On July 13, the delivery rider uniforms from Taobao’s instant retail division under Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group received the gold award at the prestigious international designer competition, the French Design Award.
The City Rider Suit from Taobao Instant Commerce is praised by the award’s judging panel—which included the lifestyle creative director of Italian sports auto manufacturer Ferrari, the chief design officer of Italy’s Pininfarina, and a senior designer from Airbus—for “redefining a uniform” and “helping an entire workforce cultivate a stronger sense of dignity and identity.” The panel announced the winners during a ceremony on July 10.
This gold achievement marks a historic first in the 11-year history of the French Design Award, as it’s the first time a workers’ uniform has clinched the top prize.
Introduced in August last year, the City Rider Suits are crafted from professional-grade outdoor composite fabric. They feature an information pouch on the right sleeve that holds details like blood type and emergency contact information, alongside an integrated waist bag containing emergency supplies. Reflective strips have also been added, based on feedback from riders, to enhance visibility and safety.