After an extensive development and design phase spanning over a year and a half, Delta Air Lines is offering its employees a first look at the prototype collection for their all-new, contemporary, and distinctly Delta uniforms. This initiative prioritizes feedback from the airline’s 70,000 uniformed staff members, including airport customer service agents, cargo agents, flight attendants, ground equipment mechanics, and aircraft technicians, placing their insights at the heart of the design journey.
Since 2022, Delta has been collaborating with GPS Apparel by Gap Inc. to bring this fresh uniform prototype collection to fruition. Partnering with Gap Inc., a renowned and purpose-driven company boasting a diverse portfolio of globally recognized brands like Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta, enables Delta to harness over 50 years of product and design expertise within the apparel industry, alongside their robust platform and comprehensive sourcing capabilities. The collaboration involved extensive engagement with Delta employees. Through job shadowing, dedicated focus groups, detailed surveys, and in-depth interviews, the Gap Inc. team gathered feedback from over 20,000 employees regarding their preferences for future uniform designs. This valuable feedback is now directly informing the creation of prototypes that aim for a balance of comfort and sophistication, modernity and durability, and above all, practical functionality tailored to the demanding roles within Delta Air Lines.
The color palette of the uniform prototypes is rooted in deep navy blues and rich burgundy shades, punctuated by accents of vibrant red and crisp white. This represents a deliberate return to a more classic color scheme, drawing inspiration from Delta’s established brand identity and rich heritage. With a strong emphasis on ease of movement, breathability to ensure comfort in various climates, inclusive fit options to cater to diverse body types, durability to withstand the rigors of daily airline operations, and distinct design elements that speak to the Delta brand, the collection strives to present a cohesive and elevated aesthetic. Importantly, it also offers employees the flexibility to select from a range of different looks and styles within the uniform program, acknowledging individual preferences and job requirements. The garments are constructed from OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100-certified fabrics and components, underscoring a commitment to quality and safety. Each piece is purpose-built for specific divisions and roles within Delta, incorporating functional features designed to support employees in performing their duties efficiently and to foster a sense of pride in wearing their Delta uniform.
Further celebrating Delta’s brand identity and storied history, the designers have subtly and overtly integrated the iconic widget logo throughout the uniform collection. The widget, initially introduced in 1959 and prominently featured on the tails of Delta aircraft, is a powerful symbol representing the very spirit and culture of Delta Air Lines. Its design encapsulates key values: the flat base symbolizes the airline’s solid and dependable foundation, while the upward-pointing top portion serves as a constant reminder to embody the company motto, “keep climbing,” striving for continuous improvement and progress.
The comprehensive process of outfitting Delta’s extensive workforce with entirely new uniforms is anticipated to be a phased undertaking. Delta will initiate extensive wear testing for each individual uniform garment starting later this fall. This crucial phase will provide Delta employees with a valuable opportunity to further influence the fit, form, and overall function of the new collection, ensuring the final uniforms meet their practical needs and comfort expectations. The full-scale rollout of the new uniform pieces across all Delta workgroups is projected to occur over the next few years, reflecting the scale and complexity of this significant uniform program evolution.
“Delta has tens of thousands of uniformed employees, each with unique needs and preferences,” stated Ranjan Goswami, SVP of Customer Experience Design at Delta Air Lines. “This diversity means that any evolution of the uniform program necessitates a careful and deliberate approach to ensure we get it right. We are deeply committed to utilizing this time to actively listen to our employees, learn from their experiences, and iterate on the designs as we progress towards a new uniform look. Ultimately, we aim for a uniform collection that genuinely reflects and celebrates who we are as Delta Air Lines, embodying our values and our people.”
