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No, this isn’t some snarky The Takeoff Nap post.
Delta Air Lines now requires its flight attendants to wear official uniforms designated by the Atlanta-based carrier.
You may remember that Delta issued new uniform styles created by fashion designer Zac Posen several years ago. (You’re probably familiar with the purple-ish uniforms, which were dubbed “Passport Plum.”)
But problems with the new threads presented themselves almost immediately. We heard from Delta sources that the Lands End-manufactured clothes weren’t as good as the Richard Tyler-designed unis that preceded them.
And we heard horror stories about thousands of flight attendants experiencing allergic reactions to the uniforms themselves.
One of the more jarring reports came from a commenter known as “Helen12”:
Just flew my last trip in purple and I’m hoping my hair comes back and the rashes and hives will stop. For y’all to say that it’s (only 1,000 affected flight attendants) is really disappointing and devaluing FAs health concerns. There’s been purple breast milk, purple pus from a cyst that had to be surgically removed, purple snot… the list goes on. These uniforms are poison and some of us have reached our toxic threshold while others it may take a bit more time, but if we stay in the purple, it WILL be reached.
After that mess started, Delta allowed its flight attendants to dress in black and white clothes the FA provided themselves, if they opted to not wear the Passport Plum uniforms.
Well, that all officially came to an end this past Monday, May 2.
Those who don’t want to wear the purple uniforms now have another option: a gray ensemble. (What, no snappy title like, “Globetrotting Gray”? 😉 )
Kelly Yamanouchi of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes, “The airline said its new gray uniforms have received a textile industry certification known as OEKO-TEX and are certified to be free from harmful substances.”
I’m no textile expert nor do I work for Delta. But I’m curious if the Passport Plum uniforms received the same certification. If not, why?
Delta (and other airline, for that matter) employees who read the blog: what do you think of the new uniforms requirement? Delta folks: have you noticed any problems — quality or health-wise — with the new threads?
Please share your thoughts in the below Comments section.
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I unwittingly wore the “passport plum uniform for 3+ years (prior to covid mess that began in March 2020. Because I was at an age that was considered covid “high risk”the company was very accommodating in putting all of us 65+ on a paid leave. I never had any outward physical problems from the uniform, but after going on leave I was diagnosed with a small encapsulated tumor in my pancreatic duct. Fortunately it was resectable and my survival rate is extremely good.
@Pamela –
I am so sorry to hear about your tumor and very happy that your survival rate is extremely good.
Are you implying that you believe that the plum uniform was the cause of your tumor?
I had welts, burn marks from the Passport Purple. I am now wearing the Gray but not without itching, scratching. Unfortunately, for the F/a group, if you cannot wear the gray ( or purple), you cannot fly, you’re placed in a category they’re calling an “ accommodation”, which is unpaid leave.
Starting 3 or 4 years ago, the all-black uniforms were just an excuse by flight attendants who wanted to unionize to visibly protest Delta. Interestingly, none of the captains and first officers had uniform issues because they are already unionized. I’m on DEN-CIN right now. Lead flight attendant is wearing gray and has her AFA union pin on.
sad the unions want it all!! Higher prices to fly, strikes great stuff nOT
Grey Uniform is still made in the same facility under the same practices as the purple uniform. The OEKO-TEX certification is all marketing… When I personally try to use my OEKO TEX registration number, it is not visibly and says that the file is under review. I’ve been extremely sick with the gray uniform, and I’m currently under unpaid medical leave… it’s absolutely a lie that there is an accommodation. It’s either shut up and wear the uniform (and continue to get sick) or be on unpaid medical leave. So now there is no solution for delta flight attendants in the ongoing uniform debacle.
Wow. Thanks for the update.