tao by Comme des Garçons presented a runway collection inspired by Tove Jansson’s artwork on October 23. The collection will be followed by a Moomin-inspired collection launching in early 2025.
tao, formerly known as tricot tricot Comme des Garçons, presented its Tove Jansson -inspired spring/summer 2025 collection in late October. The fashion show took place at the brand’s Aoyama headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.
The collection consists of artistic pieces, several of which feature prints of Tove Jansson’s artworks. Designed by Japanese Tao Kurihara, the tao collection can be seen as a celebration of both Jansson’s and Kurihara’s exceptional creativity. Combining the art prints with tulle and gingham patterns, Kurihara has created interesting details to the garments, making them both whimsical and powerful at the same time.
One of the most famous artworks that Kurihara has utilised is Tove Jansson’s self-portrait Girl Smoking from 1940. In the design seen above, Kurihara has created a polka-dot pattern of the portrait.
The colourful pattern in this dress is created from Tove Jansson’s painting Flowers from 1941.
Even though Jansson is best known as an author, she was a multi-talented artist whose art expanded across different techniques and styles.
“Tove Jansson lived her life without forgetting her own independence and freedom”
Tao Kurihara has designed for tricot Comme des Garçons since 2003. The brand was renamed to tao from the spring/summer 2022 collection. While maintaining the positioning of tricot Comme des Garçons, she has been creating collections that pursue and express even stronger design.
“The starting point of this collection is when I received the proposal about Moomin and thought I wanted to learn more about the author, Tove Jansson. As I started researching about her, I was deeply inspired by her adventurous spirit and curiosity, her passion for creation, and the way she lived her life without forgetting her own independence and freedom.
Also, looking at her paintings and diary, I felt that Tove herself must have been a very fashionable and charming person,” Kurihara tells.
“I created this collection hoping that by printing her wonderful and powerful drawings onto fabric and wearing them, I could generate new feelings and energies,” Kurihara comments.
Watch the fashion show
Images ©︎comme des garcons
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