Changing faces of a highflyer

ESTHER Sapulai was a determined 16-year-old Manus lass when she joined Air Niugini as a flight attendant in 1975, our independence year.
Back then, the uniform for the flight crew was not the familiar colours of aquamarine blue and green and decorated with butterflies and starfishes.
On Monday night in Port Moresby, almost 20 years after the last uniform change, Sapulai, 51, from Pam Island, Manus south coast, joined her fellow flight attendants to showcase their new look – complete in the purple and gold colours of Air Niugini and lined with the Bird of Paradise hyacinth plant that gave vibrancy and colour to the corporate look.
Sapulai is now check and trainer (purser) on the Boeing aircraft.
State Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare, who officially launched the new-look, presented Esther with a bouquet to celebrate her long service to Air Niugini.
Chief executive officer Wasantha Kumarasiri stated that the range of uniforms, for the cabin crew and later for the ground and office staff, is part of the changes that Air Niugini is currently experiencing in the growth and development of the airline.
The development of the new uniforms was undertaken by two international designers, Susan Inman of Imperial Agencies and Cario Lim of Efanzine Clothing Lab, both based in China.
It took more than four months to develop the uniforms with input from the Air Niugini board, management, staff and, most importantly, the cabin crew.
Kumarasiri said the vision and aim of this new range of corporate clothing was to utilise many aspects from the rich and vibrant PNG heritage, culture and lifestyle depicted in varying degrees and designs of the attire.
He explained that the objective was for the uniform to be easily recognisable, instilling pride and passion throughout the workforce, the aviation industry and the public.
Sapulai and her fellow flight attendants modelled the uniforms, which consist of pant-suits and skirt-suits in purple or gold and teamed with black, lined with the hyacinth colours or a mixed green theme at the hem and inside the jackets with a gold Bird of Paradise on their lapels.
Accessories included scarves, trench coats, umbrellas, bags, suitcases and aprons and also work to separate junior staff from their seniors.