The term ready-to-wear comes from French and is the middle ground between haute couture and society. It is the method that was created so that these quality designs also had a sizing system. So, if you are interested in the history of fashion and want to know more about this term, in this post we will tell you what ready-to-wear is, its characteristics, and its origin.
What is ready-to-wear fashion?
Ready-to-wear is one of the most widely used fashion design and pattern-making systems. Today, this concept is the one that gives access to the trendy fashion industry, that is, this term is used to refer to clothing that is mass-produced and “ready to wear”. Thus, thanks to its characteristics, it is possible to buy and wear trendy designs without having to go to a seamstress.
Fashion professionals and industries that use this method design garments using standard sizes (small, medium, and large) as a reference, although they can also be made by number. Therefore, ready-to-wear is integrated into the industrial process, making garment production easier and less costly, since patterns are used for numerous fabrics and materials. However, this does not mean that this system implies a decrease in the quality of the clothing. Many renowned brands and designers have also put it into practice, combining it with haute couture.
Origin of ready-to-wear
For many years, access to fashion was something that was only within reach of those with high purchasing power. Rose Bertín, Christian Dior, and many other designers were guided by Haute Couture, in which their designs were made to measure.
It was in the mid-20th century that the Italian Pierre Cardin revolutionized this system, making fashion accessible to everyone with ready-to-wear. This designer had a vision for the future in his designs, but he also had ideas for his business. It was the post-war period in Europe and there were fewer and fewer people with sufficient resources to have access to haute couture. It was then that Pierre Cardin promoted this pattern-making system, a method that achieved mass production and sales in stores.
Read Also: How to Make Money from Blogs? You Must Know!
What is the difference between haute couture and ready-to-wear?
Haute couture is made up of exclusive designs that are made to measure, with a high focus on the technique and materials used. For a brand to be considered Haute Couture, it must meet certain requirements, which are established by the Haute Couture Trade Union Chamber in Paris. Although few firms meet all these points, others come close to the concept, as they make handmade, unique garments, with exquisite details, and delicate fabrics and cut to the size of each person. Since the garments of these brands are so exclusive, the prices rise to amounts that not everyone can afford.
However, ready-to-wear is very different from this concept, as it is a system that leaves aside exclusivity to be distributed in stores in different standard sizes. This is why this system is much more economical and accessible to a wider public. Nowadays, it is the most widely used method and the one we find when we go to a shopping center and to all those shops that produce clothing at industrial levels.
What characterizes the ready-to-wear system?
To fully understand what this term is and what it means, it is necessary to keep in mind some basic characteristics that all brands that work using this system follow. These are:
Its production, whether in greater or lesser quantities, is always serial.
We work with an initial design and it is presented in different standard sizes.
They are not exclusive designs, but rather the same pattern is used and a single prototype is followed to create identical garments in different sizes.
They are usually based on the latest trends.
Comfortable garments that can be worn daily.
Low and affordable prices, since they have been mass-produced and are garments that are used daily.
Clothing is made industrially, that is, on a large scale.
Reference designers in ready-to-wear
When it first emerged, this technique was seen in boutiques, which were like modern shopping centers. Over time, this method became more normalized, and more and more haute couture designers switched to this pattern-making system. And today, many fashion firms alternate between haute couture and ready-to-wear. Some of the most important designers who make garments using this system are:
Tom Ford: One of the most famous fashion designers in the world. He worked as a creative director for Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent.
Christian Dior: He is also one of the best-known designers and represented the recovery of luxury and excess after the Second World War.
Donatella Versace: a designer who went one step further and was the first to dress celebrities in her designs to promote her clothing.
Yves Saint Laurent: He achieved his popularity by redesigning menswear and turning it into womenswear. He is also very important for ready-to-wear fashion.
Coco Chanel: The French designer worked according to her modernist ideals and created practical garments based on simplicity.
Read Also: How to Make Money from Blogs? You Must Know!
