As Haute Couture Fashion Week goes digital for the first time in its history, here are the facts and figures behind the exquisite craftsmanship.

For the first time, Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2020 will be held online for the first time to meet social distancing and travel restrictions.

As the oldest and most respected fashion week, haute couture shows have long been known for their otherworldly, far-flung grandeur, sending viewers to the moon (see the Fall/Winter 2017 Chanel show, which transformed the Grand Palais into a space station), It also takes viewers back 3,500 years in time (John Galliano's Spring/Summer 2004 collection, inspired by ancient Egypt, is a perfect choice for this theme).

What is Haute couture?

Haute couture originated in Paris at the end of the 19th century, its literal meaning is "haute couture dressmaker", is one of the most exquisite fashion. "Haute Couture leads the way in terms of creation - a wonderful laboratory for technological craftsmanship and design innovation," said Ralph Toledano, president of the French Federation of Haute Couture and Fashion. "It's a place for designers to express themselves freely, and it's a tool for branding."

Ahead of Haute Couture Week, we break down the numbers behind this exquisite fashion production process

1858

In the same year, British designer Charles Frederick Worth, hailed by many fashion historians as the "father of Haute couture" and the "first haute couture designer", opened the first Haute couture house in Paris at 7 Rue de Peace.

1868

This year, the French Federation of Haute Couture and Fashion (FHCM) was founded. FHCM promotes French fashion culture by hosting the Paris Women's and Men's Fashion Weeks.

It also endorses designers whose craftsmanship reaches the level required to present shows during the official Haute Couture Week schedule.

150
The average number of hours required from start to finish a simple dress or suit.

1000
The average man-hours required to make a single piece containing elaborate embroidery and other decorations. That's about how long it took Karl Lagerfeld to complete his 39th Fall/winter 2018 haute Couture collection.

1600
Hours spent on Maria Grazia Chiuri's Dior Haute couture wedding dress for Chiara Ferragni.

6000 +
The number of man-hours required to produce a gown with the most elaborate embroidery and decoration.

4
The size of the dedicated team required to produce a single Chanel haute couture garment; It consists of one master (chief tailor) and three tailors.

10
The number of fittings required for a unique custom gown with elaborate embroidery patterns. Simplified versions of catwalk clothes also require fewer fittings -- usually just two -- and take six to eight weeks to deliver. Some haute couture customers have mannequins tailored to them so they don't have to go to Paris for repeated fittings.

70
The number of tailors employed by Valentino's Rome studio; This number will be expanded to 80 during the production of the series.

2200
Number of tailors in the world who are qualified to make couture clothing. The group were collectively known as les petite mains, which literally means "small hands."

2

The number of times a year the Fashion House presents its haute couture collection. The spring/summer collection is shown in January and the autumn/winter collection is shown in July.

16
The number of fashion houses legally entitled to use the title "Haute couture". To qualify, each member must hold at least one fitting a year, present 50 looks and employ a team of staff at a studio in Paris.

The official members of Haute Couture are as follows: Adeline Andre, Alexandre Vauthier, Alexis Mabille, Bouchra Jarrar, Chanel, Christian Dior, Franck Sorbier, Giambattista Valli, Givenchy, Jean Paul Gaultier, Julien Fournie, Maison Margiela, Maison Rabih Kayrouz, Maurizio Galante, Schiaparelli and Stephane Rolland.

7
The number of 'corresponding members' or foreign members whose studios are not based in Paris. These members include: Azzedine Alaia, Elie Saab, Fendi Couture, Giorgio Armani, Valentino, Versace and Viktor & Rolf.

4000
An estimated number of couture customers around the world, including Queen Rania of Jordan and Debra L Lee, former chief executive of Black Entertainment Television and current non-executive director of Burberry's board.

9,000 to 1 million
From simple haute couture dresses to more elaborate gowns at euro prices. Unlike ready-to-wear, couture doesn't have a fixed price tag - rather, the final bill is based on the cost of each material and the number of hours spent.