TAUKO - Journal

TAUKO turns into an international sewing and lifestyle magazine!

2021-12-14T06:00:00+02:00

Dear friends,

We have big news for you! Last March, we started planning a new kind of international craft and lifestyle magazine. In November, the first issue of TAUKO Magazine was launched in more than 20 different countries, in hundreds of stores. The beautiful feedback and success of the magazine is something we only dared to hope for in our wildest dreams. The magazine has quickly become a platform that brings together designers, writers, debates, phenomena and artists united in creating a more beautiful and gentler future.

Now we want to give TAUKO Magazine our full input, which means we have to give up something that is very important to us. This is why we have decided to stop designing and manufacturing the TAUKO collections. The AW21 collection which we released in July will remain as the last ready to wear collection. We will sell our existing stock and if you have a custom made TAUKO piece you are urging for, you can place your order until Christmas. Our studio store in Katajanokka, Helsinki, will continue to operate under normal opening hours until the end of January 2022.

TAUKO will continue as a publisher of an international magazine, and from time to time you’ll be able to find gems from the collections in the form of sewing patterns within the pages of TAUKO Magazine. We want to encourage all of you to spread your wings by becoming a maker of your own TAUKO clothes or let the community know, if you are willing to sew the gems for them. Years in the fashion world have taught us that local communities and creators are invaluable. And the connection to clothing often arises through making. Our love for fashion and clothing has strengthened over the years, therefore, we will continue to manufacture and design clothing as part of collaborations and small projects. This applies e.g. business collaborations.

Hopefully in the coming months we will meet with joy-filled sessions in our store or have the privilege to wrap your last soft TAUKO order in tissue paper and send it to your door! We are extremely grateful to all our wonderful customers, friends and partners for the past years. Let's continue to create a beautiful world together.

With lots of love,

Kaisa, Hanna and Mila

Kill your darlings @taukomagazine

2021-05-25T17:23:27+03:00

An open call for the sewing community: Kill your darlings

Do you have a stack of sewing projects that did not work exactly the way you thought, but you still think there could be something coming out of them, one day? It’s time to let them go!

Kill your darlings is a call for creatives in the sewing community. As with all creative processes, there are ideas you might fall in love with, get obsessed with, and it is then very hard to give them up. These darlings are the ones we want to take from you now.

Submit your project:

To help you let your darlings go, we are collecting items from the sewing community to ease the burden.
Send your darlings to us at TAUKOdesign Oy, Satamakatu 4, 00160 Helsinki.
The deadline for submitting your project is 7th of June. If you are unable to meet the deadline, you can bring your project to us personally at the TAUKO Garden store by 12th of June, or if in Berlin to the Konk store.
Please note that it is important that they are unfinished or somehow wrongly made, or designed. We are not interested in perfect and nicely finished pieces.
If there is a story behind the item, we would love to hear it!

Selected darlings will be:

Dressed and styled on the founders of the TAUKO magazine
They will be part of the “Kill your darlings” photoshoot
The designers will receive the photos for their personal use
The photos will be published on the @taukomagazine instagram account and the makers will be tagged
Please note that all the darlings which are submitted to the call, are gone forever. You will not be able to have your darling back.

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Haku avoinna: Kill your darlings

Onko sinulla kasa keskeneräisiä ompeluprojekteja unohdetussa laatikossa? Projekteja, joihin kuvittelet palaavasi, joihin sinulla on syntynyt erinomainen idea, ja jotka eivät kuitenkaan ihan toimineet niin kuin olit ajatellut? On aika päästää irti rakkaistasi!

Kill your darlings on avoin haku ompeluyhteisön kaikille tekijöille. Jokaisessa luovassa prosessissa on vaiheita, jolloin syntyy kertakaikkisen upeita ideoita, joihin rakastuu ja joihinkin kehittyy jopa pakkomielteitä. Haun avulla haluamme auttaa päästämään näistä ideoista irti.

Osallistu hakuun:

Lähetä meille rakas, pieleen mennyt ja kauhea ompeluprojektisi 7.6.2021 mennessä osoitteeseen: TAUKOdesign Oy, Satamakatu 4, 00160 Helsinki
Jos missaat dediksen, tuo projektisi meille henkilökohtaisesti 12.6. mennessä TAUKON Kämp Gardenin myymälään.
Huomioithan, että meitä ei kiinnosta kauniit, upeasti viimeistellyt ja jokaiselle vartalotyypille istuvat ajattomat mallit. Haluamme nähdä ompelumaailman nurjan puolen.
Jos lähettämääsi projektiin liittyy jokin tarina, kuulemme siitä mielellämme.

Valitut projektit:

Kuvataan ja stailataan TAUKO magazinen perustajien päällä
Ne pääsevät mukaan “Kill your darlings” -kuvasarjaan
Jokainen kuviin valitun tuotteen tekijä saa korkearesoluutioisen kuvan omasta tuotteestaan osana kuvasarjaa
Kuvat julkaistaan @taukomagazine instagram tilillä. Tekijät kreditoidaan.
Kaikki hakuun lähetetyt projektit ovat ikuisesti pois tekijänsä ulottuvista. Niitä ei toimiteta millään verukkeilla takaisin.

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The call is organized to support the sewing community and to help them find the amazing new sewing magazine: the TAUKO magazine @taukomagazine

7 of the Best Sustainable Gardening Outfits

2021-03-29T12:26:53+03:00

How about digging your hands into the soil, showing some love and care to the plants? During the time of the pandemic when we can not travel to explore new worlds, meet new people and spend lazy afternoons or sparkling evenings with our friends, we can enjoy the company of plants. It might sound like a small consolation, but plants have surprisingly calming and energizing effects. Whether growing in your garden, living room or in the forest, the living organisms have amazing ability to broaden your perspective and spread some positive vibes. And being able to cultivate something by yourself is mind blowing. Be it basilica by the window or a carrot in your small urban garden, it is such a joy to seed, grow and harvest.

Our Gardening edition for 2021 has been inspired by observing nature and its cyclical growth and decay. It is created for spending time in the garden and with plants in all different ways: seeding, planting, harvesting, listening, smelling, taking photos, having tea, talking and singing to the plants or even having a little dance and a rest with them.

With the selection of gardening outfits, we wish to add thoughtfully, with huge respect to the environment, crafted clothes to your gardening days. These functional and personal gardening looks give back to the plants as each one of them is made from textiles which would have been burned otherwise. The soil, the waters or the air were not exploited for these soul feeding items.

The gardening edition items are made from reused polycotton and the fabric is breathable yet it is not easily worn out. For the Nordic-tee we use organic fair trade cotton and the Pier turtleneck shirt is crafted from postconsumer refibra-knit. All pockets are secured with extra stitching for strength. You can wash the clothes in up to 60 degrees if the garden makes you all muddy or you get some nasty oil stains. The designs guarantee the freedom of movement, if you need to jump over a bush or reach out to get an apple from the higher branches of the tree.

The Gardening edition

Linden culottes and Ikigai shirt

Start seeding your favourite plants! The pockets fit all the little seed bags and you can wear extra layers under the culottes if it gets too cold. You can find the Linden culottes in bluestone and there are still few pieces left in melange grey, sizes S and M. The Ikigai shirt is available in chalk pink and bluestone.

The Path Kaftan dress and Daikon trousers

This is the ultimate combination for spending the whole day in the garden. Roll up the legs and the sleeves and dig your hands into the soil. The loose cut dress is wonderful for having an afternoon rest under a big old tree. The Daikon trousers have a relaxed fit and comfy rubber band on the bag. Even after a long day you will feel great wearing the dress and trousers.

Leija jumpsuit & Leija shorts

With it’s huge pockets the jumpsuit carries also the tools for gardening and the long sleeves protect your hands from spiky bushes. Roll up the sleeves for your tea break. If you wish to create a different look, choose the Leija shorts which will be accompanied with the classic Nordic tee or the Pier turtleneck shirt. The Leija shorts are available for the 2021 season with the special theme color-way, Garden green.

