Couture Garments
Extraordinary garments demand extraordinary care
At RAVE FabriCARE, our skilled couture specialists excel in their understanding of exquisite fabrics, unusual textures, and special trims and embellishments. And in their knowledge of the art of design and the craftsmanship of construction.
From intricate beaded and sequined gowns to one-of-a-kind handmade garments, from modern to vintage, the delicate nature of these pieces dictates the utmost scrutiny, respect, care and attention to detail.
Specifically, our couture specialists:
- Inspect each garment as it arrives – inside and out – paying particular attention to the fabric fibers, fabric textures, fabric finishes, dyes, trim and embellishments, and construction.
- Determine the best and most appropriate cleaning techniques, processes and solutions. All stains receive immediate attention.
- Design individualized cleaning processes for garments with metallic thread, resin finishes and unstable dyes.
- Remove all fragile buttons, trim, embellishments and ornaments prior to cleaning and reattach prior to or immediately after finishing the piece.
- Perform minor repairs before the actual cleaning process begins and again should it be necessary during the final inspection process.
- Hand finish every garment. Delicately. Both inside and out. The old fashioned way. Using a hand iron. With an appreciation of the nuances and subtleties of the couturier’s sensibilities.
- Inspect every garment carefully and thoroughly. From top to bottom. From inside to outside.
- Package every garment individually and elegantly to ensure that they are protected during transportation and short-term storage.
From Chanel and Givenchy to Oscar de la Renta and Giambattista Valli, you can trust RAVE FabriCARE with all your couture garments.
"Couture Care Specialists". Say what?
The skills required to safely and expertly care for couture garments resides in the hands of specialists who have developed those skills over time. Not from an organization that'll license their "Couture Care Specialist" designations to literally any cleaner for a monthly fee of approximately $500.
Fact is, there are dry cleaners in Arizona and throughout the USA who promote themselves as "Couture Care Specialists" despite the fact that they are not licensed to use that designation.
So when it comes to selecting a cleaner with the skills to safely and expertly care for your couture garments, look beyond the smoke and mirrors.
Look for a true quality cleaner recommended by many of the Valley department stores and boutiques that sell couture and who are entrusted by those stores to clean couture garments in their inventory that might have gotten stained in some fashion as well as the couture garments that have been sold to a client, worn by that client and then returned by the client with the comment that "my dry cleaner refuses to touch this garment".
Couture dictionary
Today, the term “couture” is widely and, often, quite loosely used (and even misused).
Here’s an overview of couture-related terms:
Haute couture
These are clothes that are hand-sewn to order by fashion houses using the world’s finest materials. These fashion houses must meet the requirements of the French Couture Federation, the regulatory group empowered by French law to bestow the official “haute couture” title. Ten designers now have this designation, down from 40 in the 1960’s.
To qualify for the designation “haute couture”, fashion houses must employ at least 20 people to create hand-stitched collections of at least 25 looks twice a year and show them in Paris for at least two years. Or simply be voted in. The clothes are produced by using a client’s measurements to create an outfit out of muslin, and then using the muslin as a pattern for a garment made of fine fabrics.
Made-to-order
Designers who haven’t sought the haute couture designation use this term to describe their handmade clothes.
Semi couture
Some designers use this term to describe clothes that are machine-sewn, but in limited quantities (as few as 8 or 10). Sometimes these designers use fine materials like those used in haute couture clothes. Their clothes often come with loose seams so they can be disassembled and finished by a tailor. Some designers refer to semi-couture as their “special order” service.
