Designer revamps days of crackers and cheese

Zambesi designer Elisabeth Findlay puts the finishing touches on the uniform. Picture / Martin Sykes

Well-upholstered?

Zambesi designer Elisabeth Findlay hopes so. She has produced an airline uniform fashioned from 1970s Air New Zealand garb and seat fabric.

The uniform, worn by Penny from 62 Models, was commissioned by Air New Zealand as an exhibition piece for the WearableArt show to be held in Wellington next month.

Findlay, who is designing a new uniform for Air NZ staff, named the ensemble Kakariki (Maori for green).

The bolero jacket recycles fabric that once covered seats on planes and the collar uses the rim of an old uniform hat.

The epaulettes are 1970s originals, as are the buttons threaded on to the teal ribbons around the model's neck.

The pillbox hat follows the design of a hat stewardesses wore in the 1960s.

Zambesi will unveil Air NZ's new uniform on October 16. Flight crew will begin wearing it in March or April.

The Montana World of WearableArt Awards will be held from September 23 to October 2.

The event attracts more than 300 entries and offers more than $100,000 in prizemoney.