Born from the merger of Air Orient, Air Union, Société Générale de Transports Aériens, Compagnie Internationale de Navigation Aérienne and Aéropostale, Air France was officially inaugurated on October 7, 1933. Since then, the company has continued to evolve by promoting the art of the French trip around the world. Air France today offers its customers almost 1.000 daily flights to 200 destinations with a fleet of over 240 aircraft.
In 2023, Air France celebrates 90 years of elegance, 90 years of technology, innovation and comfort on board its aircraft. 90 years of travel, gastronomy, design, haute couture, art and architecture. Since its foundation, the company has made French excellence vibrate, that "je ne sais quoi" that the world recognizes in France, thanks to an exceptional travel experience that takes elegance ever higher.
Air France celebrates the spirit of excellence and the ambition to stay at the forefront of the latest trends, revealing its unique expertise to all. By creating a collection of one-of-a-kind, original dresses that recapture the company's storied history, Air France will be at the center of the Galeries Lafayette windows from September 28 to October 10, 2023. This unique setting will give the company unprecedented exposure so that everyone will benefit from this French heritage in perpetual motion.
Embodying 90 years of elegance
To embody and bring to life 90 years of elegance, Air France unveils a collection of five iconic dresses that symbolize the airline's various strengths – aircraft and technology; uniforms and fashion; its iconic posters promoting its vast network of destinations; refined and happy meals; design and architecture. Each dress is like a journey through these themes that have allowed Air France to continuously offer the best in the different stages it has witnessed and even to be a pioneer, way ahead of its time.
To imagine and design these original dresses, Air France teamed up with Xavier Ronze, head of costume workshops for the Paris Opera Ballet. The costume designer created these creations taking inspiration from the heritage elements that have marked the company's history, but also from contemporary pieces. He managed to connect history and modernity, a powerful interpretation, embodying the best of Air France and all that France has to offer in its areas of expertise.
Air France exhibits at Galeries Lafayette
To present this original dress collection as part of its anniversary celebration, Air France naturally chose Galeries Lafayette, a Parisian temple of fashion. From September 28 to October 10, 2023, Air France will relive its legendary history and unparalleled elegance with the aim of moving forward and embracing the future in the 12 windows of the famous store. The dresses are displayed alongside a careful selection of Air France heritage pieces and accessories from the airline's current offering to highlight 90 years of in-flight comfort, legendary aircraft, designer uniforms, gastronomy and design during the flight.
In the heart of Paris, Air France thus reveals its heritage through a powerful and innovative approach, accessible simply and free of charge to all French and international visitors. Everyone present will be able to relive the best memories of traveling with Air France or will have the opportunity to become part of the legend for the first time.
Become part of the legend
Inside the store, the company is opening pop-up shops offering items specially created or reinterpreted for this anniversary. Air France offers a range of more affordable models, as well as a limited edition range of old and new aircraft, as well as a collection of travel kits, postcards and luggage tags and notebooks with the signature "90 years" . Air France also exhibits legendary items such as the famous vintage travel bag or its iconic posters. A wide range of items is also available on our website www.airfranceshopping.com.
Air France also collaborates with a selection of French luxury brands – Vanessa Bruno, Delsey, Bernardaud, Brun de Vian-Tiran and Le Umbrella de Cherbourg – as part of its desire to continue promoting French know-how. This collection will be available exclusively at Galeries Lafayette.
And for the first time in its history, Air France is offering visitors the opportunity to purchase the original tableware signed by the painter Jean Picart Le Doux and used on board its Première and Business class aircraft between 1966 and 2000. Proceeds from the sale of these items will be donated to the Air France Foundation, which has supported children around the world for 30 years.
Air France fashion shows at Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann
Throughout this anniversary period, Air France is offering visitors the chance to truly participate in fashion shows, reliving 90 years of French-style elegance alongside Galeries Lafayette. Models dressed in the uniforms of pilots, cabin crew, airport staff and mechanics will be on display in a dedicated area in the store to trace the company's legendary uniform heritage from past to present. From the first "bartender" outfits, with couture pieces, signed by the greatest designers such as Christian Dior, Cristóbal Balenciaga or Christian Lacroix in particular, the parade is conceived as a unique journey through the styles of the different founding eras of Air France.