General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

9

AKA

Jacket, uniform

Patents

N/A

General Description

Wool woven fibers; possibly synthetic fibers; plastic buttons.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

73.5 cm

Width

62.0 cm

Height

N/A

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Aviation

Category

Clothing

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Unknown

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Unknown

Period

From 2005 to 2018.

Canada

Air Canada was originally called Trans Canada Airlines and was formed by the Canadian National Railways. The company launched its first flight on September 1, 1937, between Vancouver and Seattle. It has been Canada’s national airline since the mid-twentieth century. On January 1, 1965, its name was changed to Air Canada. In 2004, as part of a large-scale rebranding, Air Canada introduced a new design and colour scheme for the airplanes, new on-board entertainment systems, lie-flat seats, and a new uniform. Air Canada retired its large 747s and purchased smaller jets that used less fuel and would be easier to fill. This new image accompanied the airline’s restructuration after having filed for bankruptcy protection in 2003. This is an example of a flight attendant uniform worn by an employee of Air Canada. It was issued in 2005 and its variations were designed by Debbie Shuchat. Celine Dion launched the new brand with a performance of the song “You and I”. All front-line staff wears the same basic uniforms with scarves, ties, or brevets denoting different ranks or jobs. Customer services agents and flight attendants wear a red scarf while in-flight service managers, service directors, customer service managers, and lead customer service agents wear a blue scarf. Concierges – cabin crew on business class and first class – wear a silver/grey scarf. The full uniform for female flight attendants and service directors offers a few options: the jacket and the scarf can be worn with a dress, belted trousers, or a skirt, with a choice of a long or short sleeve blouse if applicable. Cabin crew working in economy class are allowed to wear a short sleeve shell and a light or heavy cardigan. This full uniform has to be worn in the airport and during boarding, safety demonstrations, taxiing, takeoff, landing, deplaning, and emergency situations. The uniform has a number of additional components: an all-weather coat, a topper coat, a parka, a winter scarf, gloves, a maternity blouse, three pieces of luggage, and two types of purses. A special scarf was worn during the 2010 Winter Olympic games, which Air Canada sponsored.

Function

To identify the wearer as an Air Canada flight attendant.

Technical

This uniform has many features that suggest it was designed to be functional, as well as stylish. Most parts of the uniform can be machine washed and dried. The skirt and the dress are both quite long but feature back slits, which make it easier for the wearer to move about. The shirt is long enough that it will remain tucked if the wearer has to reach up into the overhead compartment. A flight attendant might work in a variety of environments from day to day as well as over the course of one day. The range of clothing options allows the wearer to tailor her dress to suit the destination of the flight or to add or remove layers during the day. The options also recognize that different flight attendants will be comfortable in different types of clothes and that women have different body types suited to different styles.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Lettering on label inside of collar reads: “MADE IN POLAND/FABRIQUE EN POLOGNE/DRY CLEAN ONLY//NETTOYAGE A SEC SUELEMENT/CA 50474”; lettering on label on inside of right breast panel reads: “AIR CANADA/Made Exclusively by /Fabrique Exclusivement pas/vf TM VF Imagewear, Inc.”; lettering on label on inside of right breast panel reads: “4 R”; lettering on label inside of pocket on right breast panel reads: “STYLE AD 4322/PO 74920670/100% WOOL/LAINE/MADE I POLAND/FABRIQUE EN POLOGNE/DRY CLEAN ONLY/NETTOYAGE A SEC/SEULEMENT/CA 50474”; lettering on label attached to label inside of collar reads: “Cust: HELLER/4-19065/MON, SUIT/LINED, NAVY”.

Missing

The artifact appears complete.

Finish

Predominantly dark blue with same color embroidered buttonholes and visible stitching; black buttons and lining; red embroidery; blue and black labels with white lettering; white and blue dry-cleaning tag.

Decoration

Air Canada maple leaf in circle logo embroidered on proper front right pocket, embroidered as part of a pattern on the lining fabric, and on label inside of proper front right breast panel.