What is a boutique?
Q: What is a boutique?
A: A boutique is a small shopping outlet, usually specializing in elite and fashionable items such as clothing and jewellery. The word is French for "shop".
Q: Where did the term “boutique” originate from?
A: The term "boutique" was an everyday English word in the late 1960s when Swinging London was the centre of the fashion trade. Carnaby Street and the Kings Road were home to many fashionable boutiques at that time.
Q: How can “boutique” be used to describe other types of businesses?
A: The term "boutique" can also be used to describe specialised firms, such as a boutique investment bank or boutique law firm. It can also refer to small private hotels, to distinguish them from larger chains (such as Hilton Hotels). In this case, it suggests their operation is elite and highly specialised.
Q: What does it mean when something is referred to as a “boutique item”?
A: When something is referred to as a "boutique item", it means that it's normally-mass-market but produced in intentionally small numbers at very high prices. This may be referred to as boutique manufacturing. For example, Nintendo could become a "boutique video-game company", producing games for niche audiences rather than trying to compete directly with Microsoft and Sony.
Q: What city was known for its fashion boutiques during the late 1960s?
A: During the late 1960s, Swinging London was known for its fashion boutiques located on Carnaby Street and Kings Road.
Q: Does every chain store qualify as a boutique?
A: No, not every chain store qualifies as a boutique - only those that specialize in particular styles are considered boutiques.
