A boutique is “a small store that sells stylish clothing, jewelry, or other usually luxury goods”. The word is French for “shop”, which derives ultimately from the Greek ἀποθήκη (apothēkē) 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, itself called boutique pricing. 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.
