The Exclusivity Of Couture Fashion

By Tammie Caldwell


A term that can literally be translated from the French as sewing or dressmaking has come to mean so much more. When the French word haute is placed in front of it, it refers to an excellence in the making of garments. Couture fashion is often made largely by hand and great attention is paid to every detail. Exclusive clients expect a perfect fit for the prices they are prepared to pay.

There is a long history in France of such excellence in making garments. High-class Parisians wanted to wear dresses that no-one else was wearing so they could stand out from the competition. The label retains this aura of exclusivity and opulence today. It can only be used by select designers who adhere to certain conditions.

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.

The originality, quality materials and excellence of workmanship all contribute to the high prices charged for such garments. They are only affordable to a very small, select clientele. However, the high profile clients and fashion shows garner much publicity for the brands, and this helps promote their other ranges that are more profitable.

Ready-to-wear ranges are sold in department stores and boutiques. These garments reflect the signature looks of a particular brand without the extremely high price tags. They still offer good quality and style at more affordable prices. It is these garments as well as accessories like hats, bags, jewellery and perfumes that generate the money for the brand. Huge volumes of such items are often sold.

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.

Producing these exclusive garments is seen by many brands as a long-term investment. They augment their image and raise the profile of their ready-to-wear ranges. Those able to afford the garments are quite happy to pay for the exclusivity and the privacy this system offers them.




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