The Opulence And Exclusivity Of Couture Fashion

By Tammie Caldwell


It is only celebrities and the very rich who are able to buy garments with very high price tags. Couture fashion is exclusive, and the process of buying it offers privacy to these wealthy clients. It also offers a perfect fit as great care is taken to cut and fit the garment to the shape of the client. Garments are often made up by numerous people paying attention to every exquisite detail.

Parisian women have a reputation for their sense of style. Their desire for bespoke garments that made them stand out from the crowd goes back many years. The garment industry in Paris has a rich history and this is protected fiercely. Only top designers are able to use the label.

Elie Saab, Coco Chanel, Pierre Cardin, Christian Dior and Jean-Paul Gautier are some of these designers. There are about 18 members who belong to a particular syndicate in Paris, employ the required number of 15 or more people and present collections twice a year. Collections must consist of at least 35 outfits that can be worn during the day or in the evening.

In making these garments, the designers use exquisite fabrics such as cashmere, leather, fine wools and silks. Great attention is paid to cutting and fitting the garment for a special client. After this, many hours are spent creating it and a number of people may work on a certain garment at one time. Some garments are created specifically for models to wear as part of a collection.

Service, originality, workmanship and the quality of the materials used means that these garments command very high prices. In fact, only the very rich can afford them. Not many sales of such garments are made in a year and so the fashion houses have to look for other ways to make money. One may wonder why they continue to make them. The answer lies in the amount of publicity and media attention that is attracted by the shows and the high profile clients.

Most of these giant brands have ready-to-wear collections. These are still quality garments and capture the signature style of the brand without the hefty price tag. Most houses also have ranges of accessories like bags and scarves as well as perfumes. It is these items that are often purchased in large quantities, enabling the brands to continue making exclusive garments that do not make them money.

The designers usually introduce new styles, colors and trends in their collections. Week long events are held in London, Milan, New York and Paris where these collections are shown. These occasions give the brands a great deal of publicity and are attended by celebrities, journalists, bloggers and all the serious players in the world of fashion.

So, the practice of producing these exclusive garments continues. A few rich clients benefit from the service and privacy offered by such a system as well as owning garments that are made to fit them perfectly. The publicity helps to build the image of the brand, ensuring that their ready-to-wear ranges are in great demand. Those who love the styles but cannot afford the high prices can enjoy these garments and accessories like scarves, bags and perfumes at a price more affordable to them. Everybody wins and this is why such a system continues to exist.




About the Author: