Earlier this week, Tao Kurihara announced her decision to end the label Tao Comme des Garçons, stating that the Spring/Summer 2011 collection shown in Paris last October would be the last.
Here at tFS, a small group of loyal and devoted followers have been mourning the loss of the line. Upon hearing the news, lucky me wrote: “This hits a profound sad spot to the core. I admire how most of her recent collections have been so reminiscent of historic Japanese culture, tapping into patterns you see either on the countryside or the street. Visionaries such as Tao are so far and few, her talent is immeasurable when it comes to raw thread and fabric that she so femininely folds to form.”
A statement from Comme des Garçons revealed that “Tao wants to have a change of lifestyle and prefers to concentrate her creative energies on the ever-popular label Tricot Comme des Garçons, shown in Tokyo twice a year.” The news that Tao will continue with Tricot (which she has been designing since the Autumn/Winter 2002 collection) offered some consolation for fans of her work. Scott breathed a small sigh of relief, stating: “Thank heavens I love me some Tricot too so [the news is] less stinging.” Uemarasan is hoping that Tao will get the opportunity to “blossom further.” He described her as “one of the very few young designers with a unique and wonderful vision. I hope Tricot Comme des Garçons will provide enough of an outlet for her to continue and realize that vision.”
Tao Kurihara joined Comme des Garçons in 1997 after graduating from the acclaimed Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design in London, and was designer Junya Watanabe’s assistant until the launch of Tao Comme des Garçons in 2005. Tao is known for combining an avant-garde Japanese design sensibility with softer, prettier, more feminine elements.
Photo Credits: style.com