Judith v-neck dress

Leave your Judith dress hanging on the hall’s wardrobe (next to the TAUKO x Hanna G apron) and grap it with you every time you are heading out for gardening. The button up dress with long sleeves and pockets is perfect for layering and it is light enough to take with you, even though you would have a little bit of bike ride to get to your garden. It is also wonderful for the little early evening in the garden, when you need that extra layer.

Judith and TAUKO x Hanna G jumpsuits

You may need to stuff the legs into your rubber boots, if you are doing some more serious gardening, but the short sleeves, pockets and button up closure make this iconic jumpsuit a nice and neat addition for your gardening wardrobe. If you wish to have some extra pockets and more elasticity on the waist, choose the made by order TAUKO x Hanna G jumpsuit.

Nordic tee and Pier turtleneck shirt

A well made t-shirt, which keeps its shape when being washed and years of continuous use, is a must for every garnered. Our Nordic-tee shirt is made from organic, fair trade cotton which is knitted in Finland. The cutting and sewing is done by a family owned sewing company in Loksa, Estonia. The design is genderless and no-matter what is your figure like, it is always a great fit. You can also give it as a gift to your loved gardener friend! For the chillier days of early spring layer your Nordic tee with Pier turtleneck shirt.

TAUKO x Hanna G apron

Designed in collaboration with a chef, food book author and food influencer Hanna Gullichsen, The TAUKO x Hanna G -apron is a perfect accessory for kitchen and garden. It offers the needed protection and has plenty of pockets. You can wear the apron in the garden and move directly to the kitchen with your harvest to bake the Sunday afternoon strawberry cake or a delicious veggie soup!

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And last, but not least here is a little gift for you! A list of our favourite gardens and garden projects, publications, people and podcasts related to regenerative gardening and plant culture and life.

Gardens and gardening projects

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Annalan puutarha, Helsinki, Finland
Run by a local organization, the garden is a sweet and original treet, open for all, everyday. We were privileged to get permission for taking the campaign photos for our Lifecycles collection here. You can support the community and its gardeners with small donations

Dodo Ry, Kääntöpöytä, Helsinki, Finland
Community and urban gardening in the middle of the buzzing city. A beautiful greenhouse with the possibility to organize your own events. A perfect spot for a romantic dinner? Or a special get together with your dear friend surrounded by green growth?

Frantsila herb farm, Hämeenkyrö, Finland
Frantsila is a pioneer in organic herb farming in Finland, and has been a natural health product manufacturer since 1981, when Virpi Raipala-Cormier and Jim Cormier established an herbal centre on the family farm.

Grosser Garten, Gerswalde, Germany
The Grosser Garten is one of my personal favourites when it comes to gardening projects near Berlin. It is a wonderful bike tour destination during the summer and the lovely mixture of culture, art and gardening creates a very personal and unique feel. The glasshouse runs a coffee and there are all kinds of little treats waiting for the ones who make the trips.

Kielomäki, Ruokolahti, Finland
Kielomäki is not really a public garden, but I’m sure my sister will let you into her arboretum if you happen to pass by :). The amazing garden hosts bee hives and millions of flowers and is always blossoming. Different areas in the garden feature versatile themes of growth and there are cosy resting places here and there. And, get the honey! It will blow you away.

Långötorpin puutarha, Tammisaari, Finland
Little garden by the sea. Regenerative farming and courses for fermenting, farm to the table and much more to explore.

Mustila arboretum
Arboretum Mustila is especially famous for its rhododendrons and azaleas. In June a colourful sea of flowers can be seen in the Rhododendron Valley when hundreds of different species and hybrids are blooming. Another spectacular season of colours is in the autumn when the deciduous trees burst into a glow of red, orange and yellow.

Prizessin Garten, Berlin, Germany
“Imagine a future where every available space in big cities is used to let new green spaces bloom. Green spaces that local residents create themselves and use to produce fresh and healthy food. The result would be increased biological diversity, less CO2 and a better microclimate. The spaces would promote a sense of community and the exchange of a wide variety of competencies and forms of knowledge, and would help people lead more sustainable lives. They would be a kind of miniature utopia, a place where a new style of urban living can emerge, where people can work together, relax, communicate and enjoy locally produced vegetables.”

Read and listen

Tips and info for regenerative gardening (in Finnish)

The Lissome, Issue No 2, Rewilding, “A permanent culture”

Emergence Magazine

Emergence Magazine podcast: "Reseeding the Food System;

Artist-gardeners from 1860s to the 1920s (exhibition intro)

Mushroom pumping (this video will cheer you up)

Katie Holten; About Trees (essay collection)

Richard Powers; Overstory (a novel)

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Photos by Laura Oja and Till Bovermann

Words by Mila Moisio

Valpur's style - matching the new and old

2021-03-15T12:16:50+02:00

Get inspired by the new TAUKO spring collection and combine your favourite pieces with your own wardrobe. You can order fitting pieces to your doorstep with the TAUKO salon at home-service and keep the ones with the best fits! You’ll be able to explore how fashion can be fun, empowering and caring for the environment.

Valpuri Liimatainen, a Helsinki based graphic designer, shares her lovely fitting moment and inspiration:

“My special moment for fitting and styling the TAUKO garments started in the afternoon accompanied with a beautiful sunlight in our living room. The sun turns into our living room after my working day is over and creates a wonderful feeling to the space. Due to the pandemic I work at home now, and wearing nice clothes helps me to set the mood and makes it easier for me to get to work. In addition, creating looks and different outfits has brought me a lot of joy in this uncertain time. Creating and posting various outfits of my wardrobe treasures, has become one of my daily joys.

It was especially fun to see how the TAUKO clothes I chose fit to the clothes in my wardrobe. I fell in love with the combination of the green Physa shirt from TAUKO’s spring collection and my vintage treasures, earthy orange pleat skirt and culottes. TAUKO’s wide legged Mya-slacks match perfectly with a second hand linen shirt from Vuokko. Trying on the pieces, I also noticed how TAUKO and Vuokko share a common design language. This makes it easy to pair my new and old favourites together! I rolled the legs of the trousers up, as I always do with trousers, and finished to look with my summer shoes. Mya slacks were also wonderful with my flower printed spring coat!

Aurelia maxi dress is so stunning that I really like to wear it just as it is. It is such an eye-catcher! But as the Finnish summer is sometimes also chilly, it is nice to have the possibility of adding a light robe coat to accompany the dress. I tried Aurelia with two different ropes.”

Valpuri Liimatainen is a Helsinki based graphic designer with an inspiring and joyful instagram account @valpur. Her style combines emerging new designers, established brands and rare vintage finds. From the spring TAUKO collection Valpuri chose a Physa shirt in green, Aurelia maxi dress and Mya slacks to complement her wardrobe and bring joy for the new season!

Photos: Valpuri Liimatainen

Words: Valpuri Liimatainen & Mila Moisio

Heirloom coats

2021-03-08T08:03:02+02:00

Have you inherited a coat, jewelry or maybe bedlinen from your family members?

"Until the late 1950's the tradition of dowry was still practised in Finland. One essential part of the dowry was bedlinen, woven from self grown linen and decorated with hand made laces. These bedlinen are now, for a reason, treasured and passed down generations, they have become heirlooms.

The tradition of dowry is luckily not practised anymore in Finland. However the bedlinen stay with us, with all the memories and meanings they carry. These everyday items are valued in a very special way. We were inspired and felt strong connection to the heirloom bedlinen as we work with bedlinen for the TAUKO collections also!

Heirlooms are items that we are attached to through history, emotion and the special feeling they provide. They are the timeless comfort pieces which carry unique memories. Heirlooms are a concrete example of how time and use can add value to a garment. Inherited and passed down for generations through family members or friends.

Our wish is to create empowering future heirlooms, loved pieces that will be passed down generations. For this we have created the Path-coats, alteration and mending practices and the Kinship-collection which will enable the new lifecycles of all TAUKO collection pieces.

The Path coats which are designed to last and to be loved for life cycles: they are heirlooms, investment pieces which will be passed down for generations.

Crafted from high quality, long lasting, reused bedlinen in an Estonian family owned sewing company, the coats are made to start a beautiful history. They are fully lined with detachable hood and detailed with Lifecycles signature topstitching.

