The expression "haute couture" is used in the description of clothing, fashion, accessories. What is a couture? Far from the world of fashion, people believe that the expression "haute couture" means "haute couture." This is actually not the case. Couturier is an upscale fashion designer. This is what the television announcer may call Yudashkin. The word "couturier" (couturiere) is borrowed by the Russian language from French along with "chansonnier", "sommelier", "croupier" and the like Gallicisms, which have the –ier suffix in the original. It is not inclined, therefore, if someone receives advice from couturiers, it would be illiterate to call him advice from couturiers.
“Haute couture” literally translates as “high, perfect tailoring”. Now it means the highest quality of tailor's art. But even couturier products are required to meet certain requirements.
Who sets the rules
What is "haute couture" and what is not, determines the High Fashion Syndicate. This organization is located in Paris. In the world, only 150 families dress in the most fashionable models, since the requirements of the Syndicate are quite stringent:
- Handwork is 70% or more for a particular person by his standards.
- Individually made unique fabric.
- At least twenty employees working continuously.
- Displaying fifty models twice a year.
- Location in Paris.
If the studio does not satisfy at least one condition, it is not considered haute couture. However, it can receive an invitation and at the High Fashion Week to exhibit its work, which will already be considered couture.
Couture Corresponding Members
The meaning of the word “fashion” is wider in France than anywhere else. Fashionable clothing has several gradations: if it is sewed by individual standards in a fashion house, then in Paris it is “haute couture”, all over the world it is simply “haute couture”. Fashion collections for mass tailoring are called ready-to-wear if they are released by the fashion house. In all other cases, this is mass production.
But there is one more direction. These are the corresponding members, approved by the highest fashion body, the High Fashion Federation - Houses of recognized couturiers who do not have headquarters in Paris. These include the brands Valentino and Versace. Now they consider the brand Valentin Yudashkin. They sew haute couture patterns in their own country. But they are not entitled to be called world couturiers.
Couture Story
The concept of haute couture was introduced by the talented man C.F. Worth, who moved to the fashion capital to dictate his conditions. He introduced seasonal collections presented by fashion models. Before him, fashion designers demonstrated their work on rag mannequins. Since the mid-nineteenth century he has been called a fashion revolutionary.
At first, the role of a fashion model (then they were called understudies) was performed by Worth's wife. Very quickly, following his example, fashion houses began to open, which adopted new rules. A couturier sewed a branded ribbon to each product. This ensured that the masterpiece was in the hands of the fashionista. Worth invented the crinoline, then the tournament. By the end of the nineteenth century, couturiers were already dictating fashion, defining the styles and fabrics of the season.
Then there were laws that did not allow certain fabrics to use simple estates. The revolution lifted these bans.
In the seventies of the last century, Yves Saint Laurent released a ready-to-wear collection. High fashion seemed to be dying. But those wishing to buy a dress for ten thousand dollars did not decrease.
Pret-a-Porte and Couture
The meaning of these terms lies in the mass or individual creation of clothing. Literally, "ready-to-wear" translates as "ready to wear." Fashion designers manufacture these products, replicating samples from fashion collections. Defile ready-to-wear and haute couture appoints at different times. Elite outfits are worn, and the possibility of meeting models from the same collection at the same event is carefully monitored to prevent it. Products intended for replication are not subject to such control.
Couture clothing of very high quality, created individually for a particular person. She can even participate in High Fashion Week. It is much more expensive than ready-to-wear.
When duplicating each product, a label with the name of a couturier is sewn. For this, the price rises a bit when mass tailoring, which provides dividends to fashion houses. Ignorant people can not distinguish what is "haute couture" and what is "ready-to-wear". This is used by some garment factories. Unreasonably raising the price, they break the rules and disqualify collections of fashion houses.
A couture dress can have a hem embroidered with natural pearls. The ready-to-wear model will be embroidered with mother-of-pearl beads. The trading house will order a batch where lace will be used instead of embroidery. An incomprehensible company uses low-quality fabric and simply prints imitating lace. It's funny that couturier ribbons will be present in all cases.
Conclusion
Only a specialist can determine how clothing is fashionable and unique. That is, what is a "haute couture" or "ready-to-wear". But for most people, it is not the patch with the name of the couturier that matters, but a well-fitting modern dress. Trading houses selling such products order clothing lines in China, which significantly reduces their cost. So in a sense, everyone can dress in the latest fashion.