By IANS,
London : Paris haute couture for spring-summer 2009 kicked off with major designer houses participating in it and experts are predicting good turnover despite the financial meltdown.
“The growth will be lower in 2009, but we are expecting growth. I believe that in this world you still have people looking for the exceptional custom-made dresses,” Vogue.co.uk quoted Bruno Pavolovsky, president of Chanel, US-based fashion house, as saying.
The spring summer do started Jan 26 and 21 luxury brands including Giorgio Armani, Christian Dior, Valentino and Jean Paul Gaultier are participating in the three-day event.
Nicolas Topiol, CEO Christian Lacroix, also conceded that couture was doing better than ready-to-wear and retail, both of which suffered at the end of 2008.
“A new, younger customer from the Middle East, Japan and China is entering the exclusive world of couture, making up a customer base which globally numbers no more that a few hundred, but which the industry believes will ensure its survival,” said Topiol.