The French word “Haute” means elegant or high and “Couture” means dressmaking, sewing or needlework. Haute Couture clothing is custom made for a specific customer using only the most high quality fabrics and embellishments. The clothing is hand sewn which is labor intensive and done only by the most experienced seamstresses. Haute Couture clothing is the most expensive clothing and is what designers show on the runway. Although 99% of the population can’t afford Haute Couture clothing, the designers use these fashions to ‘sell a dream’. Once a designer’s collection has been shown on the runway, they typically offer a less expensive line to the general public that is inspired from their runway collection.