00:00Did you know that, although Colombia has some of the best designers in Latin America
00:04And in the rest of the world, is there no haute couture here?
00:06First, let's clarify something. Haute couture is not synonymous with expensive clothing. Haute couture
00:11It is a legal title protected by France. It is a term coined in mid-century France.
00:15of the 19th century, according to William Cruz Bermeo, a researcher of fashion and clothing
00:20the Pontifical Bolivarian University, to differentiate custom-made clothing from
00:25mass production that was beginning to flourish during the Industrial Revolution.
00:28Haute couture refers to a method of clothing production based on artisanal techniques.
00:35both sewing and treading, embroidery, draping and tailoring, among others, forged throughout
00:41of the centuries, but in constant dialogue with advances in new materials. To that end,
00:45Select raw materials and a highly skilled, trained workforce are used.
00:51through a teaching method based primarily on the figure of the master and the apprentice, contrary
00:57What is commonly said is not a technique that renounces the machine, but rather establishes
01:03a link between the hand and the machine, and therein lies its artisanal quality.
01:07So only a few fashion houses in the world can officially use that name,
01:13because they meet very strict requirements. Among those requirements, established by the
01:17The Haute Couture Syndicate is dedicated to creating completely custom-made garments.
01:22in a handcrafted way, have specialized workshops in Paris and present two official collections
01:27annually during Paris Haute Couture Week.
01:30However, the Chamber of the Haute Couture Syndicate also has corresponding members
01:36whose workshops are not based in Paris, but whose activities are similar to those
01:40of the great fashion designers.
01:42So why doesn't Colombia produce haute couture?
01:44The answer is simple: because no Colombian brand complies with the legal requirements.
01:48that France requires to receive that designation. That doesn't mean there isn't work being done here.
01:53Extraordinary craftsmanship. Colombian designers create handmade pieces.
01:57with embroidery, ancestral techniques and very high quality finishes, the thing is that officially
02:02They can't call them haute couture.
02:04The next time you hear that a dress is haute couture, remember that it's not enough to
02:08that is exclusive or very luxurious. It is a legal category, with very specific and reserved rules.
02:13for a very small group of fashion houses.
02:16If you want to learn more about this content, don't forget to visit the Fashion and Industry section.
02:19on elespectador.com
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