SINGAPORE – More than 6,800 SBS Transit bus captains and station staff will be sporting a fresh look, as the transport operator rolls out new uniforms for front-line employees.
The change will take effect from March 16, and marks the operator’s first uniform refresh in over a decade, SBS Transit said on March 14.
The new garment will feature its signature colours – purple and orange – in a lighter shade, and is designed with a “sand background” to “exude a warmer and friendlier feel”.
The new bus captain shirts have reflective strips, which enhance their visibility in low-light settings, and eliminate the need for a separate vest.
The move is welcomed by bus captains like 47-year-old Yee Yii Lin, who said: “I like it because of the lighter colour and the convenience of not having to wear the (additional) safety vest.”
Bus interchange staff and MRT station employees on the North East and Downtown lines as well as Sengkang-Punggol LRT will also don new uniforms. The ground staff’s updated attire resembles that of the bus captains, but with mandarin collars and pockets.
All new uniforms come with jackets in a sleek black colour, with accents of purple and orange.
Said SBS Transit chief executive Jeffrey Sim: “This new uniform refresh is more than just a new look – it is a renewal of our commitment to our purpose and values.
“Every time our front-line colleagues put it on, it serves as a daily reminder of our dedication to moving passengers safely, reliably and sustainably.”
The new uniforms result from a collaboration with three designers – Ms Kartika Budiyanto, 23, Ms Shannon Cheng, 22, and Ms Karen Lee, 24 – from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Nafa). All three have since graduated from its School of Fashion Studies.
The project began in January 2022, and takes into account the opinions of more than 3,000 SBS Transit employees. To ensure that special needs passengers continue to be able to identify its service staff, the company has reached out to social service agencies and special education schools over the uniform change.
Associate Dean of the School of Fashion Studies, Mr Anthony Tan, commended the former students’ work, and said the new designs seamlessly blend style with functionality.
He added: “This collaboration offered our students a valuable opportunity to apply their creativity to a meaningful design challenge – reimagining uniforms for our public transport everyday heroes.”
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