HAUTE COUTURE

What is Haute Couture?

Haute means elegant or high Couture means dress making, sewing or needle work refers to the creation of exclusive custom-fitted clothing made from high-quality, expensive fabric is a "protected name" that can be used only by firms that meet certain well-defined standards

Inception of Haute Couture

Charles Frederick Worth initiated haute couture First Designer to develop and produce the final product of womens clothing Set the tone for high fashion during the latter half of the 19th century Brought Paris Fashion home to America

Charles Frederick Worth

Born in 1826 at Lincolnshire, England At age 12 started working at Allenbys Left for Paris at the age of 20 Hired by Gagelin and Opigez Married one of the firms Model-Marie Vernett In the late 1850s, the Worths opened their own business on the rue de la Paix

Label of his fashion house

Charles Frederick Worth

The House of Worths dressmakers began serving the Empress Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon III, in 1860, The Empress had the House of Worth appointed as the court dressmaker in 1860. After this, the Worths acclaimed international success.

Empress Eugene

Following Worths footsteps

Paul Poiret (Poiret) Gabreielle Chanel (Chanel) Christian Dior (Dior) Main Rousseau Bocher (Mainbocher) Jeanne Lanvin (Lanvin)

Why is France known for its Haute Couture?

Garments custom made, not mass produced Sets trends for the seasons-color ,fabric ,drape etc, that is followed all over the world

Legalities of Haute Couture

Overviewed by Chambre syndicale de la Haute Couture Design made-to-order for private clients, with one or more fittings. Have a workshop in Paris that employs at least 15 people fulltime. Must have 20 full time technical people in at least one atelier or workshop. Each season (i.e., twice a year), present a collection to the Paris press, comprising at least thirty-five runs/exits with outfits for both daytime wear and evening wear.

Decline of Haute couture

The number of couture houses decreased considerably over the 20th century from 106 in 1946 to a mere 18 in 2000. By 2004 there were only 9 high-ranking couture houses, namely: Chanel, Dior, Givenchy, Gaultier, Lacroix, Mori, Sirop, Scherrer, and Torrente

What is a Fashion House?

A fashion house or couture house is headed by a top designer. Manufacturers go to couture houses to present their new ideas to the designers. There are two departments in a fashion house: The flou, which is the dressmaking department and the tailleur, which is the tailoring department.

Couture in India
Couture in India has transformed in to Boutique form. Main designers are Ritu beri Sabyasachi Mukherjee Wendell Rodricks Tarun Tahiliani