Protected by Law
Under French law, a fashion house can only be deemed haute couture if it produces 35 limited, hand-sewn made-to-order day and evening pieces designed by at least a team of 15 full-time employees. The title of haute couture is governed by the Chambre Syndicale who help organize the biannual presentations in Paris. Chanel, under the leadership of Karl Lagerfeld, was the subject of a 2005 documentary mini-series,
Signé Chanel, where viewers got a rare glimpse inside the couture house and the making of a full collection.