is there a difference between couture and haute couture?
i have seen lots of milliners recently, well in the UK anyhow that use couture either within their business name, tagline or product description
i was under the impression to associate the word couture with your business you had to be registered with a governing body in paris, actually be based in paris, employ 15 staff and various other criteria which cant remember off the top of my head - its been a while since i took my a level texiles ;)
can anyone clarify this for me, is there a difference between couture and haute couture ?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jane-Ann bespoke millinery
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I thought so too. Any enlightenment?
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Permalink Reply by Elaine Mergard
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Have not given this any thought Kate. I guess there is a difference .
Found this info on haute couture
Phillip Treacy & Stephen Jones would be in this class in the Millinery World & maybe all us, aspiring to reach the haute couture level are couture Milliners???? -
"The syndicate has about 18 members, including such fashion giants as Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, and Pierre Cardin. The houses generate more than $1 billion in annual sales and employ close to 5,000 people, including 2,200 seamstresses. Workers often specialize in one area, such as feathers, fabric, buttons, shoes, etc. Before World War II, 35,000 people worked at couture houses.
Staggering Prices
Made from scratch for each customer, haute couture clothing typically requires three fittings. It usually takes from 100 to 400 hours to make one dress, costing from $26,000 to over $100,000. A tailored suit starts at $16,000, an evening gown at $60,000.
A Small Market
Today only 2,000 women in the world buy couture clothes; 60% are American. Only 200 are regular customers. Often, designers will loan clothes to movie stars or other public figures for publicity."
Read more: Fashion—What is Haute Couture? | Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/spot/fashionside1.html#ixzz2MI5PcoZf
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Permalink Reply by Kitten P
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I think the reason you are confused is that so many people use the word Couture in their business names because they want to associate their brand with the idea of Haute Couture. You do have to adhere to the standards of the Chambre Syndicale if you are truly a Haute Couture designer. But hats that are made only by hand are in fact by definition Couture, especially since a lot of HC designers have custom hats designed just for their runway shows.
If you didn't know already Haute Couture means "high sewing" by the way.
But as you know there are only 10 Couture Houses currently and a few other guest accessory designers that are allowed to use the word and show their collections in Paris.
So to answer your question not really, but you may see a brand like Juicy Couture and there is nothing couture about them. I've seen people on eBay use Couture in their screen name and then sell used tshirts and bras!
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Permalink Reply by Gemma j millinery -
Hi Kate
What I understood when I did my fashion degree couture is translated to handmade but haute couture can only be produced in France ... Hope this is helpful
Kind regards
Gemma
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Permalink Reply by Dianne Graham
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this triggers another question, does handmade just include hand stitched, or are sewing machine made products couture?
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Permalink Reply by Monika Neuhauser
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the couture houses use sewing machines AND do a lot of hand stitching. As I see it, the term couture, as it is used, refers to the "handmade - one of a kind design". I think the equivalent to this for us would be "model millinery".
here is a video of how Chanel works for their haute couture. I'm sure the basis frame garment is machine sewn..followed by a lot of amazing handwork..perhaps watching this explains the prize
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Permalink Reply by Susan Fage
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Ooooo, that's interesting I always wondered too?
