Hand-crafted luxury and $100K price tags: This is haute couture | CNN (2024)

Elie Saab Autumn-Winter 2015 —

In the fashion community, haute couture represents the highest quality money can buy.

Jean Paul Gaultier Autumn-Winter 2015 —

Haute couture, which means "high sewing" in French, is a term for garments that are made entirely by hand by the industry's most skilled artisans and craftsman.

Valentino Spring-Summer 2015 —

Not every designer can call their work haute couture. Only those who have been approved by the French Ministry of Industry have that right.

Serkan Cura Autumn-Winter 2014 —

Each garment is made-to-order and designs are often limited edition.

Christian Dior Autumn-Winter 2014 —

Prices typically start at $10,000, but can go up to the hundreds of thousands.

Chanel Spring-Summer 2015 —

Haute Couture Fashion Week, held twice a year in Paris, is organized by the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. The committee is made up of representatives from the designated couture houses, including Chanel and Christian Dior.

Viktor & Rolf Autumn-Winter 2015 —

Lesser known brands like Viktor & Rolf, Bouchra Jarrar and Ralph Russo also show on schedule.

Lan Yu Autumn-Winter 2014 —

There are about 30 haute couture shows in Paris, compared to 150 women's ready-to-wear shows each season.

Giorgio Armani Prive Spring-Summer 2014 —

Couture clients have traditionally been wealthy western Europeans, but there are growing client bases in China, the Middle East and Russia.

Atelier Versace Autumn-Winter 2015 —

Couture shows are not only used to sell the garments themselves. Couture imagery is often used to market affordable luxuries like lipstick and leather goods.