On 7th October 2023, Air France celebrated its 90th anniversary. To mark the event, the company has asked Xavier Ronze, head of the costume design workshops at the Paris Opera ballet, to create a collection of five iconic dresses embodying the company’s legendary history.
Created from the merger of Air Orient, Air Union, Société Générale de Transports Aériens, the Compagnie Internationale de Navigation Aérienne and Aéropostale, Air France was officially inaugurated on 7th October 1933. Ever since, the company has continued to create its legend by promoting the French art of travel around the world. Air France today offers its customers close to 1,000 daily flights to 200 destinations with a fleet of more than 240 aircraft.
In 2023, the Air France anniversary is celebrating 90 years of elegance. 90 years of technology, innovation and comfort on board. 90 years of travel, fine dining, design, haute couture, art and architecture. That’s a lot to celebrate. Since its creation, the company has been emblematic of French excellence, a certain “je-ne-sais-quoi” that the world recognizes in France. (Enjoy our article that explains what Air France stews and cowgirls have in common.)
Illustrating 90 years of elegance
To embody and bring to life 90 years of elegance, Air France is unveiling a collection of five iconic dresses that interpret the different hallmarks of the airline – aircraft and technology; uniforms and fashion; its iconic posters promoting its vast network; fine dining and tableware; design and architecture. Each dress is an invitation to explore these themes which have enabled Air France to continually offer the very best from the different eras it has witnessed, and even break new ground, way ahead of its time.
To imagine and design these original dresses, Air France has teamed up with Xavier Ronze, head of the costume design workshops at the Paris Opera Ballet. The costume designer has created these designs from iconic items that have marked the company’s history and contemporary pieces. He has succeeded in connecting history and modernity, a strong interpretation symbolizing the best of Air France and the best that France has to offer in its areas of expertise.
Air France on display at the Galeries Lafayette
Air France naturally chose the Galeries Lafayette, the temple of fashion in the heart of Paris, to showcase this original Air France anniversary dress collection. From 28th September to 10th October 2023, the 12 windows of the Galeries Lafayette on boulevard Haussmann was filled with high-flying elegance. The dresses were displayed among a selection of some of the finest vintage Air France paraphernalia to highlight 90 years of in-flight comfort, legendary aircraft, designer uniforms, in-flight dining and design.
Become part of the legend
Inside the store, the company is opening pop-up stores with a range of items specially created or reissued for this anniversary. There is a range of affordable and more limited-edition models of old and new aircraft, as well as a collection of comfort kits, postcards and baggage tags and notebooks sporting the 90 years signature. The company is also reissuing mythical items such as its famous vintage travel bag and iconic posters which are excellent decor for your Paris apartment. A range of items is also available on www.airfranceshopping.com.
And for the very first time in its history, Air France is offering visitors the opportunity to purchase original tableware signed by the painter Jean Picart Le Doux and used on board its La Première and Business cabins between 1966 and the 2000s. The proceeds from the sale of these items will be donated to the Air France Foundation, which has been committed to supporting children around the world for 30 years.
Decidedly ‘Air France, France is in the air’.
