Couture outside of Haute Couture

[gius]

Does anyone know if this even exists?
Seen it alive?

I am talking about couture as a technique
Hand-finished garments.

We know haute couture as a group, its members which have to abide certain guidelines. They use the couture technique in making their clothes.
But there must be others who also use the same technique. How many of them (couturiers) are out there that don't belong to the group? Do they exist? And who are they?

For menswear, one would be Savile Row.


Haute couture members

ADELINE ANDRÉ
ANNE VALÉRIE HASH
CHANEL
CHRISTIAN DIOR
CHRISTIAN LACROIX
DOMINIQUE SIROP
FRANCK SORBIER
GIVENCHY
JEAN PAUL GAULTIER
MAURIZIO GALANTE
STÉPHANE ROLLAND

modeaparis.com

I have read also about designers who are called for making "luxury ready-to-wear", where their clothes combine both the use of machine and hand-stitching. Also worth mentioning.

 

[gius]

Also found this on modeaparis.com

They are called correspondents members
not sure what that is.

ELIE SAAB
GIORGIO ARMANI
MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA
VALENTINO

 

[eternitygoddess]

From what I understand, correspondent members are those that are not French, but have been given permission to stage couture shows.

 

[gius]

Norman Hartnell, London, England

Norman Hartnell was born in 1901. At a very early age it was clear that he had a great talent for drawing and design, but it was while he was studying Architecture at Cambridge that he started to design clothes . After University Norman started in the fashion trade, opening a salon at No.10 Bruton Street. Early clients included actors Noel Coward and Gertie Lawrence and author Barbara Cartland. In fact he dressed many of the 'superstars' of the time, including Isabel Jeans, Greer Garson, Merle Oberon, Norma Shearer, Marlene Dietrich and Vivienne Leigh.
In 1935 came the first Royal commission, to create the wedding dress for the marriage of the Duke of Gloucester and Lady Alice Montague Dougal Scott and the dresses for the bridesmaids, including the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. This was the first of many commissions for the Royal family culminated in his most famous, that for the Coronation Dress of Queen Elizabeth II. Hartnell continued to make for the great people of international society; until he passed away in 1979.

Hartnell became known for the glamour and assurance of his clothes and by 1939 was making 2000 gowns per year for private customers. He dressed the elite of society for more than five decades.
www.normanhartnell.com

 

[obsvr]

One question, are couture garments purely 100% hand sewn? Or is it just the finishing?

 

[mackos]

I think Balenciaga can be considered, Nicolas said that the metallic dresses from Spring/Summer 2009 collection were made with ribbons used to give the shape to the couture gowns.

 

[lucy92]

vionnet and jeanne lanvin could definitely be considered Grand Coutierers of their time.

is ralph rucci still consdered HC? im not sure.

i know he does couture stuff outside of his collection for clients. Also only he does the finishing...he doesnt have his team do it.

As for more contemporary designers, i think that sophia kokosalaki uses these techniques...(as seen in her olympic dress for bjork)