What French term means custom-fitted high fashion made by hand?

Haute couture is the French term for custom-fitted high fashion made by hand. Literally associated with “high dressmaking,” it describes garments produced individually for a client rather than manufactured as standard-size ready-to-wear clothing.

Haute couture developed especially in Paris during the nineteenth century, when English designer Charles Frederick Worth helped establish the modern fashion house and the designer-led couture system. Couture garments are made through extensive handwork, fittings and specialized techniques, often using luxurious fabrics, embroidery, feathers or beading.

The term is more specific than a general description of expensive or handmade clothing. In France, “haute couture” is legally protected and governed by rules set through the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode. Official houses must meet requirements that include made-to-measure work, a Paris atelier and a qualified permanent staff.

Ready-to-wear, by contrast, is produced in standardized sizes. Streetwear and fast fashion describe styles or production models, not bespoke couture craftsmanship.