Eurostar has introduced new uniforms for its staff, the first new uniform design in nearly a decade. This coincides with the brand’s 20th anniversary and the project aims to remind its customers ‘the way in which Eurostar has revolutionised travel between the UK and mainland Europe.’
The new uniform design, creaeted by Jermyn Street Design, is only the third in Eurostar’s history and is the result of an extensive programme of consultations with staff and customers.
To celebrate the launch the brand dressed the nine meter ‘The Meeting Place’ statue by Paul Day at St Pancras International station in the company’s new uniform.
The Statue project was a closely guarded secret for several months and executed over five nights by costumier, Maggie Cooke. Using more than 95 metres of fabric, the nine metre tall replica uniform is accurate down to the yellow piping on the jacket collars and patterned neck scarf.
In order to demonstrate the statue’s power, Eurostar’s very own ‘kissing couple’, train manager Adele Gent and station shift leader Simon Gent, recreated the famously amorous embrace at the statue’s feet. The couple, who have recently celebrated their first wedding anniversary, met and fell in love over 10 years ago working together on the international high-speed train service.
Their introduction heralds the much anticipated arrival of Eurostar’s new state-of-the-art fleet of trains from 2014 onwards and is the latest example of Eurostar’s ongoing commitment to offer business travellers the very best travel experience. The uniform design has itself been inspired by Eurostar’s new train livery which will be unveiled officially this year when the first of its new trains enters commercial service.
Marc Noaro, service and people director at Eurostar, said: “Our new uniforms signal the next chapter in Eurostar’s story and perfectly capture the glamour and romance of international high-speed rail travel. Our first new design in a decade has been meticulously researched and the attention to detail in every uniform is second to none. As Eurostar enters its twentieth year, this is a proud day for all of our teams and we are looking forward to our customer’s reactions and comments today as they catch their first glimpses.”
While Maggie Cooke, project coordinator, explained: “My approach to any job is ‘yes of course I can do it’ and so I’ve treated the kissing couple as two really large people applying the same cutting and making principals as I would in any other job. My only fear was motion sickness, as we used a moving platform to apply the finishing touches and so I took sickness pills as a precaution. It been a great challenge – lots of fun and I’m really pleased with the results.”
The new uniforms have been rolled out across all Eurostar locations effective immediately.