Wikipedia

n 2001, the French Secretary of State for Industry approved modifications to the rules defining "Haute Couture." The singular reference to this fact appears to be a press release from the Department of Industry: http://www.industrie.gouv.fr/cgi-bin/industrie/sommaire/comm/comm.cgi?COM_ID=784&_Action=200 stating that the essential attributes are:

conception de la collection par un créateur permanent,

excellence de la réalisation "fait main" et "sur mesure" au sein de l'entreprise,

taille minimale de l'entreprise ,

participation aux défilés de la profession,

permanence de ces engagements.

Put simply, the principle attributes are therefore a head designer, excellence in hand-made and made-to-measure clothing, a minimum number of workers, participation in the (couture) shows, and continuity of operations.

Note that the minimum number of outfits, the size of the house, and number of showings per year are not actually stated. My understanding is that the attributes currently on the article page (e.g., the Paris atelier requirement, two shows per year) are more accurate requirements for permanent members. The requirements quoted above however are applicable to permanent, correspondent and guest members.

It may be helpful for the article to include a link to this French government website, even though it is in French.

But these are only publicly stated "requirements." It is important to understand that appointments are made by the Chambre Syndicale de la haute couture, and no one else. The best guide to their appointments is to be found by checking the definitive schedule every season, e.g.:

http://www.modeaparis.com/va/collections/2008hahc/index.html

Keep in mind that Guest Members do not necessarily show every season. I'm also not certain how to confirm the list of former members.

If you have come to this Talk page to argue that this article should not be confined specifically to the French legal definition, that would entail a much more general debate. But...