Haute couture

Haute couture (French for 'high sewing') is a common term for custom-fitted clothing as produced in Paris and imitated in other fashion capitals such as New York, London, and Milan. Haute couture is not only made-to-order for a specific customer, it is usually made from high-quality, expensive fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finish, often using time-consuming hand-executed techniques. Sometimes the term is used only to refer to French fashion; at other times it refers to any unique stylish design made to order for wealthy and high-status clients.

Related Topics:
French - Paris - New York - London - Milan

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The term can refer to:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• the fashion houses or fashion designers that create exclusive and often trend-setting fashions
• the fashions created

In France, the label "haute couture" is a protected appellation. A certain number of formal criteria (number of employees, participation in fashion shows...) must be met for a fashion house to use the label; a list of eligible houses is made official every year by the French Ministry of Industry. The haute couture houses belong to the professional union the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture.

Related Topics:
France - Appellation

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The French term for ready-to-wear (not custom fitted) fashion is prêt-à-porter. Every haute couture house also markets prêt-à-porter collections, which typically deliver a higher return on investment than their custom clothing. In fact, much of the haute couture displayed at fashion shows today is never sold at all; it is created to enhance the good name of the house. Failing revenues have forced a few couture houses to abandon their less profitable couture division and concentrate solely on the less prestigious prêt-à-porter. These houses are no longer haute couture.

Related Topics:
Ready-to-wear - Return on investment

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 
Haute couture: History ►