New Garuda Indonesia uniform 2026: this is what changed

The cabin crew of Garuda Indonesia have received a new uniform. And in 2026, it was about time, as it has been sixteen years since the last update. In this article, I’ll show you what they have been wearing since 2010 and what the new Garuda Indonesia uniform looks like.

Prefer watching instead of reading?
In the video below, I take a closer look at the new Garuda Indonesia uniform and explain the meaning behind its colours, batik and accessories.

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Garuda Indonesia uniform 2010

The airline is known for its colourful kebaya uniforms. The kebaya is a traditional garment that originates from Indonesia, where it has been worn since the 15th century. But nowadays, you can also see it in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, southern Thailand, Cambodia and the southern part of the Philippines.

In 2010, Garuda Indonesia introduced a uniform collection consisting of several colours, all of which have their own meaning.

• Orange represents warmth, friendliness and energy.
• Blue represents reliability, authority and calmness.
• Turquoise represents sophistication and tropical freshness.
• Purple represents elegance, creativity and inspiration (this colour was added in 2013).

The blue kebaya is only worn by the person in charge on board. The purple, turquoise and orange versions are worn by junior and senior cabin crew.

New Garuda Indonesia uniform 2026

The new uniform was introduced on 14 August during the Bandung–Denpasar flight. As is tradition, the airline has once again chosen a kebaya. For the development of the new uniform, the company collaborated with Sarinah, which is known for supporting local artisans and helping them reach a wider audience.

Just like with the previous uniform, you can see the craftsmanship in the batik motif. Indonesian batik is a traditional textile art and dyeing technique. Artisans apply wax to the fabric before dyeing it. After removing the wax, a unique pattern remains.

For the batik motif, Garuda Indonesia collaborated with Josephine Komara. The Indonesian textile designer works under the name O’bin and is also referred to as a ‘national treasure’ in the country. She is loved for her promotion of traditional Indonesian batik techniques. The airline also collaborated with Komara for the 2010 collection.

In terms of appearance, the uniform has largely remained the same, but Komara has added new details and colours. This time, the textile designer also incorporated shades of brown into the batik motif. According to Komara, she took inspiration from the fertile soil, tropical forests, Indonesia’s natural wealth and its history of spices.

Komara also incorporated the traditional lereng motif into the batik design. According to Garuda Indonesia, the flowing diagonal lines symbolise a journey in which you continue moving forward without losing your roots.

Colourful scarves for Garuda Indonesia

Another striking detail is the colourful scarves. Garuda Indonesia took inspiration from Indonesia’s tropical skies and seas for the blue and turquoise scarves. The red scarf represents courage, while the white one represents sincerity. These are also the colours of the Indonesian flag.

According to Garuda Indonesia, the latter two values correspond with the role of cabin crew. Providing service and ensuring safety are, after all, important duties on board.

Brooches and earrings for cabin crew

For the accessories, Sarinah collaborated with six local artisans from Gianyar, Bali. The artisans handmade the earrings and brooches using a traditional craft technique. They used white mother of pearl from freshwater aquaculture, as well as red coral, turquoise and ultramarine blue lapis lazuli. The company emphasises that they took the ecosystem into consideration when selecting these materials.

The brooch features the Bun-bunan motif, which is inspired by plant vines. It represents life growing together in harmony.

Garuda’s ode to culture

I think it is a very distinctive and striking uniform. The colours, fit, accessories and prints are all very unique. Although kebayas are worn more often in the aviation industry (such as at Malaysia Airlines), the company has truly taken inspiration from its own culture. I also think it is good that they involved local entrepreneurs in the production of the accessories. This ensures that the uniform is not only a calling card for the country, but that the country itself also benefits economically.

When I look at the complete picture, it looks like a colourful whole. But when you look at the uniforms individually, they can sometimes appear a little chaotic. Some of the uniforms use so many different colours that you almost don’t know where to look.

On the other hand, I would rather see a colourful uniform with references to the culture than yet another flight attendant in a dark blue suit. A uniform should be a calling card for the country, and in my opinion, Garuda has succeeded in doing just that.

Want to read more about new uniforms in the aviation industry? Also take a look at:

• Air Dolomiti presents new uniform
• Croatia Airlines introduces new cabin crew uniform
• This is the new Air India uniform

Best,

Aileen