7 stages in the making of a Haute Couture gown
Plunge into Julien Fournié’s Paris atelier and follow the seven meticulous steps of an Haute Couture dress creation: inspiration and sketch, hand‑picked precious fabrics, cotton toile prototype, hand cutting and assembly, hours of embroidery and ornamentation, tailored fittings, and the final unveiling — each haute couture dress crafted as a unique, made‑to‑measure work of art.
- 1 Inspiration and the sketch
It all begins in Julien Fournié’s Paris atelier, where an idea takes shape. A hand‑drawn sketch on his iPad captures his artistic vision: a silhouette, an attitude, an emotion. It is the moment when imagination crystallizes into lines and volumes.
- 2 Fabric selection
Fabrics are chosen by Julien Fournié with absolute exacting standards: precious silks, airy mousselines, brocades, laces, jacquard, and illusion tulles. Each textile is selected for its texture, its luminosity, and its ability to bring the sketch to life.
- 3 The toile (cotton prototype)
Before cutting into the final fabric, the atelier’s skilled hands make a cotton toile. This prototype allows adjustments to proportions, testing of volumes, and refinement of the pattern. It is a stage of research and precision.
- 4 Cutting and assembly
The final fabric is cut by hand, piece by piece, according to the pattern approved by Julien Fournié. Assembly begins, often with large basting stitches, to check drape and fluidity. Every movement is measured; every millimeter matters.
- 5 Embroidery and ornamentati5on
Next comes ornamentation: pearls, crystals, feathers, gold or silver threads. Embroiderers sometimes spend hundreds of hours on a single panel of fabric. These details transform the dress into a work of art.
- 6 Fittings
The client or the model returns to Julien Fournié’s atelier several times, or the couturier travels to her. Each fitting is a dialogue between Julien Fournié, the atelier hands, and the client. The waist is adjusted, a shoulder line refined, a neckline enhanced. The dress adapts to the body like a second skin.
- 7 The reveal
Finally, the haute couture dress is finished. Pressers, feather workers, embroiderers and seamstresses apply the final touches. The piece is ready to be unveiled — on a Paris runway, in the intimacy of a couture salon, or at an exceptional event. It embodies the very essence of Haute Couture: unique, made‑to‑measure, eterna
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More than a fashion brand, Maison Julien Fournié is a luxury experience that transcends trends and seasons. With a commitment to excellence and innovation, Julien Fournié continues to redefine the world of ultra-luxury.
Julien Fournié was founded in 2009.
The history of the house is reflected in its haute couture collections, which are presented in Paris every January and July during Haute Couture Week.
For his first collection, the young couturier was awarded the Grand Prize for Creativity by the City of Paris in January 2010.
For his fourth collection, in January 2011, Julien Fournié became a “guest member” of the official calendar of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture catwalk shows. This was the first step towards recognizing Julien Fournié as a promising new brand in the circle of the great couturiers.
In January 2017, the Julien Fournié house was officially classified as “Haute Couture”. This label, protected by the French Ministry of Industry, is awarded to a few houses (only ten prestigious Haute Couture houses are currently on this list) that combine the best creativity in design and the highest quality in garment making.
Since its inception, Julien Fournié has also had the honor of being invited to show its collections at prestigious events abroad, in order to bring the couturier’s style to luxury clients from all over the world.
In March 2023, a Julien Fournié dress, worn by the actress Audrey Fleurot, entered the Grévin Museum in Paris.
In April 2023, the first retrospective of Julien Fournié’s work will be held at SCAD Lacoste in an exhibition entitled “Haute Couture un point c’est tout”.
While respecting tradition, Julien Fournié has also forged new partnerships with high-tech giants such as Apple and Tencent.
Julien Fournié has thus been able to digitize the creation, design and personalization of his haute couture pieces. He is one of the few haute couture designers to master the new digital tools.
Long regarded as a survivor of a bygone era, the haute couture market has experienced a new boom in recent years. Thanks to new technologies, Julien Fournié has been able to establish direct and unique means of communication with his clients. It is no longer a question of sending a sketch to the client for approval, as was the case in the past.
Julien Fournié has introduced a new process in which clients are no longer mere spectators of the creative process. They have become actors in the unique experience of creating a garment wherever they are.
Since December 2020, Julien Fournié has been developing a line of luxury bags and accessories. Initially, the idea was to offer handbags that could be seen in Julien Fournié shows and were previously reserved for haute couture customers.