Front Row at Couture Week: The Collections Billionaires Buy

Haute couture remains fashion's smallest market and its most important stage: a few thousand clients worldwide sustaining ateliers where a single gown can absorb a thousand hours of handwork. This season's collections made clear the client list is growing younger and more global.

Fittings are now scheduled around flight plans, with petites mains flown to clients as often as clients come to Paris. For the houses, couture has become both laboratory and loyalty program — the place where their most valuable relationships are sewn.