The History of Haute Couture and Its Importance to the Fashion Industry
In light of the buzz from Haute Couture Week, people have been talking about Haute Couture a lot recently. However, many people do not know the ins and outs of this subset of the fashion industry and how deeply ingrained couture is in the fashion industry at large. Haute Couture stands for High Dressmaking in English. Haute Couture houses typically create their garments for a specific client and they typically have a dressmaking department called Flou, dedicated to gowns and dresses and a tailoring department called Tailleur, dedicated to suits and coats.
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Haute Couture started in 1858 with English fashion designer and father of Haute Couture Charles Fredrick Worth who created the first couture house in Paris. There, he provided his wealthy clients with exclusive luxury dresses and designs specifically catered to them and their events. Worth was more than a designer, he was an artist and his garments were his works of art.
Charles Fredrick Worth Courtesy of Wikidata
In 1868, La Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture was created as a way to regulate Haute Couture rules and regulations for luxury brands. Back then, they decided that Haute Couture will be custom made and handmade garments that will be made from high quality fabrics and materials. These garments will be fit specifically for the client and made to order. In 1921, the L’Association de Protection des Industries Artistiques Saisonnieres was started to protect couture designs from plagiarism and copyright infringement from other designers so Haute Couture garments can be protected.
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Today, members are selected by the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (or FHCM) to qualify to be a Haute Couture house. The FHCM rules and presides over men’s and women's fashion weeks in Paris and endorses Couture Houses that meet the Haute Couture standards and protocols set by them. In order for a fashion house to quality, members had to create clothes for private clients that are made to order (with more than one fitting). The fashion house must use an atelier or workshop to make the clothing that has at least 15 full time staff members and 20 full time technical workers in one workshop. Haute Couture houses must present their collections to the public of less than 50 original designs (both day and evening garments) in both January and July.
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Haute Couture is a delicate art that takes a lot of work. Many Haute Couture garments are handmade and sewn. Many use intricate techniques in order to make embroidery, attach crystals, and other embellishments. According to British Vogue, it takes an average of 150 hours to make a simple couture dress or suit. Additionally, seamstresses require special skill sets to work for couture brands and make couture garments for clients.
Courtesy of Vogue
Haute Couture has a rich history stemming from the 1800s. Since then, Haute Couture has been serving rich clients for decades and catering to their specific needs and events. Couture is a discipline part of the fashion industry that focuses on craftsmanship and quality of each garment. It merges both fashion and costume together in one art form. Haute Couture Week is an opportunity for Haute Couture houses to present their hand made collections to clients and the press. Haute Couture continues to become a luxury form of fashion seen in high regard always pushing the envelope of avant-garde and risky fashion choices and trends while creating head turning and unique collections that get people talking.
