Fashion Schools Photography Shack
Fashion Schools Teaching Haute Couture
By Judd Walker
In the world of fashion design and fashion schools,
one of the most interesting terms thrown around is the
phrase "haute couture." Most people understand
it in one particular way, and don’t realize that its
original and more legal meaning is something rather
different.
The general understanding among many of those with
a career in fashion design is that the phrase simply
refers to high fashion. This would usually be applied
to the most influential and expensive fashions, and
to the designers or houses who create them.
But historically and legally, "haute couture"
refers to an even more specific type of fashion, and
it’s associated only with very few fashion design schools
and careers.
Legally Protected Term For Specific Designers
The term is legally protected in France, and can only
be applied to designers who make a list created by the
Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture based in Paris.
The criteria for being allowed to use the term involve
such things as private clients and the number of people
in the workshop, as well as requirements for presenting
collections in Paris twice a year. So legally speaking,
"haute couture" doesn’t properly apply to
just any career fashion designer.
Only One Fashion School Has Been Granted The Right
In The US
The Academy of Couture Art (ACA), however, has the
privilege of describing itself with this term, and was
granted that right by the Chambre Syndicale in Paris
itself. No other fashion schools in the United States
are couture schools, so this is quite a distinction
for this West Hollywood, California academy.
Their reasoning for setting up this sort of school
is that they want to bring the couture style into American
fashion, and each designer on the teaching faculty is
a career fashion designer who presents collections regularly
in Paris. This, among several other requirements, is
one of the elements of the couture style.
Single Made To Order For Private Clients
It may be, though, that the ACA and the Chambre Syndicale
are fighting a losing battle, trying to preserve the
haute couture designation in the old way. Many fashion
designers review their options and present ready-to-wear
fashions as haute couture, when one of the definitions
of the style involves single made-to-order pieces for
private clients.
Some designers, like Yves Saint Laurent, Pierre Cardin,
and so on, who trained at fashion schools that taught
the couture style but were already diverging from it,
eventually broke away completely.
With Paris losing its pre-eminence in dictating fashion,
the phrase "haute couture" still applies to
particularly expensive types of fashion, but now applies
much more broadly.
About the Author:
Judd Walker is an author of articles on design, digital video, digital photography and modeling including
Female Models,
Become A Model,
Movie Camera,
Best Digital Camcorder,
Film Director,
Funny Video Clips.
Keep a lookout for more articles coming soon.
More Fashion Schools Facts....
Fashion equates to big money for those that know how
the fashion industry works. Just think about the thousands
of women willing to dish out huge chunks of money for
uncomfortable shoes just because they are from Jimmy
Choo.
So you have fashion school under your belt...now what?
Now it is time to start learning how to be a success
and learning the business end of the fashion industry.
Maybe if you are lucky and work hard enough it will
be your name people are screaming about and willing
to pay thousands of dollars for just to own a piece
of your apparel.
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