Air New Zealand's future uniform
Our uniform is worn with pride by more than 5,000 people every day. It represents who we are, our people, our airline, and our country. With that in mind, we set about finding a design partner who is the perfect fit to bring our future uniform to life.
Meet Emilia Wickstead
We're thrilled to have Emilia Wickstead on board to design our future uniform. Emilia Wickstead's designs are creative, unique, and will set Air New Zealand apart on the global stage. Her ability to create modern yet timeless pieces perfectly fits with our vision, creating a uniform that our people can wear with pride now and into the future.
Born in New Zealand and raised in the suburbs of Auckland, Emilia's early love for design was inspired by her mother, who ran her own made-to-measure fashion business. At fourteen Emilia moved to Italy where she became mesmerised with the world of luxury fashion.
After studying fashion design and marketing at Central Saint Martins, Emilia launched her career in New York at American Vogue and at fashion houses Narciso Rodriguez and Proenza Schouler. In 2008, she returned to London where she started her business at age 24 with just 5,000 pounds creating made-to-measure pieces from her flat. Since then, her brand has been on a trajectory for success, growing her business to become a successful global brand with some of the world's most high-profile customers.
Known for her use of colour and exacting craftsmanship, Emilia Wickstead's designs effortlessly combine tradition with refined silhouettes and contemporary twists to create timeless, elegant clothing with a clear point of distinction.
Introducing Te Rangitu Netana
The design of our uniform is a story of collaboration. Emilia has worked with Te Rangitu, a renowned tā moko artist, to create our unique print designs. With over 35 years of experience, Te Rangitu is widely recognised for his mastery of Māori tattoo artistry.
His unique approach blends artistic expertise with cultural storytelling, making him the perfect fit to collaborate with Emilia Wickstead to design the prints for the Air New Zealand uniform.
Te Rangitu's stunning hand-drawn prints, rooted in Māori culture, will be worn by our crew worldwide in 2026, blending artistry with storytelling. This partnership reflects Air New Zealand's commitment to celebrating Aotearoa's heritage, mana, and empowerment.
As Kiwi living in the UK, Te Rangitu and Emilia were well-acquainted with one another and held a profound mutual respect for each other's artistry and craftsmanship. Their shared experience of being far from home further strengthened their bond, making their collaboration feel effortless. This deep connection paved the way for a creative partnership that has produced powerful designs.