HSY to design PIA's new cabin crew uniforms, debuting on October 31

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has chosen couturier Hassan Sheheryar Yasin, known as HSY, to design new uniforms for its cabin crew, with the collection set to debut on October 31, the airline announced on Thursday, The Express Tribune reported.

The new look, chosen after a design competition, will make its first appearance on PIA’s inaugural Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flight from London to Islamabad on October 31, part of the airline’s efforts to refresh its image under its new consortium-led management.

“Runway glamour back to the skies”

“The collection marks a stylish leap forward in PIA’s ongoing transformation,” PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan said, adding that the designs would bring a contemporary look while keeping passenger comfort and crew pride at the forefront.

In a post on X, PIA said it was “bringing runway glamour back to the skies”.

Explaining his approach, HSY said: “Designing for our national flag carrier is about capturing our collective pride and the genuine warmth of Pakistani hospitality.”

“We wanted uniforms that our crew feels extraordinarily confident and comfortable in, apparel that respects our heritage, reflects modern fashion, and tells our story beautifully in every airport across the globe,” he said.

The airline first hinted at the change in September, posting on X that its current look had “lasted a decade” and that “tradition dictates, it’s time for a change”.

The designs

According to PIA:

• the uniforms use breathable fabrics, ergonomic construction and structured tailoring to balance durability with a refined look
• the colours and details draw on Pakistani craftsmanship while keeping the practical features airline uniforms need
• HSY’s design was chosen after a competitive showcase in Karachi, where 10 leading Pakistani designers presented concepts to a jury of fashion figures and industry representatives

A fashion legacy in the air

PIA has a long history with famous designers:

Era	Designer
1966	Pierre Cardin, the French designer who created PIA’s pioneering A-line tunic and hood
1970s	Sir Hardy Amies, royal couturier to Queen Elizabeth II
Last 12 years	Nomi Ansari’s uniform designs
From October 31, 2026	HSY

HSY is one of Pakistan’s best-known fashion designers, with an international profile built on couture, celebrity styling and appearances on global fashion platforms. The appointment brings one of the biggest names in Pakistani couture into the national carrier’s efforts to reshape its image, while drawing on a fashion history that has linked PIA with internationally known designers for decades, the Tribune noted.

A new chapter for PIA

The uniforms are part of a wider refresh at the airline since its privatisation, which the World Bank listed this week among the reforms that could help triple Pakistan’s incomes by 2050. PIA has been rebuilding its international network. Earlier this month it signed a partnership agreement with Norse Atlantic Airways to lease Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, according to its posts on X.

PIA’s spokesperson said the launch would introduce the airline’s refreshed visual identity to passengers, in what the airline described as a new chapter of comfort, sophistication and national pride.