Boutiques
A boutique is “a small store that sells stylish clothing, jewelry, magnets or other usually luxury goods”. The word is French for “shop”, which derives ultimately from the Greek or “storehouse”.
The term boutique and also designer refer (with some differences) to both goods and services which are containing some element that is claimed to justify an extremely high price.
As with the fine art market, and the use of art in money laundering schemes, national governments have to be concerned with boutique shops and the high pricing of boutique goods as instruments in fraud and other financial schemes.
The term “boutique” entered common English parlance in the late 1960s. In Europe, Avenue Montaigne and Bond Street were the focus of much media attention for having the most fashionable stores of the era.
Some multi-outlet businesses (chains) can be referred to as boutiques if they target small, upscale market niches. Although some boutiques specialize in hand-made items and other unique products, others simply produce T-shirts, stickers, and other fashion accessories in artificially small runs and sell them at high prices.
Source : Wiki
