Haute Couture is a series of designer presentations held biannually within the Paris Fashion Week
Summary Haute Couture is a French exception and as the name of the Federation indicates, it lies at the heart of fashion’s ecosystem. It is a gateway between a tradition for perfection in know-how and modernity in creation. The Haute Couture collections are presented twice a year, in January and in July. Due to its […]
Haute Couture is a French exception and as the name of the Federation indicates, it lies at the heart of fashion’s ecosystem. It is a gateway between a tradition for perfection in know-how and modernity in creation. The Haute Couture collections are presented twice a year, in January and in July. Due to its unusual characteristics, it has been given a special status.
In 1868 the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture was formulated to set the specifications to decide what constituted a ‘couture house’. The group concluded that to be labelled a piece of haute couture the clothing must be: custom-made to fit the wearer, hand-sewn by multiple skilled artisans in the separate fields of embroidery, stitching, and beading, and only the most high quality of materials may be used.
In 1921, the French press created L’Association de Protection des Industries Artistiques Saisonnieres, or PAIS to protect couture designs from being reproduced. To secure the copyright of the designers, their creations were photographed on a model or mannequin from the front, back, and sides to catalogue the design.
Only those houses and companies that are certified each year by a dedicated commission run by the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture and held under the aegis of the Ministry for Industry may become eligible for it.
Its primary field of interest being handmade work accomplished within these Houses’ workshops, a laboratory for ideas and techniques, space where creativity can flourish freely: this is Haute Couture, whose international renown has always remained true to itself and has contributed to making Paris fashion capital of the world.
The 2019 edition highlighted the following brands:
Alberta Ferretti Limited Edition. Alexandre Vauthier. Alexis Mabille. Antonio Grimaldi. Armani Privé Azzaro.
Balmain.
Chanel. Christian Dior.
Dundas.
Elie Saab.
Giambattista Valli. Givenchy. Guo Pei.
Iris van Herpen.
Jean Paul Gaultier.
