Versace leads Paris’ haute couture revival

FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014 file photo, models present creations by Italian fashion designer Donatella Versace as part of the Atelier Versace Spring-Summer 2014 Haute Couture fashion collection, presented in Paris. Just a few years ago it was on the brink of extinction, now haute couture - the 150-year-old Parisian tradition of making bespoke, hand-constructed and astronomically-priced gowns - is back. And critics are saying it’s more relevant than ever. The fall-winter 2014/15 collection calendar, starting Sunday with Atelier Versace, has this season expanded to five days from three to make room for 12 major houses, as well as collections a whole swathe of up-and-coming names. Additions in recent seasons include the return of big-hitters Donatella Versace, Giorgio Armani and Maison Schiaparelli to the calendar. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon, file) FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014 file photo, models present creations by Italian fashion designer Donatella Versace as part of the Atelier Versace Spring-Summer 2014 Haute Couture fashion collection, presented in Paris. Just a few years ago it was on the brink of extinction, now haute couture - the 150-year-old Parisian tradition of making bespoke, hand-constructed and astronomically-priced gowns - is back. And critics are saying it’s more relevant than ever. The fall-winter 2014/15 collection calendar, starting Sunday with Atelier Versace, has this season expanded to five days from three to make room for 12 major houses, as well as collections a whole swathe of up-and-coming names. Additions in recent seasons include the return of big-hitters Donatella Versace, Giorgio Armani and Maison Schiaparelli to the calendar. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon, file)

By Associated Press July 6, 2014 2 min read

PARIS (AP) – Just a few years ago it was on the brink of extinction. Now, haute couture – the 150-year-old Parisian tradition of making unique, astronomically-priced handmade gowns – is back.

The fall-winter 2014/15 collection calendar, starting Sunday with Atelier Versace and graced by Jennifer Lopez, has expanded to five days from three to make room for 12 major houses as well as collections from a whole swathe of up-and-coming names. Additions in recent seasons include the return of big-hitters Donatella Versace, Giorgio Armani and Maison Schiaparelli to the calendar.

So why did the tide turn?

“With so much focus from fashion’s powerhouses on heritage and traditions, couture has returned to center-stage as it is the embodiment of savoir-faire,” suggested Long Nguyen, co-founder and style director of Flaunt magazine.

“There is also a resurgence of clients coming from new markets – Asia Pacific, Middle East, Russia – that supplanted the dwindling traditional European-based customers,” he added.