Friday, December 21, 2012

The Singapore Girl


Singapore Girl is one of the first you know about Singapore before even stepping a foot in Singapore. This consistent visual advertising slogan, which was created in 1972 when Singapore Airlines was formed is applied to depictions of stewardesses of Singapore Airlines (SIA). Dressed in the distinctive "Sarong Kebaya" SIA uniform in batik material designed by Parisian couturier Pierre Balmain, The Singapore Girl is said to engender "Asian values and hospitality" and has been described as "caring, warm, gentle, elegant and serene". Well most stewardesses really become living versions of  Singapore Girl through weeks of training. Many times so caring, warm and gentle: I heard from someone that he had to hold himself from asking one of these girls "please sit down I serve that tea for you" in her first flight with SIA :)

The Singapore Girl is a global marketing icon, one of the airline industry’s most instantly-recognised figures. This recognition factor gives the Airline a great advantage over its competitors. In 1993, a waxwork of the  Singapore Girl was unveiled at Madame Tussaud's, the world-famous waxwork museum in London. It was the first commercial figure to be displayed at the museum.   Madame Tussaud's said the figure was chosen
"to reflect the ever-growing popularity of international travel" and in recognition of the 21st birthday of both Singapore Airlines and the Singapore Girl.

On joining Singapore Airlines, Singapore Girls undergo 15 weeks of training, followed by a series of refresher and product-specific courses throughout their careers. Singapore Airlines cabin crew are well versed in  all aspects of passenger management and service, as well as the special needs of the young, the aged and those with disabilities. They are also proficient in safety evacuation procedures.

The Singapore Girl

Not all Singapore girls are Singaporeans. More than  80% of all Singapore Girls are either Singaporean or Malaysian.  The rest are from countries including China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.


The Sarong Kebaya
Exquisitely designed by Parisian couturier Pierre Balmain, the signature uniform in batik material reflects the Airline’s Asian heritage and is the most distinctive feature of The Singapore Girl. Today, the design first introduced in 1968, is universally recognized as the Singapore Girl’s very own.

Did you know that The Singapore Girl’s sarong kebaya comes in four colours, each representing a different rank?

The Sarong Kebaya colors
The Sarong Kebaya colors

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