Her designs have been worn by royals, but now they’ll be taken to new heights as the Emilia Wickstead-designed Air New Zealand uniforms are revealed. At an event in Auckland on Thursday night, the new garments were unveiled with inspiration from New Zealand featuring heavily in the design. The dress, in a deep purple, features a kōwhai print symbolising protection, responsibility, and belonging. The shirt, designed to be worn by any cabin crew or ground staff, has purapura whetū, patterns which represent the stars and the people of a nation. An ie faitaga, a more formal version of a lavalava, has been added to the uniform to be trialled by Pasifika team members. “I think it was really important to think about everyone at Air New Zealand,” Wickstead told Stuff Travel. “My father is also Polynesian, so maybe instinct I didn't realise, but I think that we're thinking of a wide group of different individuals and making sure that everyone has something that they feel comfortable in that they want to wear.” A new waistcoat for male crew members either has a kākā feather print or a pepeha print. A trench coat with a purple pinstripe also makes up the collection. New designs for pilots included a pinstriped suit with a kiwi feather print lining, symbolising leadership and prestige. Wickstead said she wanted it to be like when someone puts on a korowai, a Māori cloak, and the mana they get when they wear it. Each print on the uniform has been hand-drawn by tā moko artist Te Rangitu Netana (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Wai and Te Arawa) and tells a story of the indigenous heritage, history and culture of Aotearoa and reflects Air NZ’s values.<br/>