Sometimes getting dressed for an outing can seem difficult and time consuming, but most of us never think about all the work that actually went into creating the wonderful garments designed and constructed by fashion designers and workers that make up haute couture.                               

Haute couture, completely bespoke, handmade garments created with the highest-quality fabrics, sits at the pinnacle of luxury fashion craftsmanship and exclusivity. In fact, the very term ‘haute couture’ is protected by law in France. And rules dictated by the Parisian Chamber of Commerce and Industry require members of the haute couture club to adhere to very strict guidelines pertaining to their runway shows, ateliers and artisans, to name but a few.

These artisans take hundreds of hours to construct each couture piece; an exquisitely embroidered and feathered gown from Chanel’s latest couture collection took a team of 200 around 2,000 total hours to make. The atelier staff, known as “petites mains,” are highly skilled. They painstakingly pleat, drape and transform delicate fabrics into astonishingly detailed eveningwear and daywear. Read More