And when the time comes, the coats are mended and repaired for you at the TAUKO studio store. To guarantee the heirloom to pass down generations, we will take back the coats to make them part of the Kinship collection.

Photos by Laura Oja

Will circularity ever rule the world?

2021-02-02T17:14:16+02:00

When a National Geographic article on the circular economy popped up in my social media feed, I had just read an essay collection Making kin not population by leading anti-racist, ecologically-concerned, feminist scholars. And suddenly it felt like circularity, connectivity and realisation of the history of the anthropocene was on everyone's lips, from big publishing houses to well known philosophers, the hot potato. For two weeks an article on climate crises had been one of the top news on the biggest daily magazine in Finland. We must be moving towards circularity. Champagne for all! Or?

But we are not quite there yet. How the change to circularity will happen is quite unclear. What seems certain is that we need both, radical change on individual as well as systemic levels, the way we think and the way we act. The business approach is related to theories of production, consumption and economy and relies on heavy argumentation, statistics and hopes for new innovations. The message between the lines is clear: circularity should not stop economic growth, but it should not burden the environment as the current system does.

The slightly different, humanistic, more radical approach looks even longer back into history to find the keys for the change. With the clear focus on big structural changes, the aim is to create an inclusive, respectful and open system. Circularity does not lie so much in facts and figures, but rather in the ways we think of planetary beings and ourselves. Here, the economic growth is highly questioned and the motivation for the change drives from movements and political struggles which have been going on already for a long time.

Circular economy, rethinking the structure of economics

“ [...] two-thirds of the material we scratched from the planet slipped through our fingers. More than 67 billion tons of hard-won stuff was lost, most of it scattered irretrievably. Plastic trash drifted into rivers and oceans; so did nitrates and phosphates leaching from fertilized fields. A third of all food rotted, even as the Amazon was deforested to produce more.”

The quote from Robert Kunzig's article is referring to 2015. From then, the equivalent numbers must have gone up. Looking at the circularity from the perspective of business and production, there are numbers that speak by themselves. Moving to a circular economy is an urgent must.

Reading the article about overproduction and exponential growth of consumption makes me just ask the very simple questions many of us must have: What? Why? How is it even possible that so much is produced just to be wasted? Why is this happening? And why is it not talked about?

It is said that the first spins of the steam engine which started the industrial revolution and massive use of fossil fuels, were the first milestone that really kicked off the abusive use of natural resources. Before, the laborious work and time it took to manufacture the goods made them much more valuable and accessible for a smaller number of people. Soon everything that could be turned into consumable goods, for development of the industrial infrastructure and filling the endlessly hungry engines was cut down, extracted from the soil or pumped from the bottom of the sea.

Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing writes vividly about how Oregon became the nation's largest timber provider in the early 1900th century. The building of the railroads and development of an easy supply chain was a key factor in the short success story. Within less than 100 years Oregon went through the rise and fall of the industry as the wood supply slowly runs out. “This is a story we should know. Industrial transformation turned out to be a bubble of promise followed by lost livelihoods and damaged landscape.” The story of Oregon is a typical story of fast gained profits of capitalist industrialization.

The capitalist industrial economy is linear. There is no looking left or right, or thinking of the consequences in a longer timespan. The huge overproduction and the stories similar to Oregon are the protagonists of capitalist industrialization.

Next to circular economy, gift economy, sharing economy or caring economy are terms which describe the new approach on how our relation to nature could be redefined. Regenerative agriculture for example aims to give back and work together with the soil, microbes and plants to create circular practises for food production. There are already many lessons that we’ve learned and simply by looking at nature and it’s circularity there is a lot that can be changed in terms of how we produce food and how we deal with the waste. The actual mechanisms of production and (re)treatment of material, development of new practices, are some of the key factors for a circular economy to thrive. Economy and production is not thought of merely as a one way stream, but rather as an interaction between the co-dependent beings.

Co-living and creating communities

Understanding circularity has one key feature which everyone seems to agree with: we need to stop thinking ourselves as separate (superior) from the environment. We are equally part of the environment as the plants, animals, soil or the air is. And somehow the understanding of the belonging and interdependence comes in stages. Michelle Murphy writes in her essay “Against population, toward afterlife” about kinship. The essay made me realise how deep and spread out the web of connection we are talking about is, when we try to understand the mechanisms of industrial capitalism and linear thinking.

Murphy’s essay is driven from feminist decolonial politics. It is giving voice to the part of industrial capitalism which did not profit, and is still not profiting, from the abusive system.

The roots of the anthropocene go much deeper in history than the first springs of the first steam engine and the kinship between people, places and other beings helps to understand how circularity has both spatial and temporal dimensions. Murphy’s perspective broadens the question of circularity into the social questions of racism, discriminationa and oppression. The industrial development would not have been possible, and is in fact based on the oppression of plants, animals and people. The kin.

What is striking and resonates in me, is the way Murphy approaches the concept of alterlife. It includes the uncertainty, the already wounded and broken. The capitalist system is driven by the logic of strongest survive, and strongest are the ones who manage to exploit and abuse more than others. Anthropocene, which is expecting the apocalypse to happen in the future, missed to acknowledge the fact that for many it has already happened. The violations against other beings are already so profound, that the world (for some) has collapsed quite some times already. Violently damaged environments have made people and animals leave worlds behind.

When we think of circularity, the recognition of others and other ways of being, should be equally part of it as are the new practises of food production or reuse of textiles.

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Local activism for circularity

Rather than thinking of circularity purely on economical terms or trying to find different methods of production, it would be important to look at theories of decolonialims and feminism. These perspectives allow more voices to be heard and therefore create the possibility for seeing the planetary relations.

Circularity, being one with the environment, creates self-interest in working for other planetary beings than just for humans. This can motivate people into acting differently as abusive relation to other planetary beings equals to abusive relation to oneself. “ the violences against land, water, airs, and the many beings that are co-dependent on one another is also violence on bodies”, as Murphy writes.

However it seems that human capability to work with self-interest is limited on a very narrow temporality window. It is quite difficult to think about the impacts of our actions, which might have a hundred-year or more scale on them. Before circularity can rule anything, we should be able to overcome our limitations, or accept them, and work within them.

What became more evident during the pandemic and what could help us to move toward circular systems and circular thinking, is the notion of locality and intimacy. It feels much more achievable to think and act within the community which is close to me and understand the decolonizing politics, empowering acts and allowing gestures locally. This would also mean that in order to re-create, and at the same time dismantle and shut down the system, we could start the change from the local communities and environments.

At the moment I strongly believe in local communities and activism. For us at TAUKO this means that we are searching and developing new ideas and ways to act in direct interaction with the community we are part of.

And the best part, it is way much easier to have champaign with your local community!

Text: Mila Moisio

Photo: Laura oja

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Anna Lowenhaut Tsing, The Mushroom at the end of the world (Princeton university press, 2015 )

Michelle Murphy, "Against population, towards alterlife" Making kin, not population ed. Adele E. Clarke and Donna Haraway (Prickly Paradigm Press, 2018)

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2020/03/how-a-circular-economy-could-save-the-world-feature/

Thank you and good bye 2020

2020-12-21T13:30:59+02:00

“And how is it for you? How are you coping?” are the most frequent questions we hear, and ask.

The spring was sudden and surprising, lot’s of new scenarios were set and replanning was done. The autumn has been long and breathtaking. But thank you, we are actually doing quite good, considering.

We have received a lot of support from our customers, suppliers and also from the public funds. None of our team or people around us got sick or ill. Our community grew stronger and even more committed and the situation pushed us to find new ways to work for even more sustainable and regenerative fashion culture.

We are forever thankful for the sewing company who is crafting 95% of all TAUKO collections: the trust grew stronger during the pandemic. There has been amazing support, flexibility and openness.

And if possible, we are even more thankful for our customers. The individuals who showed their support immediately when the first lockdown started. We came to realise how beautiful community we are part of. Some of the community members are presented as TAUKO portraits. Find out about Eeva, Minna and Salla.

The pandemic threw us in the middle of profound questions of what can we do to help? How can design and the concept of reusing textiles create a future which is safer and more equal for all beings?

