Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
petites mains
English translation:
petites mains
Added to glossary by
Nina Khmielnitzky
Apr 6, 2020 15:28
4 yrs ago
67 viewers *
French term
Canada
Certified translator, Eng-Canadian Fr
Native in: French (Variant: Canadian) 
Works in: English to French
petites mains
French to English
Art/Literary
Textiles / Clothing / Fashion
Seamstress
How do you call these seamstresses who work in Chanel and other fashion brands to create clothes and embellishments?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +3 | petites mains (haute-couture seamstress) |
philgoddard
|
| 3 +2 | dressmaker's apprentice |
Marco Solinas
|
| 4 | seamstress |
Philippa Smith
|
Proposed translations
+3
24 mins
philgoddard
United States
United States
Native in English
Works in field
United States
Six languages into flawless English
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English, Spanish to English, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
30
Selected
petites mains (haute-couture seamstress)
I would leave it in French with an explanation in brackets.
"Les petites mains" (which literally means small hands) refers to the collective 2,200 seamstresses who painstakingly bring haute couture creations to life. Working in the ateliers, this talented, patient breed are often fiercely loyal to a fashion house, spending their whole career solely at one brand.
http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG10147014/Hau...
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Note added at 27 mins (2020-04-06 15:56:00 GMT)
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In fact your context is not Paris fashion houses, but my answer still applies.
"Les petites mains" (which literally means small hands) refers to the collective 2,200 seamstresses who painstakingly bring haute couture creations to life. Working in the ateliers, this talented, patient breed are often fiercely loyal to a fashion house, spending their whole career solely at one brand.
http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG10147014/Hau...
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Note added at 27 mins (2020-04-06 15:56:00 GMT)
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In fact your context is not Paris fashion houses, but my answer still applies.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Barbara Carrara
18 mins
|
| agree |
Yvonne Gallagher
1 hr
|
| agree |
Nicolas Teste
2 days 19 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you"
+2
31 mins
Marco Solinas
Native in English
Accurate, professional translations
Native in: English 
, Italian
Works in: Italian to English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
12
dressmaker's apprentice
or apprentice seamstress
See http://www.granddictionnaire.com/ficheOqlf.aspx?Id_Fiche=170... and https://books.google.ca/books?id=4vNBAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA317&lpg=P...
See http://www.granddictionnaire.com/ficheOqlf.aspx?Id_Fiche=170... and https://books.google.ca/books?id=4vNBAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA317&lpg=P...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
ph-b (X)
: Petite main. Couturière apprentie. https://www.cnrtl.fr/definition/main
55 mins
|
| agree |
writeaway
: Ph-b's reference leaves no doubt. It's not just Canadian French.
7 hrs
|
| neutral |
Philippe Etienne
: Une "petite main" n'est pas une apprentie dans le français que je connais (de France). Edit: Même si mon dico Larousse 1993 dit le contraire.
17 hrs
|
28 mins
Philippa Smith
Native in English
Works in field
29 years turning out perfect English
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
59
seamstress
What I always use in couture translations. You could use "seamstress and dressmaker" for that line (seamstresses = more function role, dressmaker = more creative).
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Note added at 15 hrs (2020-04-07 06:49:19 GMT)
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* "functional role". And that's maybe doing a disservice to the skills of the "petites mains", as described, for instance, here:
'"Petites Mains directly translates to "small hands" in French, but actually refers to the most skilled seamstresses of the Parisian couture houses. The “Petites Mains” are masters in the most refined embroideries and beadworks of the sophisticated haute couture creations.
Their work has always fascinated us as they can spend hundreds of hours to embellish one gown. In their hands fashion history is made.'
https://petitesmains-cf.com/about-us
They are highly skilled people who, as Phil's reference says, may spend an entire career at just one couture atelier. And although Marco's and ph-b's references are good, I wouldn't call them "apprentices".
Of course the asker's subject wasn't working in haute couture but for an opera company. I think it makes it less likely that she was an apprentice but it's possible of course: the asker could check with her. It also means haute couture specialist definitions are possibly not relevant...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 15 hrs (2020-04-07 06:49:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
* "functional role". And that's maybe doing a disservice to the skills of the "petites mains", as described, for instance, here:
'"Petites Mains directly translates to "small hands" in French, but actually refers to the most skilled seamstresses of the Parisian couture houses. The “Petites Mains” are masters in the most refined embroideries and beadworks of the sophisticated haute couture creations.
Their work has always fascinated us as they can spend hundreds of hours to embellish one gown. In their hands fashion history is made.'
https://petitesmains-cf.com/about-us
They are highly skilled people who, as Phil's reference says, may spend an entire career at just one couture atelier. And although Marco's and ph-b's references are good, I wouldn't call them "apprentices".
Of course the asker's subject wasn't working in haute couture but for an opera company. I think it makes it less likely that she was an apprentice but it's possible of course: the asker could check with her. It also means haute couture specialist definitions are possibly not relevant...
Discussion
Centre des textiles contemporains de Montréal – 2018-2020
Professeur de broderie d’art pour les ateliers grand public.
Atelier Bespokenov, projet Chiaroscuro de Stikki Peaches – 2018
Production des pièces de broderie d’art pour projet d’exposition à la Galerie Le Royer, à Montréal.
Projet Conférence Atelier sur la Broderie d’art – 2018
Centre des textiles contemporains de Montréal, Centre culturel de Baie-Saint-Paul et Guilde des Dentellières et des Brodeuses inc.
Atelier Fermin – 2017
Brodeuse pour la confection de costumes de toreros sur mesure, Madrid.
Opéra de Montréal – 2016
Petites mains et couturière : fabrication de costumes pour la production de l’opéra Aida.
This will probably have to be left in French.