Haute Couture or Couture is fashion that is made to measure. In other words, custom made for a specific individual. Measurements are taken of the person, and then the garment is made to fit them specifically (the person buying the garment may be required to attend a few fitting sessions along the way). Haute couture is French for “high sewing” or “high dressmaking”. Haute couture is made to order for a specific customer, and it is usually made from high-quality, expensive fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finished by the most experienced and capable seamstresses, often using time-consuming, hand-executed techniques. Couture is a common abbreviation of haute couture and refers to the same thing in spirit.

Liz Claiborne Inc. announced on January 4, 2011 it is changing its name to “Fifth & Pacific Companies” to better communicate its strategic focus on growing its three global lifestyle brands (Juicy Couture, kate spade and Lucky Brand) and reflect the sale of the Liz Claiborne namesake brand to J.C. Penney, among other recent transactions. The change is expected to be effective on or about May 15, 2012 at which time the Company will begin trading as Fifth & Pacific Companies, Inc. (NYSE: FNP).

In 1977, Anna Molinari and her husband Gianpaolo Tarabini Castellani decided to set up the company Blumarine in Carpi to produce the collections created by Anna. With a penchant for the color blue and a passion for the sea the Blumarine label, was born. In 1980, the Blumarine label made its highly successful debut at Modit in Milan. They had their first show in 1981 during the Milan fashion events and it was a success. 1986 saw the debut at Milano Collezioni with a range exclusively by the designer.