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After 15 years, it was definitely time for new uniforms at Air Greenland. And they’ve really thought it through. Because although the clothing may look simply professional at first glance, the airline has found a special way to incorporate Greenlandic culture into the new uniforms. In this article, I’ll show you both the old and the new collection.
Old Air Greenland uniforms
The old uniforms looked solid. The colours black, white and red may represent Air Greenland’s palette, but they’re not exactly unique. Many other airlines use the same colours and style.
Air Greenland gets new uniforms after 15 years
With the new uniforms, they stayed true to both the colour palette and the overall style. Still, they look different. All jackets are now red, giving the entire look a much stronger presence.
Staff can choose from both the women’s and the men’s clothing, something the company calls “gender flexible.” This is something we’ve been seeing more often in the airline industry in recent years. It seems like a conscious decision, but in reality, it’s also a way to comply with the law. You’re not allowed to force staff to choose a specific gender if there’s a clothing set available for both.
Wrist warmers for the staff
One of the most striking features of the uniform is the wrist warmers, which are handmade locally. This is something you almost never see in the airline industry, or in workwear in general. That makes it unique, but it also fits perfectly with Arctic and Greenlandic culture. The design is inspired by their national costume, which also includes patterned wrist warmers. The red dots refer to Air Greenland’s logo, and the pattern was inspired by ice stars.
It’s a lovely nod to the natural surroundings, since 80% of Greenland is covered in ice. And that also explains why wrist warmers are so popular, temperatures are usually very low, and warm clothing is essential.
Greenlandic birds
For the “wing,” the metal brooch worn by cabin crew, staff could choose what it would look like. They could pick between the raven, the tern, and the eagle. All birds commonly found in Greenland. The majority chose the eagle.
According to Air Greenland, “the eagle represents leadership, authority and perspective. It soars high and sees far, just like our employees in the air and on the ground. The design of the wing expresses strength, calm and professionalism, and serves as a shared visual signal of who we are and where we’re going. It is also a symbol of community, trust and responsibility.”
Staying close to the culture
In the end, it’s the details that make this uniform truly unique. But you have to look closely and see the crew up close. Because no matter how well thought out the designs are, from a distance they’re not very recognisable. The uniforms could easily be worn in a hotel or upscale restaurant. And that’s kind of a missed opportunity in an industry where visibility plays such a big role.
Best,
Aileen