The French word used for dressmaking or sewing now means much more, particularly when it is prefaced by the word haute or high. Couture fashion has come to mean garments created with a certain artistry, using superb materials and excellent workmanship. These garments are cut and fitted perfectly to suit the shape of a particular client. Many hours are devoted by numerous employees to bringing these creations to life, with attention paid to every tiny detail.
Parisian women have a reputation for their sense of style. Their desire for bespoke garments that made them stand out from the crowd goes back many years. The garment industry in Paris has a rich history and this is protected fiercely. Only top designers are able to use the label.
They are required to fulfill certain conditions such as belonging to a particular syndicate in Paris and having 15 or more employees. Day and evening wear collections of 35 outfits or more have to be presented twice every year. Some of the top designers who belong to the syndicate are Christian Dior, Chanel, Elie Saab, Jean-Paul Gautier and Pierre Cardin.
The garments made by top designers are created for specific clients or made to be worn as part of a collection for a show. Many superb fabrics like silks, fine wools, leather and cashmere are used. One piece may take more than 700 hours to create, with a minimum of twenty people working on it at a time.
Service, originality, workmanship and the quality of the materials used means that these garments command very high prices. In fact, only the very rich can afford them. Not many sales of such garments are made in a year and so the fashion houses have to look for other ways to make money. One may wonder why they continue to make them. The answer lies in the amount of publicity and media attention that is attracted by the shows and the high profile clients.
All this attention translates into sales of their ready-to-wear ranges. They are sold in boutiques and department stores to customers unable to afford the high prices of exclusively made garments but who still desire quality, stylish garments. Every designer has a specific look such as Chanel with its understated, tailored appeal and the avant-garde style of Christian Dior. These looks come through in their ready-to-wear garments and accessories. Dresses, scarves, perfumes, jewellery and bags often sell in large volumes and this is where the brands make their money.
People look to the top designers to introduce changes in fashions. Each season they come up with new looks for their collections. They present these collections at shows held in Milan, New York, London and Paris. The latest fashions are revealed and the brand receives much publicity. Fashion bloggers, journalists and TV reporters as well as many celebrities attend such shows.
So, the practice of producing these exclusive garments continues. A few rich clients benefit from the service and privacy offered by such a system as well as owning garments that are made to fit them perfectly. The publicity helps to build the image of the brand, ensuring that their ready-to-wear ranges are in great demand. Those who love the styles but cannot afford the high prices can enjoy these garments and accessories like scarves, bags and perfumes at a price more affordable to them. Everybody wins and this is why such a system continues to exist.
Parisian women have a reputation for their sense of style. Their desire for bespoke garments that made them stand out from the crowd goes back many years. The garment industry in Paris has a rich history and this is protected fiercely. Only top designers are able to use the label.
They are required to fulfill certain conditions such as belonging to a particular syndicate in Paris and having 15 or more employees. Day and evening wear collections of 35 outfits or more have to be presented twice every year. Some of the top designers who belong to the syndicate are Christian Dior, Chanel, Elie Saab, Jean-Paul Gautier and Pierre Cardin.
The garments made by top designers are created for specific clients or made to be worn as part of a collection for a show. Many superb fabrics like silks, fine wools, leather and cashmere are used. One piece may take more than 700 hours to create, with a minimum of twenty people working on it at a time.
Service, originality, workmanship and the quality of the materials used means that these garments command very high prices. In fact, only the very rich can afford them. Not many sales of such garments are made in a year and so the fashion houses have to look for other ways to make money. One may wonder why they continue to make them. The answer lies in the amount of publicity and media attention that is attracted by the shows and the high profile clients.
All this attention translates into sales of their ready-to-wear ranges. They are sold in boutiques and department stores to customers unable to afford the high prices of exclusively made garments but who still desire quality, stylish garments. Every designer has a specific look such as Chanel with its understated, tailored appeal and the avant-garde style of Christian Dior. These looks come through in their ready-to-wear garments and accessories. Dresses, scarves, perfumes, jewellery and bags often sell in large volumes and this is where the brands make their money.
People look to the top designers to introduce changes in fashions. Each season they come up with new looks for their collections. They present these collections at shows held in Milan, New York, London and Paris. The latest fashions are revealed and the brand receives much publicity. Fashion bloggers, journalists and TV reporters as well as many celebrities attend such shows.
So, the practice of producing these exclusive garments continues. A few rich clients benefit from the service and privacy offered by such a system as well as owning garments that are made to fit them perfectly. The publicity helps to build the image of the brand, ensuring that their ready-to-wear ranges are in great demand. Those who love the styles but cannot afford the high prices can enjoy these garments and accessories like scarves, bags and perfumes at a price more affordable to them. Everybody wins and this is why such a system continues to exist.
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