To talk about haute couture, we must first discuss ready-to-wear. In English, ready-to-wear translates to "Ready-to-wear," and its French synonym is "prêt-à-porter." As a noun, the term refers to garments that are produced as finished products by a brand and come in standard sizes. Essentially, what we typically see in shop windows and counters are ready-to-wear clothes. In English, there's also an informal way to refer to ready-to-wear: "off the rack," or sometimes "off-the-peg."
High-end menswear brands often believe that fine craftsmanship and quality fabrics are at the core of their identity. Remember, Sophia Loren starred in a film whose French title was "prêt-à-porter," which was translated into English as "ready-to-wear." There are brands that specialize exclusively in ready-to-wear, and they generally produce on a large scale with centralized sales through industrial production lines. This has been looked down upon by some older, more traditional brands. However, in this world, ready-to-wear accounts for the largest volume of sales and the highest profit margins. Companies like GAP and Limited Brands from the U.S., Zara from Spain, H&M from Sweden, and Uniqlo from Japan dominate this market.
On the other hand, companies that focus on bespoke clothing produce very limited quantities each year, almost entirely handmade to order. The design of the garment can be customized by the client, and the sizing strictly adheres to the client’s measurements. A key distinction here is whether the clothing is intended for men or women.
For women, this category is called "haute couture" (high fashion), while for men it is referred to as "bespoke" (custom-made). Some might think the difference lies in etymology or the language—French versus English—but that’s incorrect. Even in the UK, women’s high fashion is called "haute," which is one of the reasons for confusion. Sometimes, articles discussing high fashion mistakenly include both men's and women's stores, which is an error that should be avoided.
Let’s start with men’s bespoke clothing. Men’s bespoke is also known simply as "custom-made," and Savile Row in London is undoubtedly the best example. However, Naples, Milan, and Rome in Italy also have excellent tailors. Nowadays, even well-known brands that specialize in custom suits, such as Italy’s Kiton and Cesare Attolini, and America’s Oxxford, offer ready-to-wear options. What sets their ready-to-wear apart from ordinary ready-to-wear is the emphasis on hand-sewn details, making the price higher. Bespoke shoes for men are also referred to as "bespoke shoes." Additionally, France has bespoke shirt makers like Charvet, which also provide high-quality ready-to-wear services.