France and its love affair with fashion dates back to the 18th century when vogue meant opulence and grandeur for the royalty.
It is no brainer that Paris has been ruling the high seas of fashion since times infinite. The French capital is not just a dream holiday destination but every budding designer’s sky. The Paris Fashion week is the culmination of four fashion weeks, the others being Milan Fashion week, London Fashion week and New York Fashion Week. Headquarters to the biggest fashion brands, Paris determines what the world will wear the next season.
France and its love affair with fashion, however, dates back to the 18th century when vogue meant opulence and grandeur for the royalty. The insatiable appetite of the French court for opulent dress has driven the country’s textile trade since the sovereign rule of Louis XIV. Mary Antoinette’s court even hired “Minister of Fashion”.
But revulsed by the royalty’s monopoly over fashion, an era of ‘antifashion followed French Revolution where the society adopted the uniform of the working class from apron to mobcaps.
History of haute culture in Paris and the growing industry
Haute couture refers to the creation of exclusive custom fitted high-end fashion designs constructed by hand from start to finish. Paris first became the centre of the growing industry that used high quality unusual fabric sewn with much care for details, using hand used techniques.
Charles Frederick Worth, born in England established the first haute couture house in Paris. Another famed French couturier, Christian Dior started his career in Paris under fashion designer Robert Piguet. He later went on to found ‘The House of Christian Dior’ in 1946. Later Yves Saint Laurent took over as Haute Couture Designer. The term ‘Haute Couture’ became a ‘protected name’ in France, and could be used by companies that could meet certain standards.
Best designers have roots in Paris also forming the golden triangle
The world’s best designers have been operating from Paris. It is currently home to the headquarters of Vuitton, Rochas, Chanel, Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent, Céline, Dior , Jean-Paul Gaultier etc. In has an area bordered by top fashion houses like the Avenue Marceau, Champs-Elysées, Avenue Montaigne where visitors can find the world’s top design houses – from Chanel to Dior.
House to fashion trade unions and world’s best fashion school
Paris’ Fédérationfrançaise de la couture created in 1973, is a trade union dedicated to protecting French fashion and consists– the trade union of high fashion, the trade union of women’s fashion and of men’s fashion. World’s foremost fashion school – the Ecole de la chambresyndicale de la couture Parisienne is in Paris.