TAUKO salon at home was introduced in March and new product development including face masks and a bigger selection of accessories were published during the last 9 months. Giving more visibility to our modification and repair services and finally the launch of the Kinship collection for pre-loved TAUKO pieces, have been some of the few things we made happen, mainly due to the rethinking of our work during the pandemic.

Due to the pandemic, we missed the fashion trade shows, lost most of our retailers as the small shop owners around Europe had to close the boutiques, closed our own newly opened store in Helsinki for a few months, worked more and asked more help and favours than ever. With all the goodness, it has been a hard year.

Yet we feel very lucky and privileged. We are able to continue our work. And now we know that there is still a lot more work to be done. More than we thought of. From January on, we will reveal some of the new ideas and concepts we have developed and introduce the TAUKO life cycles as all embracing story telling.

And you? How are you coping? As we are all trapped behind our screens, unable to spontaneously get together, it would be lovely to hear from you. Drop us a line, send us a message by instagram or pop in for a visit at our stores in Helsinki.

Wishing you all a wonderful last days of 2020. Let’s make 2021 empowering and lighter for all of us!

Text: Mila Moisio

Photo: Dörte de Jesus

TAUKO portraits - Salla Pentikäinen

2020-11-09T12:30:54+02:00

Studies to become a laborant
Was born in Järvenpää, Finland 1977
Her favourite place at the moment is the new photography museum K1 at Kämp Galleria.
The best thing this year for her has been the celebration of everyday things, ordering food to her home from favourite restaurant without special occation
Wears: Cella shirt in drizzle grey and Wish trousers dark blue
Topics we talked about: travelling
Helsinki restaurant recommendations: Kuurna and Toca

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“Nautiskelija” is a Finnish word that has a Winnie-the-Pooh-kind of tone to it. Salla, one of our first customers, belongs to the kin of nautiskelijat. She is a connaisseur, a person that really enjoys life in all its beauty, tastes and feelings. There is a certain kind of basic trust and groundness in her that makes her treasure the little treats life offers. And she has a lot of curiosity, which takes her to travel around the globe. She tells me that she is dreaming of the trans-siberia train, stepping out in Mongolia and landing in one of her favourite travel destinations: Japan.

There is a big world map from 1968 behind Salla when our video call from Schöneberg, Berlin to Kruununhaka, Helsinki starts. It fits perfectly as the background of the world traveller I’m chatting with.

A few years back Salla stopped flying for her travels and has ever since been travelling by land and sea. All the way from Helsinki to Iceland, the Lofotes and by Interrail to Bosnia Herzegovina. She proved that travelling is possible and very enjoyable without using air traffic. For years, the two of us have been sharing travel tips on how to get around, and what are the things to explore in the different journeys. And now, in the video call, it is not any different: I learn that the best way to get from Helsinki towards Central-Europe is by ferry to Stockholm, and to reach the Asian wonders – well, dreaming of taking the trans-siberia train!

It is easy to see very vividly all the places Salla talks about. The amazing nature of Iceland, one of her beloved travel destinations, and the endlessly alluring Tokyo, her favourite city of all. Though the excitement of new places is always there, Tokyo’s magic reveals itself when returning time after time to the same places. Getting a grasp of this metropolis was built by experiencing its layered, endlessly unfolding beauty. The appealing power of the city is in this profusion: there is always something new to explore, something a little bit hidden that forces one to look closer. And its contrasts: the crazy neon lights within the never-ending buzzing of the city paired with the peacefulness of its temples.

What is common to Salla’s favourite travel destinations are their aesthetics. The certain ordery preciseness and minimalism of Japanese design and the vast landscapes of Iceland feel endlessly appealing. In both, there is space for breathing and yet always that little peculiar element which may open up totally new worlds in looking at the minimalist calligraphy or Nordic volcanic landscape.

What Salla brings back home from her travels are beautiful postcards from Japan she gives to her friends and family. But also rhythms, colors and visual images that she explores in her memories. For being able to take part in Salla’s travels by designing some of her essential travel wardrobe, sharing these ideas of aesthetics is always an inspiring process. The versatile and urban travel kit we have developed has become part of TAUKO’s core designs.

For Salla, travelling back to Japan, via Siberia, Mongolia and China is currently merely a dream. And although ramen from Tokyo is unbeatable, there are luckily the chewy buns of Kuurna available in her apartment block. As Salla enjoys exploring new cultures, she is also very keen on the deep dive of the urban microcosmos around her. The local independent restaurant scene in Helsinki has taken a big leap during the past five years, and Salla is the master of it. She gets to play the expert in giving recommendations of the best restaurants in town. For the many that get mentioned during our conversation, one keeps on getting back to the talk. Kuurna: The little restaurant, taken over a few years back by its own staff, has now a little kiosk with the best tacos in town. The kiosk is one of the few yellow sunny spots of Helsinki that has been reactivated by local businesses. Originally built in the 1950’s the wooden yellow kiosks were unused for decades. For this spring, Kuurna’s tacos, served from one of the kiosks in downtown Helsinki, were one of the most enjoyable treats for Salla; her “little pot of honey”.

When I last saw Salla in person at our studio store in Helsinki back in July, she was about to take her friend to taste the famous tacos of Kuurna. Salla and her friend started to tell me with a lot of sparkles in their eyes, how Salla gives her friend some of Salla’s old TAUKO pieces that are not fit for Salla anymore. During our call, Salla returns to her friend: she thinks that the TAUKO clothes should not be just passed on, but that it is important to find a person who treats them with the same love and care as she did. To be able to pass on the TAUKO garments for the new users we have been working on developing the Kinship collection.

The love and care Salla has for TAUKO clothes and her taste for minimalist aesthetics shows how treasuring the things she finds in life make them enjoyable. Giving them the value they have; I would even conclude that this is how one turns to be a “nautiskelija”. By the end of our video call, I’m convinced to adapt Salla’s habit of arranging “Monday dates” since weekends are anyhow nice, hoping to have a little bit more of the Winnie -the-pooh-ness for my upcoming autumn.

Text: Mila Moisio

Photos: Laura Oja

TAUKO PORTRAITS: minna määttä

2020-10-19T14:03:51+03:00

Works as a dance and pilates teacher
Was born in Juankoski, 1966
Her favourite place is Alppipuisto (lit trans. The Alp Park) in Helsinki
The best thing this year her relationship with her spouse Suvi
Wears: Confidence jumpsuit
Topics we talked about: Helsinki, dance and corona times

***

The neighbouring park to Minna’s home is called “Alppipuisto”, the Alp park. With its rocky hills and beautiful old trees it has offered the daily playground for Minna during spring. A run up and down the rocks, a walk or a spontaneous parkour, whatever the park invites her to do, to play with. Her daily visits also offered silent moments for observations: seeing the little spots of snow slowly fading away and leaves starting to sprout in the trees. Or making the most out of the only social interaction that was appropriate during the spring corona peek: sitting on the hill two meters apart from each other, drinking lukewarm beer with a friend. With only plus four degrees, enjoying the first warm sun rays thinking “how wonderful a terrace we have here”.

“Carnivalizing heavy things helps to get over them”, Minna writes on her facebook page. For me this hints at Minna’s approach to life which is filled with humor, a certain rebellious attitude and always seeking for alternative solutions. With the carnivalesque view many unspoken or otherwise difficult subjects turn paradoxical and humour liberates new aspects and views on them. Carnivalesque style has been often used by artists and writers to unveil the brutality and ridiculousness of the ruling power, which is not allowed to be openly disagreed or criticized.

Minna’s carnivalesque attitude makes it very liberating to talk to her. Connected by the internet between Alppila (also named after the Alps) and Schöneberg (also named after a more modest hill), we catch up with what has happened in our lives. With her humorous approach, though, it feels as if all difficulties and uncertainties are somehow turned upside down.

We talk: About the end of humanity, the climate emergency, deserted cities during the first corona peak in spring, and our challenges of running our own companies. These horrible and difficult things turn into narrations of Helsinki’s newly golden sun and warm autumn nights, how the wonderfully beautiful things are rooted in such difficult topics. This combination of such seemingly impossible opposites creates not only a special humour but also new levels of meaning for the topics. It is not twisting the climate emergency into something positive, but rather demonstrating the dark side of the overly warm autumn nights.

