Haute couture is the creation of exclusive custom-fitted clothing. Haute couture is high-end fashion design that is constructed by hand from start to finish, made from high-quality, expensive, often ...

What does it mean if something is couture?

Couture is a French word that means “sewing” or “dressmaking.” The phrase haute couture translates as “high sewing” or “high dressmaking” and is synonymous with high fashion. In France, clothing cannot be labeled haute couture unless it meets certain standards set by an official organization.

What does couture mean in the fashion industry?

Translated literally, couture is French for dressmaking, while haute means high. ... To qualify as an official Haute Couture house, members must design made-to-order clothes for private clients, with more than one fitting, using an atelier (workshop) that employs at least fifteen fulltime staff.