Couturier

The couturier is both an artisan and an interpreter, who translates the abstract idea of a garment into a tangible, bespoke piece. These experts are a crucial link in the design chain, carrying the sketch through to the completed item. Their contribution is essential: they bring the actual garment to life and finish off the work carried out by other important artisans and creatives: stylists, modellers, patternmakers, and cutters. The couturier flou analyses the pattern carefully before developing a step-by-step strategy to make the garment, working with a flat-stitching machine, a picoteuse or an overcasting machine to create pleats, ribs, gatherings, and more. The couturier flou may also work on a wooden mannequin to set the drape, curve the hemline, or ensure that the fabric falls perfectly.