Haute couture is a French term that means "high sewing" or "high dressmaking". It refers to the creation of exclusive custom-fitted high-end fashion design. Haute couture garments are made-to-order for a specific client and are usually made from high-quality, expensive fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finish, often using time-consuming hand-executed techniques. The term "haute couture" is protected by law and according to the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture based in Paris, to qualify as an official Haute Couture house, members must design made-to-order clothes for private clients, with more than one fitting, using an atelier (workshop) that employs at least fifteen full-time staff. They must also have twenty full-time technical workers in one of their workshops. Finally, Haute Couture houses must present a collection of no less than 50 original designs — both day and evening garments — to the public every season, in January and July.
Haute couture is a symbol of French luxury, where expertly handcrafted garments emerge as exquisite creations from the minds of the worlds leading designers. It is a common term for custom-fitted clothing as produced primarily in Paris but also in other fashion capitals such as New York, London, and Milan. The term can refer to the fashion houses or fashion designers that create exclusive and often trend-setting fashions, as well as the fashions created.
In summary, haute couture is a highly exclusive and expensive form of fashion design that involves creating custom-fitted garments for specific clients using high-quality fabrics and meticulous attention to detail. It is a symbol of French luxury and is regulated by the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture based in Paris.
