The term «Haute Couture» is often used when talking about fashion and high-end clothing, but what exactly does it mean? Translated from the French it means "high fashion", that is, production of exclusive clothes. Haute couture - is clothing that is sewn to a specific customer, the most expensive fabrics, hand, with maximum attention to detail. Production takes time and requires the work of professionals of the highest level.

High fashion has appeared in the nineteenth century in Paris. Englishman Charles Frederick Worth made a new philosophy of garment production - he created the first fashion house, the predecessor of modern brands. Subsequently there were other houses of haute couture and women of the upper classes has become customary to order clothes it in such fashion.

Worth and his sons established in 1868, the Paris Chamber (or syndicate) high fashion, which still defines what fashion houses may be of high rank of Haute Couture. In 1946, there were one hundred and six official home of high fashion, the criteria established by the Chamber in 1945.

By 1952, their number has decreased significantly - up shestidestyai. This was due to the influence of the Second World War on the industry - mass products began to replace manual production. The need for a long time to sew clothes to order gradually began to seem pointless. Fashion became easier, and Paris had to come up with a way to keep its high fashion. From the House of haute couture fashion increased the French Federation, created in 1973 to preserve the tradition. This organization announces the time and place of the French fashion weeks.

Syndicate remains relevant and continues to preserve and develop their traditions, as well as to protect their members. It sets quality standards of haute couture. According to the rules of the House, only members of the list, updated each year, may call themselves houses of haute couture. To earn this right, members of the House should observe the following rules: create clothes for private clients, with one or more fitting; fashion house should have a studio in Paris, where they work at least fifteen people; Each season (twice a year), the house must be of the Paris press collection, consisting of no less than thirty-five images both day and evening.

After the introduction of the very stringent limits the number of official houses of haute couture in 2000 decreased to eighteen. In 2002, when Yves Saint Laurent retired and closed his famous house, there are only twelve. In 2012, the official members of the house are as follows: Adeline Andre, Anne Valerie Hash, Atelier Gustavo Lins, Chanel, Christian Dior, Christophe Josse, Franck Sorbier, Givenchy, Jean Paul Gaultier, Maurizio Galante, Stephane Rolland and Giambattista Valli.

How long it will last the French Federation of Fashion with a small number of fashion houses? The exclusivity of their products is important for their customers, but the clientele is getting older houses of haute couture. Young women who could not afford "haute couture", often choose a more convenient and practical clothes ready-to-wear.

For most of the remaining haute couture fashion houses Haute Couture (Haute Couture): the birth of art   Status is important only for the prestige and high fashion shows wasteful. The four most major brands - Chanel, Dior, Givency and Gaultier - use high fashion as a marketing tool, which improves sales collections of ready-made garments, perfumes and accessories.

However, aside from the federal standards, high fashion is still relevant - unique handmade clothes again in favor. But at home, "haute couture" must take into account that they are now - is not the only source of such garments, and they have to compete with other manufacturers.

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