Few people know how to recognize a perfect degradé on uniforms worn at high altitude. Behind the choice of a button, a stitch, or even the color of a pair of tights lies the thought and hand of a Roman couturier, captivated by an eighteenth-century palace in the heart of Piacenza — where, since October 2024, his atelier has been located.

He is Ettore Bilotta, the designer behind the most elegant uniforms for major airlines such as Alitalia, Etihad, Turkish Airlines, and Kuwait Airways. His journey began out of pure passion, only after completing his studies. “My first assignment was to work on haute couture for the bridal collection (which I have never abandoned since). I was brave as a lion,” Bilotta recalls. “I was a surveyor before I became a designer — my hand was very stiff at first.”

His talent was nurtured through travel: in 1988 he was in Zurich with prêt-à-porter, then in 1992 he moved to Milan to work alongside Raffaella Curiel and learn the secrets of haute couture. “She adores me — she’s been a great teacher,” Bilotta confides. “She taught me the sense of proportion for a suit or a gown, the entire classical terminology of tailoring... living in her atelier was like entering paradise.”

He then returned to Rome to collaborate with Lancetti, marking the start of his career as an independent designer and the creation of his first haute couture collections for the Arab market — which later led to his selection as the designer for Etihad Airways’ inaugural uniforms. In 2005 came his first haute couture collection inspired by Jugendstil, followed by Ninfe (Nymphs), dedicated to Marie Antoinette, and Acqua (Water).

His constant source of inspiration is the female figure: “Women are my absolute muse — they must always be exalted like goddesses. That’s why you’ll never see anything oversized or clunky shoes from me.” The same philosophy applies to uniforms — Bilotta also redesigned those of Italy’s Guardia di Finanza — accompanied by detailed guidelines including makeup and hairstyle recommendations. Among the many stars who have worn his creations is Laura Pausini, for her Grammy Awards appearance.

How did he end up in Piacenza? “I wanted to leave Milan — it’s oversaturated with ateliers, boutiques, showrooms... I couldn’t find a space that truly felt like mine.” Then, by chance, he saw an ad for an apartment in an eighteenth-century residence. “I didn’t know it had a grand staircase or that it was on the piano nobile, surrounded by stunning palaces and churches. I was enchanted — and so I moved my atelier there.”

A beauty reminiscent of Rome, a city he remains deeply attached to — and one that honored him once again in 2024 with the Margutta Award.