Tao Kurihara

Tao Kurihara is a Japanese fashion designer. Her label, created under the umbrella of Rei Kawabuko’s Comme des Garcons has grown since its inception in 2005 to present shows in Paris and gather a large amount of attention from the international fashion press.

Tao Kurihara first joined Comme Des Garcons after graduating from the London Central Saint Martin’s school for fashion and design in 1997. She spent the next eight years working with Junya Watanabe and her label before she was given her own small collection in 2005. In the year that followed, her work was drawing international attention in Paris and has continued to grow since.

The earliest work produced by Tao Kurihara involve the simple combination of knits and lingerie into a hybrid sort of design. Later designs, including the most recent 2007 and 2008 shows showcased a more elaborate design of flowing, blustery one-piece dresses and suits. Other collections from Tao have included the 2005 concepts that involved lace handkerchiefs knitted into trenchcoat, utilizing samples and handkerchiefs from around the world.

Recent work has featured a combination of toga-like flowing shawls and dresses with elaborate headdresses, free flowing whites and blues and a collection named “My Holy Tribe”.