What Are the Differences Between Ready-to-Wear and Haute Couture?

 Ready-to-wear clothing and haute couture are two different ways the fashion world approaches clothes making. Ready-to-wear is clothing sold “off the rack,” meaning that it is made in standardized sizes, is usually mass-produced, and is meant to be purchased and worn immediately, often without alteration. Haute couture refers to high-end, custom clothing made and tailored exclusively for the wearer.

Almost all major fashion labels (like Gucci, Lacroix, Prada, or Dior) make and show prêt-à-porter or ready-to-wear collections, in addition to their haute couture lines. Other differences between ready-to-wear and haute couture include:

• Production. Manufacturers produce ready-to-wear clothing using factories with automated processes, while haute couture is usually handmade from start to finish—including designing, stitching, and tailoring.
• Sizing. Ready-to-wear clothing is available in “standard sizes” (for instance, from XXS to XXL) to streamline the production process; haute couture is made to measure, which means it is tailored for the wearer’s body.
• Cost. Ready-to-wear clothing is inexpensive to produce and typically sells for low prices. Haute couture can be expensive; its price is based on its exclusivity and the high-quality materials and labor used to create the often one-of-a-kind pieces.

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