Tao, now 32, joined Comme Des Garcons  in 1997 after training at London's Central Saint Martin's school. She spent eight years under the wing of Junya Watanabe, 44, (who had himself spent a decade alongside Kawakubo - founder of CDG) before creating her first modest collection. She has now graduated to a catwalk in the Paris showroom, offering intriguing concepts such as lingerie style in knits, trench coats inset with handkerchiefs and layered patch-dyed dresses.