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Trish Carmen Fashion
When I think couture as a journey into the past, I think women surrounded by maid servants helping them get dressed, I think of that woman whose only pre-occupation in life is being her affluent husband’s arm candy.
That is what she dedicated her whole public existence to.
Haute Couture literally means high sewing also known as high fashion. It is the art of dress making on a luxurious scale, items are made to measure, pieces are detailed and unique and the garment is painstakingly perfect.
Haute Couture was a necessity for Parisians in the 19th century, it was the ultimate in power dressing.
Women would go to couture houses to have bespoke clothing that would set them apart from the rest of the trendy crowd making it impossible for other ladies to turn up to events in the same outfit.
The opulent ring of exclusivity still surrounds Haute Couture today with the label being highly regarded.
Haute Couture is made to measure and anything made to measure is going to be pricier than ready to wear garments.
Designing Haute Couture can take weeks if not months, with some pieces taking up to 800 hours to create. Only the finest and most expensive materials are used including precious embellishments hence the hefty price tag.
Haute Couture known for its historic and rich sentimental value has now come into the public consciousness because of the red carpet.
You have celebrities from movie stars to musicians donning Haute Couture to various events such as the Zim Achievers Awards, Zimbabwe Model Awards, NAMA Awards, Oscars and Grammy Awards.
As long as an event is a red carpet people have no choice but to wear Haute Couture now.
Most Haute Couture wearers have originally been from the Middle East, China and Russia, but now we have a lot of African nations including our very own Zimbabwe developing a strong appreciation of Haute Couture as I have noticed at most red carpet events.
We now even have local stores such as The Designer Closet stocking amazing Haute Couture dresses for the ladies.
The people who make these high end garments are known as couturiers.
When you are a couturier you are expressing your financial muscle, you are the creme de la creme, the richest and most accomplished of top dogs in the fashion industry. And couturiers use Haute couture designs as a statement of strength and technical finesse.
We have our very own renowned couturier “Coco” with the Fashion Brand, Tapfumanei Munhenge , who has successfully showcased his amazing detailed designs on several runways throughout Africa.
I asked Tapfumaneyi if Haute Couture is for everyone and his response was as follows: “Haute couture is for that person who appreciates precious detail, timelessness and who knows that beautiful things do not always have to be useful as long as they nurture the eye and the soul”.
Having got that from our very own couturier I guess for the rest there are plenty of factories out there, till next time cio!
Trish Carmen is a Zimbabwean Fashion designer and hostess of The Front Page on Star FM. Her fashion Brand Trish Carmen has been showcased at SAFW, Durban Fashion Fair, Durban Designer show case, HIFA, Harare Jazz festival & KZN Fashion Council Fashion Showcase. Feedback: [email protected]
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