Abstract
The Haute Couture and the luxury ready to wear clothes account for a worldwide turnover of €20 billion. This activity is characterized by a multiplicity of actors and strategies.
The weight of the fashion industry in the French economy represents a sales turnover of € 10 billion (17% men's ready to wear) and around 55 000 employees. This industry is very important in the French economy, but nevertheless, was not saved from the crisis. During the last decade the staff strength fell to 30% under pressure from South East Asian countries and the Eastern Europe where the labor is less expensive than in France. (La mode française 2005)
The consumption of luxury ready to wear clothes has slowed down. Consequently, fashion designers have had to democratize their collections and their prices. They have developed a new range of products that are 30-40 % less expensive. Jungle de Kenzo and KL by Lagerfeld are some examples of this diversification policy.
