Images reported that collections were presented by Maheen Khan, Deepak and Fahad, Generation, Ismail Farid, Munib Nawaz, Deepak Perwani, Faraz Manan, Amir Adnan and Nomi Ansari, alongside HSY. Mr. Ansari’s designs had been used by PIA for the last 12 years.
The entries were evaluated by a panel that included Shamoon Sultan, founder and chief executive of Khaadi; couturier Nilofer Shahid of House of Meeras; style figure Nabila; Hina Tayyaba Khalil, vice-chancellor of the Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design; and Naseem Tehrani, a PIA aviation veteran of 33 years.
The Designer’s Vision
Mr. Yasin said designing for the national flag carrier was about capturing collective pride and the warmth of Pakistani hospitality. He said the aim was for crew members to feel confident and comfortable in their outfits, and for the designs to respect heritage, reflect modern fashion and tell the country’s story at airports around the world.
A Long Tradition of Designer Uniforms
Mr. Yasin joins a distinguished list of designers who have dressed PIA’s crew. In 1966, French designer Pierre Cardin created the airline’s well-known A-line tunic and hood, which PIA says helped define aviation chic worldwide. In the 1970s, Sir Hardy Amies, a royal couturier to the late Queen Elizabeth II, added to that legacy.
The tradition has made PIA’s uniforms a topic of public interest at each redesign, and the latest collection is no exception.
Public Reaction
Reader comments on the Dawn Images report were mixed. Some praised the design as elegant and well matched to the national colours, and others welcomed the choice of a Pakistani designer. Several commenters, however, argued that the airline should prioritise service quality and aircraft interiors, and a few raised practical questions about sleeves, scarves and long-haul comfort. These comments are individual views and not a measure of broader opinion.
What Comes Next
The first real test for the PIA cabin crew uniforms will come on October 31, when passengers on the London flight see them in use. Whether the design delivers the practicality promised for long-haul work will become clearer as crew wear it in service, and whether it lifts the airline’s image will depend largely on the experience passengers have on board. For now, the new collection signals PIA’s intent to project a fresh identity, anchored in Pakistani fashion, as it brings its new aircraft into service.
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