The Biggest Buyers Of Haute Couture

Reuters Reports that women of the Middle East, particularly the royal families, are the biggest clients of haute couture in the world,  in particular members of the wealthy oil families and royal families. We guess being covered up all the time only applies to Arab women out in public or poor people?

The biggest buyers of haute couture today center around the Gulf -- Saudis, Kuwaitis, Qataris and nationals of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) who are able to, and gladly spend $50,000 on a dress for private events, where men are not present. Apparently it's kind of a little fun "see and be seen" time between women of certain high end Arab circles, to get together and wear cool, one of a kind, really expensive clothes just for each other.

"All the royal families of the Middle East are our customers," Catherine Riviere, head of haute couture at Christian Dior, told Reuters at the brand's show at Paris Fashion Week.

Fashion executives say the Middle East is likely to remain the top couture client for the foreseeable future if the economic environment deteriorates in Europe and North America.

The luxury goods industry has not yet been hit by the global slowdown.