Designer apparel is clothing that has been conceived and created by fashion designers. Like any art form, the designer starts from scratch, developing a unique concept which is translated into a garment or an entire collection. Designer apparel, as well as the designer as the creative and symbolic head of the company, began with Charles Frederick Worth and his maison couture (fashion house) in the late 1800s. This was the first time customers were able to attach a face and a name to a company's designs, as clothing was previously created and produced by anonymous artisans and seamstresses. Worth was followed by Paul Poiret (creator of haute couture), Chanel, Balenciaga, Dior, and others. By the 1960s, with the influence of celebrities and youth culture, fashion brands began to produce not only garments but entire "lifestyles" for specific subgroups and subcultures. Modern designer apparel is either haute couture (custom-sized, cut and sewn exclusively for private customers) or ready to wear (standard-sized, more suitable for larger productions). Of the latter, it can be divided into Designer/Creator collections (seen on the catwalks) and Confection collections (seen in shops). Today's top designers include Valentino Garavani, Tom Ford, John Galliano, Ralph Lauren, Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, and Dolce & Gabbana.

Contributed By:

Russ Josephs
Consultant Buyer
9KOK