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Every flight begins with a greeting and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is rewriting theirs.

At the PIA New Uniform Design Showcase 2026 earlier this month, 10 of Pakistan’s leading designers presented their visions for the national carrier’s future uniforms. PIA shared the video of the event across its social media accounts on Thursday.

The line-up read like a who’s who of Pakistani fashion — Maheen Khan, Deepak and Fahad, Generation, Ismail Farid, Munib Nawaz, Deepak Perwani, Faraz Manan, Amir Adnan, HSY and Nomi Ansari.

The collections were judged by a distinguished panel: Shamoon Sultan, the founder and CEO of Khaadi, Nilofer Shahid, the pioneering Pakistani haute couturier behind House of Meeras, Nabila, the beauty and style maven who has shaped Pakistan’s fashion industry for over four decades, Hina Tayyaba Khalil, vice-chancellor of the Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design (PIFD), and Naseem Tehrani, a 33-year PIA aviation veteran.

The showcase was produced and delivered by Catwalk Productions under the guidance of industry pioneer Frieha Altaf.

Speaking of the core idea behind the initiative, Altaf explained that the airline’s uniform has long served as a symbol of national identity whenever PIA aircraft cross international airspace. The 2026 showcase was “conceived as a bridge to align that historic legacy with the technical precision and modern aesthetic demanded by today’s global aviation standards”.

Journalist and television presenter Sidra Iqbal compered the event.

The moment had been a decade in the making. The airline’s current uniform was introduced in 2016, designed by Nomi Ansari and Sania Maskatiya, with a palette of green, navy and maroon. It has served the carrier for 10 years. The last redesign, which debuted on the PIA Premier service to London, was itself the product of a designer showcase.

That cycle began again this month.

Adnan’s vision presented a sophisticated range of uniforms in two distinct colourways: deep forest green and soft grey-blue. The men’s attire featured tailored jackets paired with crisp trousers and patterned ties, while the women wore fitted waistcoats over matching trousers, accessorised with elegant scarves and matching caps.

Perwani’s collection showcased uniforms in a refined, classic style. The men wore sharp two-piece suits — one in forest green and the other in navy — both featuring subtle red piping on the pockets and lapels. The outfit for women complemented this look with a forest green jacket and trousers with a patterned silk scarf and a burgundy beret.

Mannan’s vision mainly comprised shades of deep forest green. Though, one design stood out; a light grey flight suit, featuring white chest pockets.

For women’s uniforms, Generation went for deep forest green, paired with soft turquoise accents.

HSY went for a refined palette of deep navy, forest green and light grey. The standout was a navy double-breasted pilot’s suit with a peaked cap.

Farid’s collection revolved around men’s uniforms. It featured a professional palette dominated by crisp white and light blue shirts, paired with khaki, olive green and beige trousers. Each look was complete with dark sunglasses and leather shoes.

Farid also shared a behind-the-scenes glimpse into his work for the event.

“It was a privilege to be present, bringing my signature tailoring and contemporary design language to the future of PIA uniforms,” he wrote on Instagram.

Khan collaborated with Deepak and Fahad. This collection featured modern uniform designs in a sophisticated palette of forest green and beige and teal.

Later, in an Instagram post, Khan shared the vision behind her designs, adding it was “an absolute honour to have submitted our thoughts on the way forward for the PIA crew”.

Nawaz’s shades were in darker shades of green. Men wore tailored jackets and long coats with mandarin collars and gold buttons, while women sported fitted blazers with a hint of brown.

“It was an honour to present my vision across, contributing to the future look of our national airline,” Nawaz later wrote on Instagram.

For his showcase, Ansari opted for forest green, beige and white. Women wore tailored blazers, coats and trouser suits paired with patterned turquoise scarves and matching caps. Turquoise piping and golden buttons add a refined touch. The designs for men included forest green and beige suits, a mandarin-collar tunic and a white pilot’s shirt with a striped tie.

After the runway shows and jury discussions, Pakistani businessman Arif Habib took the stage at the closing ceremony to gift miniature PIA aircraft models to the participating designers and jury members.

The final scores will determine the winning design, which will then be produced and rolled out across the fleet.

When the verdict does come, it will settle more than a competition; it will decide what PIA’s crew wear for years to come, and how Pakistan presents itself to the world in the air.