What’s the difference between couture and ready-to-wear?

Written by

Alicja Zelazko

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Nov. 6, 2026 •History

Although the terms couture and ready-to-wear are sometimes used loosely, they refer to two different approaches to producing clothes. A couture garment is custom-made to a client’s specific measurements and typically involves extensive handiwork and multiple fittings. A ready-to-wear piece is manufactured in standardized sizes and produced in multiples for sale through stores or other retail channels. The distinction has often rested on the assumption that couture is handcrafted and ready-to-wear is made by machine;...