The term haute couture literally translates from French as “high sewing” or “high dressmaking”. In the modern sense, the term is applied to exclusive, made-to-measure luxury fashion design and is often contrasted with ready-to-wear (prêt-à-porter) garments. The roots of haute couture can be traced back to the reign of Queen Marie Antoinette, whose dressmaker, Rose Bertin, is credited with bringing high fashion to the forefront of popular culture.
English fashion designer Charles Frederick Worth, who lived and worked in Paris, is widely regarded as the father of modern haute couture. He moved to Paris in 1846 and founded his design house in 1858. The House of Worth quickly became popular among wealthy and titled customers due to Worth’s innovative approach to dressmaking and marketing. Worth’s designs were recognized for their elegant fabrics, detailed trimming, and excellent fit.
Other designers followed in his footsteps, and more fashion houses began to emerge, catering to customers interested in unique garments. Ten years after establishing the House of Worth, Worth founded the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture, des Confectionneurs et des Tailleurs pour Dame to define what constituted a fashion house, formalize industry standards, and safeguard the interests of couture houses.
In 1945, the term haute couture was officially registered as a controlled appellation by the Paris Chamber of Commerce, and the organization managing the haute couture industry was renamed the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. Only houses and companies that are approved annually by a dedicated commission of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture are eligible for this designation.
The Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, now part the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM), has organized biannual fashion weeks since 1978. Paris Haute Couture Week is held right after Paris Men’s Fashion Week and about a month before Paris Fashion Week. The event is usually held in late January for the spring/summer collections and in late July for the fall/winter collections.
Unlike “regular” fashion weeks, which primarily showcase ready-to-wear garments, Paris Haute Couture Week focuses exclusively on presenting unique, handcrafted collections from prestigious fashion houses such as Schiaparelli, Julie de Libran, Georges Hobeika, Christian Dior, Rahul Mishra, Imane Ayissi, Giambattista Valli, Chanel, Gaurav Gupta, Stéphane Rolland, Julien Fournié, Giorgio Armani Privé, Alexis Mabille, Franck Sorbier, Elie Saab, Valentino, Viktor & Rolf, Zuhair Murad, etc.
All participating designers and houses are either members of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture or have been specifically invited to participate. All events at Paris Haute Couture Week are industry exclusive and by invitation only, though some runway shows are streamed publicly.
Photo: fhcm.paris