Shaheen new religious look uniforms

[LUNN]

Not sure if these are for F/As but considering they appear in cabin crew recruitment advert they just might be, initially these were rolled out for ground staff only. With this un-Pakistani look they even out do Saudia and Iran Air uniforms, which are conservative but not this un-uniform like, very surprised by this development.

http://www.shaheenair.com/sai-web/dynamic-images/1395398168.Air-HostessAdd1.jpg

Shaheen owners are half-white Canadians by the way, also Shaheen Air aircraft sport a religious saying painted near nose in Arabic.

Their former uniform

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ifuPm76p81w/Uh9wGIWEYXI/AAAAAAAAAIk/qNYDoeVMabo/s1600/shaheen+air.jpg

[AA 1818]

...initially these were rolled out for ground staff only.

Ok, I am all for 'cultural sensativity' as much as the any other Liberal out there, but this abysmal for ground-crew to be required to wear. I wonder if perhaps they will be found to be rather impractical for the use and abandoned. I just saw the 'old uniform' and that is quite a gorgeous uniform, much less to abandon.

With this un-Pakistani look they even out do Saudia and Iran Air uniforms, which are conservative but not this un-uniform like, very surprised by this development.

So, what is this airline and (as with the PIA make-over) Pakistan trying to portray to the World? Is the nation trying to show that it is the most conservative Islamic nation in the World? Or, is Shaheen trying to capture a more conservative market? Are there local laws regarding how airlines can or should dress their crews in Pakistan? Also, if they wanted to expand regionally (to Afghanistan, where it is , would a more "conservative" look bode well financially?

To add:

This is Iran Air's:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vikingaviationphoto/6899944108/

...and Ariana's:

http://www.trdefence.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/afghan-airlines-ariana.jpg

P.S. To be snarky - is that Blue Velvet?

[Highkeas]

I hope flame resistant cloth is used for these uniforms.

[LUNN]

No idea what they are trying to portray, like I said this is a private airline run by very wealthy half-Canadians, there are no rules for uniform in Pakistan that I know of, maybe just skirts are barred or overly masculine attire, like a mans suit and tie are not allowed. Also no requirements for a uniform style for any specific routes, even with their previous uniform Shaheen were serving Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The Iran Air uniform is also worn without that hat and they expose the front hairline too http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g3...ps2c27af47.jpg

Ariana have a western uniform at 0.34 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=368nGbjUN74 another with vest and scarf worn western style, no head covering at 0.08 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXDCsSPsiUc

Saudia http://www.daily-sun.com/admin/news_...523_117145.jpg

[LUNN]

Apparently the cover up is only worn during transport between hotel and airport, not that its required in Pakistan, quite strange to promote it in an advertisement hiring crew.

[LUNN]

Saudi LCC flynas uniform, no sign of anything conservative anywhere http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...85608755_n.jpg

and full length http://english.alarabiya.net/en/busi...rope-Asia.html

[AA 1818]

Apparently the cover up is only worn during transport between hotel and airport, not that its required in Pakistan, quite strange to promote it in an advertisement hiring crew.

Is it a requirement anywhere?

[AA 1818]

Saudi LCC flynas uniform, no sign of anything conservative anywhere http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...85608755_n.jpg

and full length http://english.alarabiya.net/en/busi...rope-Asia.html

...well pants - I guess it's conservative - but you're right. No hijab (not even a sign of it - EK has it on their uniforms), no abaya, not even an 'abaya-ized' uniform. Quite professional based on a western look - made all the more interesting because it's coming from conservative Saudi Arabia! What market is Shaheen going after here, and more importantly - what is going on in Pakistan that they think that they need to respond to it this way. Is the nation really becoming much more conservative than it has been in the preceding decades?

[LUNN]

To me anything western is unconservative even if it covers fully, as for Pakistan, its a confusing place, there is not such requirement anywhere to dress in a religious way, yet this imposed by an airline is a first in the country's history.

If you watch local TV you would think its India, with lots of Indian channels plus local shows promoting liberal values, the fashion scene in particular is pushing the envelope more but that's catering to a certain group.