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DALLAS, Jul 15, 2003/ FW/ --- What would haute couture's move to New York, even by just two established houses do to the city's fashion scene.

It can easily create a buzz! The media frenzy that surrounds haute couture is phenomenal if you take into consideration that there are less than 15 shows, compared to over 100 shows during the ready-to-wear season.

American designers can be enticed to go to the haute couture business. Of course, that means they will either have to get 'invited, sponsored or be granted' a license by the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture to be lawfully called a couture house.

Yet, that is a detail that the designers will take as a challenge to be able to comply. Ralph Rucci did it, so other American designers can do it too.

Couture's move to New York can also revive the men's wear season. Historically held about the same time as the couture season in Paris, the media buzz that will be created by couture can again entice the menswear designers to hold their shows in New York again.

And though this is a long shot, a move to New York may also return haute couture to its golden age by re-introducing it to the younger generation.

The U.S. is the largest consumer of luxury goods. Even during a time when its economy was languishing, its thirst for luxury goods did not wane.

And with the advent of the information age, 'new multi-millionaires' were literally created in Silicon Valley, Redmond, Washington, at the Telecom Corridor in Dallas and of course, in Austin, Texas.

Wealth is spread throughout the U.S., in the big cities of Chicago, Atlanta and Denver to name a few.

Aside from the technology millionaires and multi-media moguls like Ted Turner, new multi-millionaires are made each sports season - from baseball, football, baseball and hockey.

And this is in addition to New York and Los Angeles which are historically 'couture cities.'

This does not even include Washington D.C.'s embassy row. Tyson's Corner in the metro Washington area is considered the 'richest per capita' area in the U.S.

In short, there is a market out here that can be tapped by the couturiers. It is just a matter of re-introducing the century old tradition to the new generation.

But what about Paris?

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