What is LUXURY STREETWEAR?

Haute Couture + Streetwear = Luxury Streetwear

Haute Couture + Streetwear = Luxury Streetwear, Haute Streetwear, Sporty Couture or Streetwear de Luxe like I like to call it. Since I’m French Canadian I can legitimately use the pompous French name like any ‘High Fashion” French designers do.

Streetwear

While anyone with a Shopify store can officially start a streetwear/urbanwear brand.

Haute Couture is a whole different animal.

Here’s a disclaimer about Haute Couture and people/brands who use the term.

It’s because the top end of the market, Haute Couture and supreme (no the overpriced streetwear brand) fashion, is only open to specialist, mainly traditional, qualified, fashion houses. So, think rare, one off, high-quality fashion products, uniquely sourced materials, exclusive prime locations, exceptional customer experiences, and bespoke events. Designated haute couture is very expensive and can only be obtained and experienced in the fashion capital of the world – Paris.

Haute Couture (French): In France, term Haute Couture is like Champagne, an “appellation contrôlée” which means that the name’s use is rigidly defined, strictly controlled and legally protected by law since 1945 and defined by the Paris Chamber of Commerce based in Paris.

The Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (‘Federation of Haute Couture and Fashion’) is the governing body for the French fashion industry.

The Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode is defined as “the regulating commission that determines which fashion houses are eligible to be true haute couture houses”. Their rules state that only “those companies mentioned on the list drawn up each year by a commission domiciled at the Ministry for Industry are entitled to avail themselves” of the label haute couture.

Just for the bragging rights of producing Haute Couture:

• First and foremost, you must be a member (grand couturier) of the ultra-exclusive Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture.
• Then you must follow specific rules:
• create made-to-order dresses and other garments for private clients, with one or more fittings;
• have a workshop (atelier) in Paris that employs at least 15 staff members full-time;
• have at least 20 full-time technical people, in at least one workshop (atelier); and
• present a collection of at least 50 original designs to the public every fashion season (twice, in January and July of each year), of both day and evening garments.
• Being reviewed and judged annually so you can continue to enjoy the Haute Couture label.

Only fashion brands that have been granted the designation by the French Ministry of Industry can actually use the term Haute Couture. Though plenty of brands are using it liberally.

Members of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture (grand couturiers)

There are currently 16 “grand couturiers” and 8 “membres correspondants” in the whole world that can use the term Haute Couture:

• Adeline André
• Alexandre Vauthier
• Alexis Mabille
• Bouchra Jarrar
• Chanel
• Christian Dior
• Frank Sorbier
• Giambattista Valli
• Givenchy
• Jean Paul Gaultier
• Julien Fournié
• Maison Margiela
• Maison Rabih Kayrouz
• Maurizio Galante
• Schiaparelli
• Stéphane Rolland

Membres Correspondants:

• Atelier Versace
• Elie Saab
• Fendi Couture
• Giorgio Armani Privé
• Iris Van Herpen
• Ulyana Sergeenko
• Valentino
• Viktor & Rolf

Beside official members, the Chambre syndicale officially “invites” each season some “guests.” They cannot use the term “haute couture” but only the term “couture” and can become grands couturiers after 2 years.

Haute Couture craftmanship

Haute Couture garments are made by hand and by measure to fit an exact client’s measurements, while luxury ready-to-wear collections are produced in mass with a standard sizing and available easily in stores or online. Depending on the level of embellishment some pieces can take upwards of 700 hours to create, as each is hand sewn.

Haute Couture price tag

Still depending on the level of embellishment. Day wear usually starts at around $25,000, though it does depend on the brand [Chanel Haute Couture generally costs between $40,000-80,000], while bridal can easily cost $100,000 to $250,000, depending on the embroideries. Unlike ready-to-wear, haute couture garments don’t come with a set price tag – rather, the final bill tallies the cost of each material and the number of labour hours involved.

So don’t expect to see any legit Haute Couture for less than $1,000.

Now, Haute Couture members are facing a major problem that almost nobody can afford Haute Couture. Only 2000 (200-4000 depending of the source) people worldwide annually purchase Haute Couture (not just “borrow” it for the red carpet).

Haute Couture bi-annual Collections and Fashion Shows are generally a losing business for most couture houses. Nonetheless, these Collections and Fashion Shows are used as prestigious advertising for their much more lucrative side activities like mass-produced prêt-à-porter (ready-to-wear) collections and licensing (perfumes, eyewears, cosmetics, accessories).

Their sole brand name is their money-printing machine.

Sources:
https://www.the-new-englander.com/2020/02/06/haute-couture-streetwear-luxury-streetwear-edited-by-homestead-needs-photo/
https://fifthfrancis.com/what-is-haute-streetwear/
https://www.theblondesalad.com/en/fashion/sporty-couture-a-new-aesthetic-between-streetwear-and-haute-couture/
https://couturenotebook.com/haute-couture-definition-clients-and-prices
https://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/article/couture-by-numbers
https://www.visionmode.com/fashion/haute-couture-vs-luxury-what-sets-them-apart/
https://www.thestylehistorian.com/articles/the-history-of-haute-couture
https://jestafreak.com/explore-the-fashion-brands-pyramid/