Haute couture

Haute couture is a French term which is literally translated into English as “high sewing” or “high dressmaking.”

Haute couture is known all over the world as the exclusive creation of clothing for customers who can afford to have them made. The term haute couture is derived from the French language. Haute means “high” or “elegant” while couture means “dressmaking” or “sewing.” Combining the two terms together, we get “elegant dressmaking.”

As such, haute couture involves the creation of clothes for a specific person. This involves precise measurement and design, taking into consideration the size, shape, and preferences of the customer. When making haute couture garments, the whole process is usually carried out carefully and precisely by hand, to make sure that the end result fits the wearer perfectly. The effort and time associated with the process makes haute couture garments very expensive. This adds to the exclusivity of haute couture garments.

See also

• Legalities of haute couture
• Current haute couture houses

Just because a certain dressmaker creates customized clothing for his or her clientele does not mean that he or she can call his or her work haute couture. In fact, in France, the Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de Paris has set some rules and regulations that govern the world of haute couture. In 1945, they drew up the criteria as to which shops can use the label haute couture. This criteria was updated in 1992.

Some of the requirements are:

• Design made-to-order for private clients, with one or more fittings.
• Have a workshop (atelier) in Paris that employs at least fifteen people full-time.
• Each season, present a collection to the Paris press, comprising at least thirty-five runs with outfits for both daytime wear and evening wear.

Despite the efforts of the French government, however, the label haute couture has been rather loosely used by some high fashion designers. As such, there has been some misconception as to what haute couture really is.

Official Haute Couture list:

• Adeline André
• Giorgio Armani
• Chanel
• Christian Dior
• Christian Lacroix
• Emanuel Ungaro
• Jean Paul Gaultier
• Givenchy
• Elie Saab
• Dominique Sirop
• Franck Sorbier
• Jean-Louis Scherrer
• Valentino

There may be other labels that claim that they are haute couture houses but if the French definition is to be followed, they do not really qualify.