Threading Up

THERE IS MADE TO MEASURE AND THERE IS HAUTE COUTURE, WHICH TAKES MADE TO MEASURE TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL. IT’S EVERY FASHIONISTA’S FASHION FANTASY

- Wendy Long

Haute couture, which is French for ‘high dressmaking’ and ‘high fashion’, refers to clothes that are exclusively crafted for the client, from start to finish, by a team of highly skilled and experienced seamstresses. Every detail is hand sewn and only the most exquisite fabric and embellishments are used. In fact, there is even a committee in France, the Chambre Syndicale de la Hate Couture, that decides which fashion house can be called an haute couture house. It is that exclusive and privileged.

Haute couture shows are held twice a year, in January (Autumn/ Winter collection) and in July (Spring/Summer collection). Those who are invited to the shows (often reserved for existing VVIP clients of the fashion houses) get to see the collection, and are invited to make an appointment with the atelier thereafter, for a private viewing of the collection. A proper working Haute Couture atelier must have two ateliers: a Taillure (suiting) atelier and a Flu (dresses) atelier.