The Exclusivity Of Couture Fashion
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.
Bespoke garments were considered a necessity for high-class Parisians in the 19th century. They wanted to make sure the garments they wore set them apart from other women. There is still an opulence and exclusivity that surrounds the label and it can only be used by a select number of designers who have to meet the standards.
Elie Saab, Coco Chanel, Pierre Cardin, Christian Dior and Jean-Paul Gautier are some of these designers. There are about 18 members who belong to a particular syndicate in Paris, employ the required number of 15 or more people and present collections twice a year. Collections must consist of at least 35 outfits that can be worn during the day or in the evening.
The fabrics used for their garments are superb such as luxurious silks, fine wools, soft cashmere and leather. Hours of workmanship are spent on each piece and many individuals may work on it. The ideas behind these garments are original and each designer has a particular style. Chanel is known for its understated elegance while Christian Dior is more avant garde.
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.
Most of these giant brands have ready-to-wear collections. These are still quality garments and capture the signature style of the brand without the hefty price tag. Most houses also have ranges of accessories like bags and scarves as well as perfumes. It is these items that are often purchased in large quantities, enabling the brands to continue making exclusive garments that do not make them money.
The designers usually introduce new styles, colors and trends in their collections. Week long events are held in London, Milan, New York and Paris where these collections are shown. These occasions give the brands a great deal of publicity and are attended by celebrities, journalists, bloggers and all the serious players in the world of fashion.
One has to wonder why the system keeps going as it has little financial benefit. The answer lies in the longer term benefits. Such garments raise the brand image and help to promote interest in their ready-to-wear collections. Those who can afford the garments consider them worth the price for the exclusivity they offer and the privacy afforded to them by the system. Others happily purchase ready-to-wear garments and accessories that still offer good quality and a particular look but without the hefty price tag.
Bespoke garments were considered a necessity for high-class Parisians in the 19th century. They wanted to make sure the garments they wore set them apart from other women. There is still an opulence and exclusivity that surrounds the label and it can only be used by a select number of designers who have to meet the standards.
Elie Saab, Coco Chanel, Pierre Cardin, Christian Dior and Jean-Paul Gautier are some of these designers. There are about 18 members who belong to a particular syndicate in Paris, employ the required number of 15 or more people and present collections twice a year. Collections must consist of at least 35 outfits that can be worn during the day or in the evening.
The fabrics used for their garments are superb such as luxurious silks, fine wools, soft cashmere and leather. Hours of workmanship are spent on each piece and many individuals may work on it. The ideas behind these garments are original and each designer has a particular style. Chanel is known for its understated elegance while Christian Dior is more avant garde.
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.
Most of these giant brands have ready-to-wear collections. These are still quality garments and capture the signature style of the brand without the hefty price tag. Most houses also have ranges of accessories like bags and scarves as well as perfumes. It is these items that are often purchased in large quantities, enabling the brands to continue making exclusive garments that do not make them money.
The designers usually introduce new styles, colors and trends in their collections. Week long events are held in London, Milan, New York and Paris where these collections are shown. These occasions give the brands a great deal of publicity and are attended by celebrities, journalists, bloggers and all the serious players in the world of fashion.
One has to wonder why the system keeps going as it has little financial benefit. The answer lies in the longer term benefits. Such garments raise the brand image and help to promote interest in their ready-to-wear collections. Those who can afford the garments consider them worth the price for the exclusivity they offer and the privacy afforded to them by the system. Others happily purchase ready-to-wear garments and accessories that still offer good quality and a particular look but without the hefty price tag.
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