Minna started taking dance lessons when she was 12 years old. First in Finland, then in Switzerland, France, Burkina Faso, Guinea and many more places of the world. In the early 90’s the new scene of “etnodances” ( as all the non western dances were called) started to make their way to Helsinki slowly turning to a big boom. Minna was one of the first to fall into the West-African dance traditions. Together with a few other dancers she explored and taught herself their rhythms and movements. And still today, the lessons are not over. She describes herself as a lifelong learner, teaching and learning with people who share the interest. Her work now as a dance- and pilates teacher is the interaction of continuous teaching and learning.

This spring, Minna missed her dance classes a lot. Not being able to spend time with her students or any people, felt like she was missing the driving force and one of the most essential things that keeps her going.

With the corona-times the physical connection to people has been restricted, making it even more important than ever to find new ways of expression for the missing communication. The core of Minna’s work as a dance and pilates teacher, but also our work as fashion designers is to make or create for people with the very physical and bodily aspect to it. Both our works are focused on people's different bodily beings, features and ways of moving. There is a lot of communication that is happening with bodies that can not be transmitted online, or verbally.

I always remember how during one of her summer courses that I attended, Minna spotted me wearing the TAUKO Leijat capri pants. Sparkled by the peculiar design of the capris, the conversation jumped to the bodily feature called “persjalkaisuus”. It is a Finnish word describing people who think they have shorter legs than one should. Minna and also myself, are thinking (with a lot of love) our legs are shorter than average. The conversation we had, started her journey with TAUKO, and our journey with her. Sharing the same kind of rebellious spirit and humor is always there when Minna visits our stores in Helsinki.

Be it the subject of climate change or our own bodily features, there is luckily a laugh in the end.

***

Suvi, Minna’s spouse, and their relationship is something that Minna is very grateful for at the moment. It is simply the best thing right now. Especially during the time of corona, she has been very happy to have someone around her, who is supportive and who shares the same kind of interests. They go together for walks in Alppipuisto, occasionally taking their own paths to eventually meet again at their home. Or having a lukewarm beer enjoying one the warmest autumn nights Helsinki ever experienced.

Text: Mila Moisio

Photos: Laura Oja

TAUKO x HANNA G – Celebrating sustainable fashion and food culture

2020-10-05T14:18:42+03:00

The capsule collection is created in collaboration with a chef and food influencer Hanna Gullichsen. Our ambiguous aim is to encourage people to make lifestyle changes that are expected to have a rapid and decisive impact on environmental problems. We believe that small things, like cooking more at home with locally produced ingredients, create appreciation and commitment to the environment. The same kind of commitment is created when talking about sustainable fashion.

Our inspiration for creating a capsule collection for home cookers came from getting to know Hanna’s passion for home cooking recipes. Hanna’s cooking philosophy relies on simple, inspiring and beautiful recipes that make cooking fun and easy. The rewarding feeling of being able to cook a delicious dinner is offered to everyone who is willing to invest a little bit of time.

Hanna’s recipes and cooking live’s on instagram reflect the ideals of high-quality home cooking: easy, simple and constantly renewed. But also environmentally friendly, non-toxic and locally produced. Raw materials are used to save resources, but without compromising on quality. In the chef's home kitchen, food is constantly combined in new ways, and in our fashion design, thinking is fueled by the possibility of reuse.

The capsule collection is based on the reuse of textiles from the hotel and restaurant industry. The textiles that have been produced to serve as bedlinen, have a second life cycle as the aprons and jumpsuits of home cooks. The origin of textiles does not limit their intended use, but rather creates new stories, possibilities and inspiration.

Designed and made for everyday life, TAUKO x Hanna G jumpsuit and apron have special design features that we picked up when exchanging ideas together. The jumpsuit is neat and versatile, something that can be used when shopping the groceries, having a bike ride, in the kitchen or the office. Hanna told us that from her experience, standing for the whole day while cooking, the belly swallows, and no one wants to have a pressing feeling around the waist when cooking. Cooking or not, we thought it is a good idea to offer the belly as much comfort as we can! The elastic and comfy ribbon on the TAUKO x Hanna G jumpsuit has been designed for ensuring the good vibes for the whole day. Even after the big dinner you’ve just cooked!

Apron is a basic garment that everyone should have. It gives protection for your clothes and freedom for you to make a mess. With the pockets on the sides and on the front, you’ll have everything you need with you at all times. The one-size-fits-all apron is easily adjustable to the user's preferences and size.

With the collaboration to include the mindful and respectful attitude towards the environment to the new luxury of everyday life. And luxury here does not mean more wealth in the sense of money or luxury goods. It is about investing a little bit more time and thought. Rather than gaining more, the new luxury is about saving resources and using them more thoughtfully. Behind the philosophy of scarcity is to celebrate the things we have available, to make everyday life a celebration, sustainably. The importance of these everyday choices is emphasized in both food and clothing choices.

Text: Mila Moisio

Photos: Antti Mutka

Recommendations for a little party even though it is getting dark, cold and pandemic

2020-10-02T12:10:17+03:00

Special times need special care and new approaches. Even though the autumn and winter will not be welcomed with big parties and evening gowns, it is still important to find little moments to celebrate and make them special. With just a few friends or family members, you can easily create atmospheric private parties.

Slip into your favourite dress or explore the private party selection we have prepared to have the feeling of party with you:

A slow food dinner

Make it a fun project and spend some more time with planning and preparing than you normally would. Visit your local farmers market to see which veggies are in season and get creative by trying out new recipes. There are some really great cooking books that you can check. When dinner time comes, decorate the space with candles and flowers, maybe you’ll even do a playlist. You can spend as little or as long as you want keeping it fun and relaxed.

Invite a friend or cook for your life companion, even only for yourself. Find an outfit that makes you feel special, maybe a piece you haven’t been wearing for a while or something you got for this special occasion. Ask your guest to do the same. Whoever you will invite, it will be special for both of you.

Cooking books that have been inspiring us (only in Finnish):

Alex Nieminen & Riikka Sukula: VEGE!

Hanna Guillichsen: Kokin kotiruokaa

A little dance party

All of us, who fancy dancing, have been probably missing the movement, energy and feeling of rhythm in the body. Try out a little private dance party with some of your friends: create a playlist together or take turns as DJs, make some room to create a dance floor, set up the lights for creating the atmosphere and let the party begin. If you are lucky enough to have an excess to a bigger space, you could even consider little live music. Create a dress code for making the feel of speciality more prominent.

Go out: cinemas, exhibitions and restaurants

Invite a friend or maybe two, and go to the movies, visit exhibitions or have a long dinner in a local restaurant. You might need to wear a mask and sit in allocated places, but still the experience is very fulfilling and inspiring. Booking a ticket or a table many weeks in advantage might be the new reality, even for cinema, that was something to spontaneously walk into before. Having these events planned out and marked in your calendar makes them something to really look forward to.

Keeping the culture life active, is the soul of your neighbourhood!

These are some of the restaurants we love to visit in our hoods:

Text: Mila Moisio

Photos: Laura Oja

TAUKO portraits: Eeva Helle

2020-09-20T23:23:23+03:00

Works as a graphic designer
Was born in 1979 in Helsinki
Her favourite places are the seashores of Lauttasaari in Helsinki, Finland (an island connected with bridges to the mainland).
The best thing this year for her has been biking and exploring; being woken up in her tent by the sounds of the sea.
Wears: From the her personal TAUKO archive, Ruttutop in black, Radalla shorts in black, Cuddle pompom scarf in white and green Horizon wool cardigan
Topics we talked about: crows and shame

****

It must have been one of the murky autumn mornings some years back, when we decided to cheer up our customers by offering them spontaneously a cosy breakfast starting at 7am in the morning at the TAUKO studio store. With still some hours to sunrise and little bit of rain in the air, I started to wonder if anyone would actually appear. And then I saw someone locking the bike next to the shop window: Eeva stepped in with a big smile of excitement and red cheeks from the fresh morning air.

