What is Haute Couture?
Fashion industry’s most expensive, exclusive and extraordinary amenities - Haute Couture. Haute Couture indicates the highest of high fashion which takes a position for a few days in Paris. Let’s check the significance of the term Haute Couture? The literal interpretation of this French word is “ High Dress Making” which is the invention of exclusive custom-fit apparel. Haute Couture means that all the elements are constructed by hand from start to finish, and they are made from high-quality fabrics and sewn by the most proficient and qualified sewers. In Couture sales, clients can authorize the fabrics and the weight of yarns of a chosen garment as per the style and cut of the clothing. As we can say it’s not conceivable in any other ready-to-wear fashion collection to create a customised yarn for the costume. Haute Couture pieces are made solely from the hand of the industry’s very best skilled artisans and craftsmen embodying the best quality of fashion money can buy. Even though it comes with the price, it takes around three to four months to complete one outfit. At times the Haute Couture prices are upwards of $100,000 under the official certification of a distinct brand. Since the term “Haute Couture” is lawfully protected, it can only be used by the brands which are approved by the French ministry of industry. One can’t wake up one day and decides to become an Haute Couture brand, it doesn’t matter how extraordinary your dresses are or how remarkable their craftsmanship has been. They are legitimate undertakings to becoming a part of these elite groups of couturiers. The fashion houses which are under this certification must follow the strict rules of this organisation to have official approval for this high-end fashion creation.
There are a few rules such as:
The fashion houses which are part of this elite group must have an atelier in Paris which employs at least 20 technical working members.Making custom-made garments for private clients with more than two or three fittings For using an atelier to be qualified it has to have at least 15 full-time employees Haute Couture collections should be presented with a minimum of 50 exclusive designs beforehand for every season in January and July for Both day and evening wear garments.
An image of the Father of Haute Couture, Charles Frederick Worth by Wikimedia Commons
Father of the Haute Couture
Charles Frederick Worth born in the United Kingdom in 1825, was an English fashion designer who originated the house of worth, one of the primary fashion houses of the 19th and early 20th centuries. He is evaluated by considerable fashion historians to be the “father of Haute Couture”. Worth is also attributed to revolutionising the business of fashion. He died in 1895 in Paris France, vacating his legacy to follow for all the prospective generations of elite fashion designers. The most spectacular part of buying an Haute Couture garment is that it gets presented in a personal atelier room with models showing the look by wearing them while the client is seated with the refreshments they require, the exact feel of the outfit to their most prestigious client, takes the experience back in the golden era when personal attention was the priority for all the exclusive designers. Some of the very first couture houses such as Balenciaga, Chanel, and Dior still exist today with the same luxury they have served through their outfits for more than a century despite custom clothing not providing the main source of income in current times.
Haute Couture in today's time is more about the image of the brand. Then the avant-garde pieces they create for the luxury clients. It kind of sets the tone for the other products coming from the same fashion houses, such as bags, shoes, perfumes and various accessories. Every year Haute Couture exhibitions are held in some of the most distinguished museums and extravagant territories for patrons to withstand the imperial essence of the brand and its heritage. One of the ideal examples could be the Fendi show in Rome where the brand took over the olden landmark of the fountain in the city, spent months and lavish funds on restoration and finish to host their exceptional show making a glass ramp walk over the fountain. It's not just the garment but the whole ambience and luxury occurrence one can witness through the Haute Couture event of majestic regality of an affair.
