This is a customer needing no introduction. The second largest budget airline in Europe, easyJet flies on more of Europe’s most popular routes than any other airline and carries 73 million passengers annually. Over 300 aircraft travel on more than 800 routes to over 154 airports across 31 countries, and with such mileage accumulated, a comfortable and hard-wearing uniform is a must. Tailored Image had the privilege of working with this prestigious client on providing a ground-breaking new sustainable uniform solution for its 14,000 pilots and cabin crew across the UK and mainland Europe.
Unlike many other uniform contracts where design is the primary concern, easyJet’s brief was entirely sustainability led; the challenge being to provide a sustainable uniform in keeping with the airline’s current design. Following intense collaboration with a mill specialising in innovative production techniques, Tailored Image provided a solution which converts 45 plastic bottles into the fabric required for each suit. Over the course of the 5 year contract, this uniform solution will prevent 2.7 million plastic bottles from reaching landfill or polluting our oceans. This innovative approach to uniform procurement is in keeping with the airline’s commitment to mitigate waste and search for sustainable change beyond carbon reduction.
Featuring unique high-tech material, this new uniform range was subject to extensive wearer trials which were successfully facilitated by Tailored Image. Feedback from the trials was extremely positive, with a consensus that the uniform provided greater freedom of movement through improved stretch in the fabric, was more comfortable, easier to wash and achieved a good fit for the wearer. Improved durability has also been achieved with the new range which will improve the longevity for the wearer, leading to less uniforms needing to be purchased in the long term and thus further improving sustainability in uniform procurement for easyJet.
Tailored Image’s Uniform Ordering System has a range of modern and intuitive features which has helped facilitate uniform orders for easyJet during challenging lockdown periods. These include a portal for staff to order their uniform online within their individually allocated points allowance and have it delivered to their home address, all across the UK and all European operating countries.
The online web application has been designed to be a fully responsive retail ‘look and feel’ experience – meaning orders can be placed with ease from mobile and tablet devices using an interface similar to many other online modern retailers. Should staff wish to purchase additional items they can do so using their own credit or debit card by placing a personal order. Returns can also be logged online and a unique returns authorisation number is generated which facilitates the tracking of the items through the returns process. easyJet staff are also able to view their order status, points transaction history, delivery tracking information and browse wearer guides and other useful information associated with their uniform.
One of the reasons cited by easyJet as to why Tailored Image was selected for this contract over stiff competition was the good ‘cultural fit’ and teamworking approach they experienced during many visits to Tailored Image. This, coupled with the demonstration of excellent innovative design, manufacturing and logistical ability, meant Tailored Image shone brightly above other suppliers.