“Cyclist, enthusiastic, scout, graphic designer” is how Eeva describes herself. Having numerous inspiring talks with Eeva, I would also add “community lover and environmentalist” to the list. For some time she was also known to her friends for her paintings of crows, many came to her to share their experiences of these everyday birds, which we hardly ever notice otherwise.

Eva started painting crows when she was looking for motives to restart her school time hobby. She found back to her study-time inspiration, the famous “Boy and a crow” by Akseli Gallen-Kallela. Studying the painting, she focused on the crow and started to notice its siblings in her everyday life. Every single day, while biking from home to work and back over the long bridge that crosses the sea from mainland to her home island, she recognised being accompanied by crows sitting high up on the lamp poles next to the street. She transformed her observations into paintings and inspired people around her to share stories of crows they had encountered.

During my video call with Eeva connecting Schöneberg and Lauttasaari, the conversation drifts across subjects she has been pondering during the spring: We touched on questions of shame, often related to female sexuality, body images and menstruation blood. The latter has become one of the themes she recently also decided to share in her social media channels. Because of fearing to be ashamed, many things that are important to us are left unsaid or done. Also the feeling of shame in itself does often not find room in conversations. In our talk Eeva points out how shameful themes are often avoided, yet once the theme is introduced, people are cueing to have their story to tell: Regularly talking and acting upon shameful subjects makes them more normal and makes the shame disappear.

Be it crows or the subject of shame, the unnoticed quite often slips into conversations around her, without her intending so. Maybe it is the excitement Eeva has for everyday things, which makes her able to attract other peoples attention to them.

This attitude of exploration and openness has after all also inspired us at TAUKO in our dialogs and our design process. Somewhere in between intertwined conversations, I tell how the shorts she chose to wear for the photos were inspired by her. There is a lot of surprised laughter going through the headphones on both sides, and I tell her the story of how the shorts were designed for a dance piece: we wanted to create a skirt look-alike garment that allows for free movement. And as we knew Eeva as a “skirt-person” and a cyclist, we thought of her during the design process.

At the very end of the call, whilst I thank Eeva for her time and taking part in the photoshoot, she starts praising the photo of her wearing her Horizon cardigan. Her look at the camera and the whole presence shows “lived life” in a very positive sense of the word. The signs of aging, maturity that give depth to the image; We are again talking over each other.

Images of aging, even only in our 40’s, would be yet another interesting topic to talk about with Eeva, which I hope to have, maybe at another murky autumn morning with cosy breakfast at the TAUKO studio in Helsinki.

Text: Mila Moisio

Photos: Laura Oja

Size is more than a number

2020-09-05T17:01:00+03:00

Working with fashion, we are very familiar with the fact that there are as many different bodies as there are people. When all the differences are counted together, an average is created for making sizing charts. Based on quantitative research and named with seemingly arbitrary clothing numbers, the charts are full of expectations, wishes and demands. Why is size not just a letter or a number?

Creating standards for sizing

Our first sizing chart, used still in 2020, was based on our own customers. The sizing was rooted in the brand history: we started out with made to measure tailored pieces and gathered data from our clients. Based on the data we created our own size chart and clothes in size XS to XL that would fit the different body types.

Now we are in a transmission phase to start fully using a size chart that is based on a research carried out in 2001 in Finland. 1185 Finns between ages 18 and 88 were measured by taking 88 measures from each of them. From this complex data, a chart called N2001was created. Letter and number sizes indicate which body measurements each size has. This is a guideline for Finnish clothing manufacturers for size labelling.

Why do we need standards?

N2001 is one of the many initiatives to simplify and create standards for clothing. The ultimate goal is to help people to get the right size clothes regardless of the brand, country or even the continent.

Very few people fit to the average shown in the size charts, but they gives guidelines and something to refer to.

Several EU-standards are published during the last ten years in order to find a common language for the sizing. They are all based on quantitative research and finding averages. The history of size charts is almost 100 years old*.

However it is quite rare that brands follow these official standards based on similar research as N2001. Not having the brands following the standards makes ultimately the whole system vague. At the moment there is no common understanding of sizes, each brand is having their own take on the issue of which measurements are related to S, M and L or 32-52.

Vanity sizing

“Vanity sizing, or size inflation, is the phenomenon of ready-to-wear clothing of the same nominal size becoming bigger in physical size over time.”*

The current beauty image in western culture prefers small size to big size. This is said to be one of the reasons why clothes sizes are getting smaller.

It can be argued that the cultural expectations regarding sizing are used by the brands as a tool for increasing sales. As a way of complimenting people by offering them smaller sizes than what they are used to, brands can make one feel good about themselves**. Which is nice, but also problematic on a bigger scale. There is the risk of sizing turning into a marketing tool rather than an informative tool for people to understand their clothing size.

Driving body positivity with sizing

Size is just a number, and not. In our culture clothing sizes are filled with social and personal meanings. The sizing can be used or misused in many ways. Small, size 36 to 38, is the fashion model size. Many initiatives are pushing more allowing, open, diverse, image of a body, but the changes are slow.

And our own experiences from our work support the story: It is difficult to change the connotations of the letters standing for Small, Medium or Large. Also the number, seemingly arbitrary, have become part of our beauty image.

In our Helsinki stores, we have experienced many times how people refuse to try on a bigger size, because the letter or the number does not feel right for them. But it is just a number, right? All that matters is how the actual clothes feel? Yes, and no.

We are now in the process of resizing our products to fit better to the N2001 standards. For slim fit trousers we created a sizing chart with numbers to be able to offer more variety in sizes. As we are not able to stock all sizes, we are hoping people will also find our alternation and tailoring services which enable us to offer something for all.

Hoping that attitudes towards clothing sizes will gradually change, small and big would be equally valued, we are working for the change. Following the standards we are able to create transparency for sizing to drive body positivity and celebration of diversity in people.

*Reference to Wikipedia

**Reference to Newsweek

Text: Mila Moisio

Photos: Laura oja

Insights to the new TAUKO campaign "Touch" for AW20

2020-08-07T15:55:00+03:00

A big woollen sweater I inherited from my fathers’ closet was a starting point for the research we did for the new Autumn Winter 2020 collection. I’ve heard stories how the sweater had been worn during freezing winter nights in the woods, and my own childhood memories connected it with the fireplace in the garden, feeling the slightly itchy wool on my cheek when falling asleep having the sweater as my blanket.

The sweater, as all the most precious clothes I have, carry strong emotional memories, which are related to the tangible feeling, smells and atmosphere of different places, people and times. Much more than the looks, clothes transmit layered meanings between me and the outer world. These feelings took us to the journey of the “Touch”.

The Autumn Winter 2020 collection reflects the subject of Touch by revealing the intimate and emotional connection we have for fashion and clothing. The tangible feel of cloth on the skin and the way fashion creates layered meanings was the driving force for the collection — a topic that celebrates the power of fashion.

In this dialog of “touch”, touching is described as a gentle approach towards another being. It sets the limits between ourselves and the other. For philosophers such as Luce Irigaray or Judith Butler, touch is also a question of ethics. How can we approach another being with openness and experience the difference we encounter?

With fashion, a touch makes us feel the softness, hardness, stiffness, looseness or pressing of the garments we wear. Leaving little marks on the skin or a memory of the touch, clothes effortlessly become part of our social interaction whilst being very intimate and personal. As a second skin, clothing separates us and the outer world. The great potential of fashion lies in this in-between stage: to shape and realise the individual connection with the outside.

With every purchase we give a small gift to our clients: The “Touch” lookbook that tells about the collection with a delegate and intimate imaginary created in an old laundry house near Berlin, Germany.

Text: Mila Moisio

Images: Laura Oja

Fall in love with the signature-pieces

2020-07-15T16:21:00+03:00

Clean lines, big pockets, voluminous hems and a significant portion of personality. The TAUKO signature pieces are selected from our all time best sellers, the angular Leijat-family and the high waisted Radalla-trousers and skirts. These pieces have been part of the TAUKO collections from the very first steps of our journey and season after season they are rediscovered.

