PIA unveils new uniform designs in fashion showcase

Every flight starts with a greeting, and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is looking to give that first impression a fresh identity

ISLAMABAD:  Every flight starts with a greeting, and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is looking to give that first impression a fresh identity through a new generation of uniforms.

Earlier this month, the national airline organised the PIA New Uniform Design Showcase 2026, bringing together 10 leading Pakistani designers to present their concepts for the carrier’s future uniforms. PIA later shared highlights from the event on its social media platforms on Thursday.

The designs were evaluated by a panel comprising prominent names from Pakistan’s fashion and aviation industries. The jury included Shamoon Sultan, founder and CEO of Khaadi; veteran haute couture designer Nilofer Shahid, founder of House of Meeras; renowned beauty and style expert Nabila; Hina Tayyaba Khalil, vice-chancellor of the Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design (PIFD); and Naseem Tehrani, who has spent 33 years working in the aviation industry with PIA.

The showcase was organised and produced by Catwalk Productions under the direction of fashion industry pioneer Frieha Altaf. Journalist and television host Sidra Iqbal served as the event’s compere.

Explaining the purpose behind the initiative, Altaf said the PIA uniform has traditionally represented Pakistan’s national identity whenever the airline operates internationally. According to her, the latest showcase was designed to connect that longstanding identity with the practical requirements and contemporary visual standards of the global aviation industry.

The initiative also marked an important moment in PIA’s uniform history. The airline’s existing uniform was introduced in 2016 and was designed by Pakistani fashion designers Nomi Ansari and Sania Maskatiya. The collection featured a colour palette dominated by green, navy and maroon and has remained in service for the past decade.

The previous redesign was introduced on PIA’s Premier service to London and also emerged from a designer showcase aimed at giving the airline a more modern and fashionable appearance.

Ten years later, the process of reimagining PIA’s uniforms has begun once again.

Among the designers presenting their concepts was Adnan, whose collection offered a polished combination of deep forest green and soft grey-blue. The men’s designs included tailored jackets, formal trousers and patterned ties. For women, the collection featured fitted waistcoats paired with matching trousers, complemented by scarves and coordinated caps.

Perwani presented a more traditional and formal interpretation of the national carrier’s image. His men’s collection included sharply tailored two-piece suits in forest green and navy, with understated red detailing along the pockets and lapels. The women’s ensemble included a forest green jacket and trousers, paired with a printed silk scarf and burgundy beret.

Mannan’s designs largely centred on different shades of deep forest green, maintaining a strong connection with PIA’s established visual identity. One of the more distinctive pieces in his collection was a light-grey flight suit featuring contrasting white chest pockets.

The showcase reflects PIA’s effort to combine its historic national identity with contemporary fashion and functional aviation requirements as it considers the next chapter of its uniform design.