Careers As a Couture Fashion Designer
In terms of clout; haute couture is fashion's highest art form and ranks at the top of fashion's career ladder. Simple couture falls one rung down. Both are epitomes, signifying status and privilege. Haute couture; a French term, translates literally as "high fashion". Characterized by custom sizing and lofty prices, haute couture began in Paris with Charles Worth. High pricing and marketing aimed at the wealthy retains its exclusivity. According to Italy's Altagamma Foundation; the luxury goods sector that includes couture, is experiencing growth in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. The U. S. and Japan are no longer couture's strongholds.
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Fashion Hierarchy
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Couture careers fall into several camps. The loftiest, haute couture, is produced exclusively by famed Parisian design houses belonging to the French haute couture trade association. Each year the ranks of haute couture are updated. Members are added or removed based upon meeting strict industry guidelines imposed by the association.
Couture, on its own, has no industry-related requirements. Exclusive designers from around the world refer to their top lines as couture work. Valentino, Donna Karan and Burberry all have couture lines, as does Missoni and Prada. Exclusive department stores have couture niches set aside. Wine, private showings, exclusive trunk shows and personal shoppers are standard accoutrements on couture floorspace.
Independent couturiers are associated with no design house and create custom orders generated through local reputation.
Breaking In
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Haute couture design career opportunities are rare. Few are able to break into such a limited niche. Noted designers who have gained industry recognition are sometimes recruited in. Brilliant design students occasionally come to the attention of a fabled couture house when their works are displayed at fashion college graduation shows. Apprenticeships and inside contacts can also catapult an anonymous design student from obscurity into haute couture's realms. Stellar skills, original portfolio concepts and distinctive styles with high end appeal are all necessary.
Couture designers have more extensive opportunity for employment. By starting out with a design house, a designer can work their way up the ranks.
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Independent Couturiers
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Couturiers live in all regions. Fashion-conscious metropolitan areas including Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta and Miami are prime locations. Couturiers are free to open shop in any business district, but must first take into account local market demographics. Researching prospective client bases and ascertaining availability of materials is a prudent step to take before determining a region's ability to support couture-mania
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These independent designers are associated with no major line, but often take their cues from the big-name fashion designers. Many of their orders are for duplicates or "knock-offs" of designs worn by celebrities. Wedding gowns and prom dresses are frequent requests for the independent. Local boutiques sometimes carry a couturier's work as their local reputation builds.
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References
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