Top-Flight Bomber Jackets Help Pratt & Whitney Celebrate 95 Years of Service

November 15, 2023

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture, and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units. In 2022, the aerospace company was gearing up to celebrate an important milestone—its 95th anniversary! P&W had tasked Maria Perez, a 25-year promotional products industry vet and the owner of Effective Promos, with sourcing the perfect gift to help P&W celebrate this special occasion with its employees around the world.

Here’s how Fossa helped Maria soar to success with her client.

The Challenge

Maria was tasked with creating a custom bomber jacket that would reflect P&W’s rich history and strength within the aerospace industry. As soon as she reached out to Fossa, we jumped into learning all we could about Pratt & Whitney. We were delighted to learn the company had such a powerful brand story.

In short, P&W works “with an explorer’s heart and perfectionist’s grit to design, build, and service the world’s most advanced and unrelenting aircraft engines.” The company employs approximately 41,000 people in more than 40 countries and has more than 85,000 engines in service. Its values include innovation, precision, dependability, and dedication to service.

Once we were familiar with the brand, we knew we had our work cut out for us and that P&W may be difficult to impress. We were also confident the Fossa team would overdeliver for Maria and help her win the business of one of the biggest aerospace companies in the world.

Our Solution & Services

Fossa’s winning solution was achieved in five stages:

Selecting a Style
Our goal was to create a custom jacket that would embody all that P&W stands for. We knew we needed a strong foundation, as quality is paramount to our success with a client. We began this project with our Wingover Bomber, an aviator style bomber jacket with a beautiful silhouette and a quilted interior. While many suppliers in the promotional products industry offer bomber jackets, this is one of few that combines superior quality and fashionable design, giving us the perfect canvas for the customization work that follows.
Understanding Pratt & Whitney’s Brand and Culture
Before creating any piece of custom apparel, it’s essential to have a deep understanding of the company’s brand identity and culture. At this stage, we researched P&W’s brand colors, logo, mission statement, and brand guidelines. We also made sure the Fossa team was aware of the purpose behind the custom apparel, as purpose influences the design and style of a piece of clothing, whether it’s an employee uniform or a T-shirt used during a promotional giveaway. We knew the P&W bomber jacket had a special purpose—to commemorate 95 years of service—and we knew our design had to be special, too.
Customization, Design, and Logo Placement
The Fossa team got to work creating options for how to showcase P&W’s branding in engaging and distinctive ways. We talked about primary and secondary logo placement, how to incorporate the company’s slogan (“Go Beyond”), color adjustments, and adding a sublimated liner to help narrate the visual brand story and display the logo in an eye-catching manner.
Storyboarding and Samples
In addition to providing Maria with a sample of the Wingover Bomber—she loved it!—we needed to help her envision what the piece would look like infused with P&W’s DNA. We developed a visual storyboard to show her what custom-design elements would look like brought to life. Our mockup included front and back embroidered logos, a custom flight tag, and a sublimated jacket liner with the full-color Pratt & Whitney logo imprinted on the entire interior of the jacket.
But we didn’t stop there—in addition to the stock sample and visual storyboard, we also provided Maria with a custom sample to ensure the bomber’s design, colors, and quality met her expectations—and would help her win over the P&W team. “Seeing a sample of the final product helps the customer realize their dream,” said Fossa President Michelle Chen.
Sample Approval and Fulfillment
Maria’s vision of a stylish, high-quality bomber jacket won her the business of P&W. She approved the sample, and Fossa quickly got to work fulfilling the order of 14,000 custom bomber jackets.

The Result

Fossa’s custom bomber jacket was a well-received anniversary gift for Pratt & Whitney employees around the world. We were involved in not only the production of the project but also in facilitating its global distribution. We are grateful for the opportunity we had to play a role in P&W’s global celebration. The custom jackets have become a memento of P&W company history, reflecting nearly a century of service, innovation, and excellence in the aerospace industry.

We are also grateful for the rewarding experience we had working closely with Effective Promos. “Fossa was an excellent partner and resource throughout the whole process,” said owner Maria Perez. “We had reached out to several supplier partners, and Fossa was chosen because of their level of expertise, ability to customize all aspects, and proven track record with other high-level companies. They kept us informed every step of the way and provided us with samples and answers every step of the way.”