Etihad First Class & The Residence Bedding

Project: First Class & The Residence Bedding
Industry: Aviation / Hospitality / Textile Design / Brand Collaboration
Client: Etihad Airways × COCO-MAT × DUXIANA
Services: Creative direction

Textile design

CMF strategy

Sampling and development

Manufacturing coordination

Presentation and storytelling

A luxury bedding collection uniting two heritage sleep brands to elevate Etihad’s First Class and The Residence experience.

The Etihad bedding collection arranged as an editorial flat-lay - a draped brown throw, the bronze vein-pattern cushion, copper and brown pillows, and taupe linens.

Context

The project began shortly after I joined WESSCO International, where I supported the development of Etihad Airways’ new First Class and The Residence bedding program.

Following my promotion to Design Lead in November 2023, I assumed creative responsibility for the collection, directing the refinement of colours, materials, finishes, and product consistency across both cabins. The program brought together COCO-MAT, specialists in natural sleep systems, and DUXIANA, renowned for luxury bedding, to create a premium onboard sleep experience.

Four Etihad cushions - a white pillow printed with an interlacing bronze vein pattern, flanked by copper, brown, and tan solid cushions.

Challenge

Etihad wanted to deliver a hotel-quality sleep experience while meeting the operational demands of commercial aviation.

The challenge was coordinating multiple premium partners and ensuring mattresses, duvets, pillows, and linens worked together as a single collection. Every material, finish, and textile needed to reflect Etihad’s premium brand while performing reliably in long-haul service.

Our Approach

Bringing Together Two Heritage Brands

The collection combined COCO-MAT’s expertise in natural mattress systems with DUXIANA’s luxury bedding, creating a layered sleep experience tailored for First Class and The Residence.

Refining a Unified Collection

After becoming Design Lead, I directed the visual refinement of the collection, aligning colours, textures, and finishes across products supplied by different manufacturing partners to create a consistent premium experience.

Supporting Product Development

Throughout the project, I coordinated closely with Etihad, COCO-MAT, DUXIANA, and WESSCO’s sourcing teams to review samples, refine materials, and resolve production details.

Sampling and Production

Multiple rounds of sampling focused on textile quality, colour consistency, construction, and overall product integration to ensure the collection met Etihad’s quality standards before launch.

DUXIANA soft goods for Etihad - a black DUXIANA gift bag, a folded white waffle robe, and stacked white towels arranged on a cream ground.

The Work

Creative direction for the refinement of Etihad’s First Class and The Residence bedding collection.

Coordination of product development across COCO-MAT and DUXIANA.

Colour, material, and finish refinement across mattresses, bedding, and soft goods.

Development of a consistent visual language across multiple suppliers and product categories.

Sampling, production refinement, and supplier coordination.

Collaboration with Etihad’s product teams throughout implementation.

Impact

Two Heritage Brands, One Collection

The collection brought together two internationally recognised sleep brands into a unified onboard bedding program for Etihad’s most premium cabins.
Hotel-Quality Rest at Altitude

Mattresses, duvets, pillows, and linens were coordinated into a single layered sleep experience for First Class and The Residence.
A Consistent Luxury Experience

Refining the visual language across multiple partners delivered a consistent luxury experience combining natural materials, premium craftsmanship, and long-haul comfort.