As designers, we spot the signature pieces on the street and feel the urge of greeting them as an old dear friend!

Japanese vibes

The angular design and the graphical silhouette has that little something that reflects the minimalist aesthetics common to both Finland and Japan. Leijat in Japan booklet was then created by wonderful photographer Yeahia Eweis capturing the everyday life in Tokyo and Kioto.

For the summer 2020 we styled the classic Leijat-pants with Physa wrap shirt. The endless variations show the power of the design: versatility makes design timeless and loved.

Being one of the earliest designs, we were in love with finding new structures and constructions of garments and the big, folded pockets were our success in the pattern problematics. Our customers have also fallen in love with this spectacular detail, especially in the Picnicleija-dress and Minileija-skirt. What a special feature - having this large pockets hidden in a beautiful design piece!

Feminine silhouettes

The radalla trousers and skirts are loved due to their playful design and visually interesting silhouettes. Radalla-trousers have been described as the "best travel pants ever" and "the pants that make you feel safe and comfortable."

The Radalla-skirt has the same comfort and architectural shape on the hips transforming giving the classic pen skirt another variant with that personal touch. It goes perfectly with fancier occasions but also as an eye-catcher at any casual office day.

TAUKOs Signature-products are valued and loved, making them the designs which are not missed when spotted on the streets.

To keep the love strong and offer something for everyone, we provide special colours with our pre-order service time to time and make unique editions of seasonal variants. For any specific wishes of your favourite signature piece, visit our studio store or write us an email. We are always delighted to find a new signature friend!

Text: Mila Moisio & Tiia Horppu

Photos: Yehia Eweis

Black Lives Matter – another wake up call for human and environmental rights

2020-06-12T10:18:00+03:00

The death of George Floyd has made the inequality of society visible. We have once again witnessed how able we are in disguising the injustice as we continue our normal, everyday lives. Even on the other side of the planet, we are part of the same cultural heritage that caused the death of George Floyd. And it is time to speak up.

We can go all the way back to the history of colonialism or even to the very first steps of agricultural heritage to track down the structures that need to be urgently changed. Ultimately I’m looking at the way we perceive, think and talk about the environment: other people, cultures, plants, animals, rocks. All of it.

During the process of designing the How long is a Wave collection, we were able to take a closer look at the state of the Baltic Sea and how it has been affected by people. The fragile ecosystem is continuously affected by the dry land activities which have an almost direct impact on the seas. The well-being of the sea ultimately depends on how we practice agriculture, move around the city, or buy clothes. Most of the current practices for farming are based on heavy fertilisation and usage of pesticide which will end up in the seas and are disrupting the balance of the soil severely making it poorer and unable to bind carbonocide. And ultimately fashion comes down to farming also. How are the fibres grown used in the making of garments?

By aiming for quick and high profits we neglect the long term impacts, This seems to be the most deadly disease of our time. Fashion, not being an exception there.

The many problems we are facing at the moment related to the abusive treatments of the soil, animals and other people, has a very complex history, yet it would feel nice to offer a simple solution: let’s stop thinking about other beings as resources, let’s not think we know better (than nature), let’s connect with what is around us.

In his book “The life of plants, A metaphysics of mixture,” Emanuele Coccia writes about how life is a fluid. This liquid can be seen as either a solid or a gas, such as air. Its shape can be easily noticeable or almost invisible to us. The idea of fluid as a different form of life, a continuum, makes all observable beings parts of the same entity.

Observing the creatures of water and aquatic life, Coccia’s idea of liquid as a unifying factor for us feels real. He writes “The fish, then, is not only one of the stages in the environment of living beings, but the Paradigm of any living being - just like the sea, which is not to be considered only as an environment specific to certain beings, but as a metaphor of the world in it self ”.

There is something truly comforting and beautiful about this idea. We have a constant need to elevate (a white heterosexual) man to his own kind, who, through this inequality, has the right to control other lives - as well as other people.

The Black Lives Matter movement and protests have pointed out how fashion brands have been exploding the black communities: culturally as well as economically. American street wear has been adopted by the luxury brands and the cotton industry has very well known bloody roots. It feels a bit as if we would still live within the jungle laws, where the strongest and the fastest can take whatever can be taken. For me this feels absurd with all the knowledge we have: it will not help the individual, the culture and even less the planet to exploit your environment. If we would think of ourselves as fluid, all the same, would we then act differently?

Be it on the other side of the planet or at the bottom of the sea, we should not close our eyes and continue our everyday life when neglect, inequality and abusiveness is reality. In this sense I hope the crisis we are living in, will turn the direction and we will not go back to the old normal anymore.

Text: Mila Moisio

Photos: Laura Oja

Recollection - a new initiative for circular fashion practises

2020-05-18T19:22:00+03:00

The story of the recollection initiative starts in spring 2017: A Finnish fashion brand Nanso, specialised in high quality knitwear, had just a year ago announced to close down their in house knit production in Finland. To avoid wasting the stock knits we were offered to buy some of the knits in the stock. And well, we fell in love with a sheer viscose knit that became the main inspiration and material of our spring and summer 2018 collection called “Transparence”.

The “Transparence” collection included two special pieces: Power and Dew maxi skirts looked amazing and created wonderful silhouettes when in movement. The layered design had a very powerful effect on the wearer and every time I wore my maxi skirt, I felt very dressed and comfortable. But all the power and layers had a downside, the skirts were heavy. And in the end a lot of them remained unsold. At the end of the season we packed the beauties into boxes now knowing what will come to them in the future.

Last summer I was wearing my Dew skirt after a long time and I started playing around with the design. Essentially the design had four (!) layers and by lifting them up, I was able to create new designs while wearing the skirt. I had to admit myself: there was a lot of fabric in this skirt. Maybe even enough to make it a dress, and a skirt!

The next morning I cut my skirt into pieces which was the beginning of the design process for Drop dress and Ripple skirt, the first recollection items. I loved the idea of redesigning our old stock pieces and giving them another form. After many tryouts and reassembling the new designs were ready and we managed to create a dress and a skirt from what used to be a maxi skirt of the past collection from summer 2018.

The storage boxes with Power and Breeze skirts were opened again and the skirts were cut and prepared for the production of the new designs.

Recollection is part of our design and production concept in which we would like to see our work as continuous movement towards regenerative and circular practises for fashion. Our stocks are quite small and we have only a few pieces left from limited seasonal collections, but still, I would like to see these “leftovers” as an inspiration for creativity and improvisation.

Recollection challenges the process of over-production and how the dead stock is traditionally handled. Instead of burning the last season collection overstock, there lies the possibility to reinvent and create new pieces using the design and the materials of the past collections. This creates yet another, very special and unique approach in the circularity of fashion.

With the initiative the textiles get already a third lifecycle which shows how the amount of textiles waste can actually be reduced and fashion can have a positive impact on the environment.

The mini-collection pieces are available in two colour ways: Drop dress in fiesta red and black, the Ripple skirt in gossamer green and black. The pieces are sold via TAUKO online store and at the TAUKO Garden store in Helsinki.

Text: Mila Moisio

Photos: Laura Oja

Designing sustainable cloth face mask for protection, style and comfort

2020-05-08T16:27:00+03:00

It looks like face masks are becoming part of our everyday life for a while now. Many European countries are advising or even obligating people to wear a mask when social distancing is not possible. Public transport, super markets, offices… and seemingly when the borders will open, masks will be an essential part of the international travelling wardrobe.

The journey of creating TAUKO’s first (and hopefully the last) face mask made us familiar with the extensive amount of writings, videos, professional and user opinions and researches of the cloth masks. The Wave face mask was created to comment and respond to the current situation we are living in.

***

We started our research journey for the mask design and production at the very beginning phase of the corona times. Going through tons of different articles and testing different DIY designs, we came up with the Wave face mask -design.

The most important parts of the design are: protection, style and comfort.

***

Choosing the right materials: breathable and protective

Having a cloth covering the nose and the mouth makes breathing heavier. This is something that is inevitable and a challenge for the usage of a cloth face mask.

