Bouchra Jarrar awarded couture status

French designer Bouchra Jarrar, who has been on the

official haute couture calendar since 2010 as a ‘guest member’ has been awarded haute couture appellation by the Commission de Classement Couture, the body in charge of deciding who makes the grade as a couture house.

Jarrar set up her label less than four years ago and in that short time she has impressed on the couture circuit to officially become a member of the couture elite. Her addition to the haute couture ranks means that there is finally a female designer represented.

Prior to setting up her label, the French designer worked for Balenciaga for ten years, before joining Lacroix as director of couture. It was when Lacroix went into receivership that she decided to branch out on her own and set up her eponymous label.

Her success has also been recognised by the French ministry of culture, who awarded the designer with the Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres medal for her contribution to the French arts.

Bouchra Jarrar will showcase her spring 2014 haute couture collection on Tuesday, January 21.