Hello!
We are a declared association named LE HUITIÈME ART (THE EIGHTH ART), officially registered in France under the SIREN identifier 929 041 184.
The association is led by its President and founder, CHIKH Larbi, with Sunee KOHLER serving as Secretary General. Together, they guide the strategic, artistic, and institutional development of the organization, with the objective of contributing to the international recognition of Haute Couture as a major art form and as a component of cultural heritage.
We proclaim that Haute Couture — this Parisian exception and excellence — is the Eighth Art.
Beyond fashion, Haute Couture represents a unique synthesis of craftsmanship, artistic creation, innovation, and transmission of savoir-faire. It embodies one of the most refined expressions of French cultural identity and constitutes a powerful instrument of cultural influence and international dialogue — what is commonly described as French cultural soft power. Through its history, its ateliers, and its creators, Haute Couture participates in the radiance of France and contributes to the preservation of rare skills that belong to humanity’s shared heritage.
Our initiative is part of a broader reflection on the recognition of artistic disciplines and their role in civilization. In this perspective, the promotion of Haute Couture as the Eighth Art also resonates with contemporary discussions surrounding intangible cultural heritage, as recognized by institutions such as UNESCO, whose mission includes safeguarding living traditions, craftsmanship, and cultural expressions transmitted across generations.
To quote Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux in The Poetic Art (L’Art poétique) (1674): “What we conceive well is stated clearly, and the words to say it come easily.”
The eight major arts may be compared to primary colors. Two primary colors mixed together produce a secondary color, while mixing a secondary color and a primary color produces a tertiary color. The same principle applies to the major arts.
They alone allow you to create all possible and imaginable shades and forms of art.
Thus, a so-called “major” art serves as a basis for creating all other arts.They alone make it possible to create all imaginable shades and forms of artistic expression. Thus, a so-called “major” art serves as a foundation from which countless other artistic forms emerge.
The eight major arts represent the most prestigious and historically structuring disciplines in the artistic world.
Ultimately, Haute Couture triumphantly closes this “golden octuor.”
CHIKH Larbi