Ready-to-wear means mass-produced clothing sold in standard sizes. It is the opposite of custom-made or haute couture. The garments are designed, produced, and distributed in advance of the season. Customers walk into a store or go online and buy what is already made. No fitting, no waiting, no commission. The French term is prêt-à-porter.

The category emerged in the mid-20th century. Before that, most clothing was either custom-made or homemade. Industrial production and standardized sizing changed that. Designers like Yves Saint Laurent brought high fashion sensibility to ready-to-wear, blurring the line between couture and the high street. Today, ready-to-wear is the backbone of the fashion industry. It generates the vast majority of revenue for most brands.

Ready-to-wear collections are presented at fashion weeks, usually in the seasons before the garments ship. A Spring/Summer collection shown in September arrives in stores the following spring. The production runs range from small batches for luxury labels to millions of units for global chains. Quality varies enormously. A ready-to-wear dress from a luxury house may cost thousands. A similar silhouette from a fast-fashion brand costs a fraction. The fabric, construction, and labor behind each are very different.

Key features

• Standard sizing
• Mass production
• Sold in advance of season
• Presented at fashion weeks
• Wide range of price and quality