Haute Couture VS Ready to Wear (RTW)
Haute couture
● Art or artistic
● High cost
● Produced in small quantities
● Expensive fabrics and materials
● Hand sewing
○ Specialized ways of sewing/techniques
● Custom fit
○ Made specifically for individual customers and their measurements
Terms for Haute Couture
● Couture house: where haute couture is stored
● Coutpurier: creator
● Boutique: where haute couture is sold
● Salon de couture: where they “show” haute couture
● Ateliere de couture: where haute couture is made and prepared
Chambre Syndicate (French Ministry for Industry)
● Need to be titled by them to be known as official haute couture
● Must be distinguished by specific qualifications
● Role:
a. Protects intellectual properties of couturier
b. Arranges shows
c. Covers press coverage
d. Invites buyers
● Currently there are 14 members of syndicate (Chanel, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Jean
Paul Gaultier)
Ready to Wear (RTW)
● “Ready to be worn”
● Pret-a-porter (France), Moda Pronto (Italy)
● Everyday looks
● Size based on
○ Standardized body dimensions (target customers’ body shapes)
○ Company size standard
○ Wearing and design ease
● Machine sewings
● Greater availabilities
○ Sold in retail outlets
● Lower costs
○ Mass production
Product Assembly and Timeline of Productions
● Collection
○ Same as the line but for high priced merch
○ S/S and F/W collections shown during fashion weeks
● Line
○ Groups of styles designed by a particular season
● Fashion Season
○ single/or multiple delivery in one season, etc. Fall 1, Fall 2, Fall 3
○ Depends on the product category (swimwear vs outerwear)
○ Fast fashion- weekly basis releases
Types of Fashion Brands & Companies
Manufacturers
● Perform all functions: creating/designing, marketing & distributing
Manufacturers may:
● Use their own factories
● Hire contractors to produce
● Use both own and hired contractors (ex. Brooks Brothers)
Store Brands (SPA)
