EXPO 2020 DUBAI: Presenting the uniforms of the Hungary Pavilion staff at the World Expo

At the World Expo in Dubai, the staff of the Hungary Pavilion will be wearing the creations of THEFOUR and Elysian as their uniforms. The competition’s winning uniform outfits were presented to the press on Thursday.

In 2019, Expo 2020 Magyarország Nkft. launched a competition for designing the uniforms of the staff representing Hungary at the World Expo. Eight Hungarian designers were invited to participate in the competition, out of which Elysian, Sentiments, THEFOUR and Tomcsányi submitted their entries by the deadline.

The brief was to design comfortable and practical women's and men's clothing suitable for all-day activewear, in line with the climate of Dubai and its cultural traditions, as well as the concept of the pavilion, which is to showcase Hungary's water resources. The outfits will be worn by the pavilion and catering staff, as well as the building management staff for six months between 1st October 2021 to 31st March 2022.

The jury consisted of the leaders from Expo 2020 Hungary, the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency as well as industry professionals from the fashion world. Based on their decision, not only one but two designers — THEFOUR and Elysian — were given the opportunity to dress the team representing Hungary.

Elysian's designer, Boglárka Bódis, designed the outfits for the chefs, waiters and building managers. During the design process of the uniforms, her main objective was functionality, comfort and elegance, using dark blue, white and hazel in the colour scheme, as well as including a motif matching the pavilion's identity. The chefs' uniform is white and navy blue with a classic cut including everything needed to help the wearer at work. The building managers' outfits are also designed for all-day comfort, keeping practicality in mind, with hazel trousers and navy-blue T-shirts.

THEFOUR created the uniforms of the pavilion staff focusing on designing outfits that are not only comfortable but an attire that radiates confidence. The chosen colours were petrol blue, rose gold, white and navy blue, with the logo motif being applied asymmetrically to the uniforms, adding a touch of original branding to the outfit. The individual garments can be easily varied, for example, the women’s blazer for managers can be combined and worn in both a smart and casual outfit, while the men’s uniform for managers looks stylish even without a jacket. One challenge during the design process was being able to adapt to both the Dubai etiquette and climate conditions, which the design team solved with a clever choice of fabric: a viscose-polyester-elastane blend that is breathable, stable and lightweight, making it comfortable to wear all day long even in the middle of the desert.

 Andrea Tóth, CEO of Expo 2020 Hungary, stated at the press conference that they wanted the uniforms to fit with the spirit of the pavilion, as well as the Hungarian theme and identity. Tóth also mentioned that the design team had done an excellent job, creating pieces that are not only elegant and beautiful but also unique and a perfect complement to the values they are to represent.

Zsófia Bata-Jakab, CEO of the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency, also gave a speech at the event — "Our agency places great emphasis on creating a positive impact on the country's image and tourism in close cooperation with the cultural and tourism sectors. Hungary's presence at the World Expo is a unique opportunity in terms of tourism, economy and diplomacy, as well as being a great occasion to showcase our country's traditions, creativity and national culture. As a professional partner, we are honoured to have been able to support Hungarian-related events and to provide professional support in the process of selecting the designers and brands to represent Hungary with their uniform designs for the exhibition."

The Dubai World Expo opens its doors on the 1st of October 2021. The event brings together 190 countries and is expected to attract 25 million visitors from across the globe. Hungarian participation is a unique opportunity from many aspects, in terms of tourism, economy and diplomacy.