- Haute couture is a legally protected designation, awarded in Paris.
- Only a few houses can claim this label of absolute excellence.
- One-off pieces, exceptional workshops and private clients make it a world apart.
Haute couture represents the pinnacle of fashion. Behind this often misused term lies an official designation and a rare craft, concentrated in Paris. A tour of this exceptional world.
A protected designation
The term “haute couture” is legally regulated and awarded each year. To use it, a house must meet strict criteria: workshops in Paris, dedicated teams, the presentation of made-to-measure collections and pieces made by hand. This protection distinguishes true haute couture from ready-to-wear collections, however luxurious.
The great houses
A few names embody the excellence of French couture. From historic houses to more recent labels admitted to the official calendar, they share the same quest for perfection. Their shows, true spectacles, unveil spectacular creations that inspire all of fashion. Behind every gown lie hundreds of hours of work by the “petites mains”.
An exceptional craft
Haute couture lives thanks to métiers d’art of extraordinary precision. Embroiderers, feather workers, pleaters and bootmakers perpetuate gestures handed down over generations. Each piece is fitted to its client’s body across successive fittings. Reserved for a privileged few around the world, haute couture remains the laboratory of dreams and the soul of French luxury.
