Our first module’s AD203 and AD208 were fortunate enough to be part sponsored by `MaoCouture’.
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| Anh Mao |
Who is MaoCouture ???
In September 2006, Anh Mao started her business, MaoCouture, which specialises in imaginative, striking and versatile bridal and evening wear. She started out in the corner of her garage armed with two very old sewing machines. She wrote down all of her different ideas about how her ambitions could be accomplished using as little money as possible.
She has since designed for Miss England and Miss World, and has sat on the judging panel for the Miss and Mr. England final. Her dream of moving the business from her home to a commercial space was realised in 2008 after the demand from her clients reached boiling point. Anh opened the MaoCouture Designer Boutique on Station Road in South Gosforth, which stocks exquisite cocktail and evening dresses.
The brief was too research, design and go onto make a prom/evening dress.
To begin this module, I first investigated both Haute Couture and prêt a porter. I looked at both historical and contemporary examples.
Haute Couture
Haute Couture
Haute Couture
Haute Couture
Haute Couture
Haute Couture
What is Haute Couture.....???
"High Sewing/Stitching'" Haute Couture is the production of one off pieces, it is an extremely high quality made garment made from luxurious fabrics, embellished and hand crafted. They are made to measure garments that sell in the exclusive end of the market and can sell in excess of tens of thousands of pounds.
Haute Couture items are usually displayed within fashion shows on models, then the client will choose the item they want, this is then made to fit them and they have no idea of what the garment will look like on until its complete.
- This is a great historical example of Charles Frederick Worth who was widely considered as the Father of Haute couture, he was an English fashion designer of the 19th century, whose works were produced in Paris.
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| Charles Frederick Worth |
- Inspired by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, this collection by Givenchy for the autumn 2011 couture collection.
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| Givenchy Haute Couture 2011 |
prêt a porter
prêt a porter
prêt a porter
prêt a porter
prêt a porter
prêt a porter
What is prêt a porter.....???
Prêt a porter is the term for factory made clothing produced by many couture houses as a more profitable and affordable range. This is due to the higher volume turnover of garments, and greater availability of the clothing. Many designers have these diffusion collections. The collections tend to be smalls runs in multiples of hundreds and thousands so to still have their exclusivity. They are manufactured at a high quality but on an industrial scale, with a high price tag as attention to detail is still meticulous. This level still allows the customer to have the exclusivity of wearing a designer item, but they are able to select the garment in their size and know what it looks like there and then unlike couture.
- This is an image from a YSL prêt-a-porter collection from the late 80’s.
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| YSL pret a porter 1980's |
- Holly Fulton’s s/s 2010 collection, Inspired by Cubism and the Bauhaus, Is a mix of many of Her inspirations, such as Pop Art, Art Deco, skyscrapers and reggae music, contrasted with the monochrome print.
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| Holly Fulton S/S 2010 |
