A boutique (French:[butik]) is a retail shop that deals in high end fashionable clothing or accessories.[1] The word is French for "shop", which derives ultimately from the Ancient Greekἀποθήκη (apothēkē) "storehouse".[2][3]
The term boutique and also designer refer (with some differences) to both goods and services,[4] which are containing some element that is claimed to justify an extremely high price.
Etymology and usage
The term boutique entered common English parlance in the late 1960s.[citation needed]
Some multi-outlet businesses (Chain stores) can be referred to as boutiques if they target small, upscale niche markets.[5] 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.