The term “ready to wear” or prêt-à-porter apparel first appeared in the 1950s. Pierre Cardin, the designer, came up with the term in an attempt to make fashion more accessible to a wider audience.

To simplify production and cut costs, ready-to-wear clothing is mass-produced on a large scale and in sizes ranging from extra small to extra large, in contrast to haute couture apparel, which is tailored and more exclusive.

Its lower cost does not, however, imply that it is of worse quality. In fact, among the most prominent labels in prêt-à-porter are Chanel, Prada, and Gucci, to name a few.

Did you know this phrase from the fashion industry?

Source: Backstory Contents