Correcting Quote by Tim Gunn
“I'm constantly correcting young people and fashion students in this nation when they say "Well, I do couture." By definition, you don't. You have to be licensed by the government of France to do couture. So don't use that term. You can say that you do one-of-a-kind, you can say it's custom, but you can't say it's couture - because it's inaccurate.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Tim Gunn on Fashion Design, 2015
He stresses that "couture" is a protected term in France and should not be used loosely for custom work.
In simple terms: Couture is legally defined; misuse is inaccurate.
Use correct terminology for custom designs.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- fashion education
- design consulting
- client discussions
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you explain the difference to clients?
- What impact does mislabeling have on brand perception?
The term may be used loosely in casual contexts, causing confusion.