The actual term 'haute couture' is protected by law and according to the Syndical Chamber for Haute Couture, "only those companies mentioned on the list drawn up each year by a commission domiciled at the Ministry for Industry are entitled to avail themselves thereof".

The criteria to which a fashion house must adhere in order to be categorised haute couture were laid down in 1945 and updated in 1992.

These rules are simple, to be designated as haute couture a minimum of fifteen people must be employed at the workshops and must present to the press in Paris each season (spring/summer and autumn/winter) a collection of at least thirty-five runs consisting of models for daytime wear and evening wear.

At the time of writing, members of the Syndicate Chamber of Parisian Couture are as follows:

Adeline Andre :  Emanuel Ungaro: : Chanel: : Christian Dior : Franck Sorbier :

Givenchy : Christian Lacroix : Dominique Sirop :