Australian fashion designer Peter Morrissey has failed to secure a spot on Qantas’s designer program, as the airliner prepares to revamp its uniforms.
Taking to Instagram, Morrissey said that Qantas denied his services despite numerous attempts.
“I even offered my services at no cost,” he shared on Instagram. “Regrettably, despite my numerous attempts, I was informed that my services were not desired.”
Morrissey helped design Qantas staff uniforms from 2003 to 2012, where he was then succeeded by Melbourne designer Martin Grant from 2013.
In the same Instagram post, Morrissey expressed his deep gratitude to all the Qantas staff who shared their love for his uniform back in the day.
“I also truly appreciate the unwavering support and belief you showed in my request to design the new uniform for Qantas,” he wrote.
“Your messages mean the world to me, and I am deeply disappointed because I would have cherished the opportunity to collaborate with you once again. Being a part of the Qantas family during my time as designer of the Morrissey Qantas uniform was a career highlight and an incredible honour.”
In late January this year, Qantas announced the launch of a major uniform redesign for the first time in over a decade, by searching for a new Australian designer to take on the design role.
Qantas has since begun surveying its uniformed workforce of more than 17,500 team members to assist in developing the new uniform.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said the redesign was the start of a new era for the airline and its people.
“We have ambitious plans for the future and transforming the way we reflect the brand is critical to that,” Hudson said. “Our uniform represents the Qantas spirit all over the world.
“Our people have loved wearing the current design, which was created by Martin Grant in 2013, and I want to thank him for his partnership over the course of the last decade.”
Alongside Morrissey and Grant, past designers of the uniform include Yves Saint Laurent, George Gross and Harry Who, and Emilio Pucci.
Qantas will now engage several Australian designers to review the requirements and undertake a selection process for what will become the eleventh uniform in its history.
The next uniform designer will be announced in the coming months with Qantas planning to debut the new design in 2027.
The new look will form part of the airline’s major fleet investments in the coming years with more than 100 aircraft on order across the Qantas Group over the next decade and significant investments being made in the current fleet.