Our goal was to use materials that make the breathing with the mask as easy as possible and still having the sufficient protection of the cloth. We chose tightly woven cotton that has already been used: there is less cotton “dust” getting off from the fabric as it has been washed already several times. Cotton takes in a lot of moisture that is created when breathing and therefore captures also the droplets that are said to spread the virus. As a natural fibre, cotton is also easier to breath through than synthetic fibres.

The more layers there are, the more protection you’ll have. This is why the mask is made from double fabric and there is a pocket for an extra filter. By adding an extra filter, made for example from a paper kitchen towel, and adjusting the mask snuggly on your face, the mask gives a protection that is recommended for German healthcare personnel (read more HERE).

The mask is fully designed and made from reused textiles. As with all our production, with the masks as well, we want to reuse textiles to give them a second lifecycle.

Challenge taken: designing something we thought we never would

Big part of our communication is based on our facial expressions and covering half of the face is a radical act. This is one of the main reasons we found the mask design process very challenging, not to underestimate the fact that we never did anything similar before!

Within the design process we went through the different motives of covering parts of the face in fashion: from bike couriers in New York and mask fashion of Korea to the guerillas of Mexico and the religious face and hair cover items. And of course the medical masks were examined thoroughly. After different scarf and DIY mask experimentations and prototyping we decided on pleated mask design that aligns the natural shape of the face and is as light as possible. With different colour variations we wanted to offer some playfulness in the design yet making it something you can wear everyday.

Snug fit is essential for having the protection and this is why we added a metal band on the nose. The embedded metal band bends for a snug, custom fit and reduces eyewear fogging.

During the time that face masks will be part of everyday life, we will see the development of the mask designs. It is interesting to see if the masks we will wear in a year will look like the ones that are popping up on the street scene now.

Making it yours - comfort

What we have learned by now, is that only items that feel comfortable are worn extensively. And like it or not, a face mask is something that should be worn extensively.

To guarantee the comfort of the Wave face mask, it was designed specifically for customization. Alternative ways to tie the mask help everyone to find the optimal way to wear it.

Loops behind the ears

This is the most popular way of wearing a mask as it is very easy to take on and off. For some this might feel as too much of a pull behind the ears

Tie-back with two loops

For many, this is the most comfortable way of wearing the mask. When you have found the right tightness of the ties, you can leave the knots and you don’t have to tie every time all over again. The down side of the tie-back is that you have the mask ties over your head and it might mess up your hair. It is also slightly more effort to put it on compared to the other two options.

Tie back behind the ears

The third option is a combination of the two others. You end up having only one loop over the head which is quite nice. Some might find this also irritating as having a loop behind the ears creates pull.

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For the ones who want to get creative we made a simplified free DIY instructions for making your own mask. You can find the PDF instructions HERE and printable pattern HERE.

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For more information about you can read these articles:

New York Times

WHO

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These masks we also love:

Dzaino

Hul Le Kes

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Text: Mila Moisio

Photos: Till Bovermann

TAUKO salon at home – new service concept combining the best of online and offline

2020-04-02T20:45:00+03:00

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to try on all the different collection items when you shop online? Like in a store, where you are helped by the professionals to select the pieces for the fitting room, encouraged with new ideas and inspiration? And on top, you could have the chance to take the time and adjust all the different looks with your own shoes, bags and accessories at home? We have created a service to make it possible. TAUKO salon at home is our new service which allows you to choose all your favourite pieces from our collection online, get insights and styling tips from us and have the items delivered to your home.

The service was created during the first weeks of the corona pandemic hitting European cities. Due to the necessity of the lockdowns and safety of people, our physical stores were closed in Helsinki. This left us depending on our online store and missing the customer contact which our brand is based on. Thinking of different options, we found a simple way to be able to offer the safeness and easiness of online shopping and the social and fun of shared experience.

The best part of our work is seeing the designs becoming alive worn by different people. We know our collections inside out and it is wonderful to be able to offer our expertise with the design, colour and size selection, possible combinations and variable looks. The interaction between us and our customers has not been possible with conventional online shopping and we wish to be part of the fun now with the TAUKO salon at home service!

Having the collection pieces at home and making the decisions with your phase will result in sustainable choices. Different sizes do not necessarily mean too big or too small, but it can just be about creating different looks. TAUKO salon at home makes it possible to try on all the different variations and choose the one that really fits best, at home.

We are happy and excited about the new service and would also love to hear what you think of the initiative. All the feedback is highly appreciated <3.

For now the service is only offered in Finland and we collaborate with bike couriers for the delivery within the Helsinki area. Our mission is to make the shopping experience easy, fun and respectful for the environment.

Text: Mila Moisio

Photos: Till Bovermann

How will the coronavirus pandemic affect on our sustainable fashion business?

2020-03-14T22:05:00+02:00

I took the train on the 26th of February from Berlin to Paris to present TAUKO’s AW20 collection for the international buyers at the Paris Fashion Week. The event turned into a puzzled conversation about coronavirus which was slowly and steadily affecting the everyday life of the Parisian. The fashion shows got cancelled and the venues were empty. I talked with journalists who embraced our concept of extending textile lifecycles, the luxury label next to us got crucified for not having sustainability in focus. The flashy and amazing art pieces seemed out of place. The international buyers were absent.

From Paris I continued to Valencia to an international conference focused on innovative projects between European businesses. There were hardly any hands shaked, some of the talks were streamed from Italy. But there was still the idea that the virus will stay in certain areas, it will not reach out. This was a week ago.

And then the news started really coming in: first lockdowns in Italy and all of a sudden my calendar filled with conferences, fairs and events got wiped out. It became as empty as the concert calendar of almost all European artists at the same time.

Now the whole Europe seems to be on hold yet there is a feeling of urgency in the air. People are advised to stay home. I’m having the fifth home office day today due to a flu which I’ve got after coming back home, to Berlin. This is the first time ever I’m at home because of a flu. I’ve cancelled all my appointments.

Being on hold and still – the speed in which things are happening is just crazy, overwhelming. The phase and the scale of the spreading virus creates the feeling of unpredictability which multiplies and exhilarates. Decisions on national level of lockdowns are praised and condemned at the same time. All of a sudden, we need to accept and live in a world where there are officially no right or wrong answers, just highly advanced guesses of scientists, economics and politicians of what can be done.

We need to make the decisions, without really knowing what will happen, of how we can secure TAUKO as a business during and after the pandemia. How can we act as a business to set an example for stopping the virus? My empty calendar means that TAUKO’s collections, production and business concept will not be presented in any of the events we’ve been invited to. It is probable that we will need to close our store in Helsinki and our sales online will drop dramatically. How will we make up for the lost income?

Regardless of all my concerns, I agree with Li Edelkroot and many others: this crisis can also turn into an opportunity for self-reflection of our economic system, new kind of creativity, improvisation and communal spirit. There are already many initiatives which are creating platforms to support the small businesses, designers, artists and all freelancers. Many professionals have been committed in telling about the struggle of the small businesses and what it means if we lose them. These are initiatives and skills that we will probably also need in the future. It is quite likely that this pandemic is a prelude of what is to come. Living in a world that becomes much more unpredictable is very probable. We need to learn to live in a world where things we’ve been taking for granted are simply just not there anymore.

Three weeks after I left for Paris, I’m now sitting in my home and looking at the traffic slowly passing by on six-laned Karl-Marx-Allee. I’m trying to guess if there is less traffic than on a normal saturday. I have a huge pile of notes and to do lists around me and roughly 20 web pages open on my browser. I’m trying to figure out what to do next.

Last week has definitely been a wakeup call for us as a business also. We rely on the structures of the very conservative fashion industry and on the consumer behaviour of our clients. Now, we do not have the structure anymore and we are unable to predict the consumer behaviour. I’m looking at our strategy and our campaigns and they are out of date.

Doing small adjustments and taking some time to reflect: It is time to see if we can really change the system itself. We need to reinvent and build something that is much more adjustable, slower, softer. More respectful and honest as a system.

Luckily there is some space in the calendar for working on this.

Text: Mila Moisio

Photo: Till Bovermann

The top 5 of sustainable fashion brand

2020-02-23T13:25:00+02:00

What is it that our customers love the most? Why do they keep on coming back? Is it the funky new style or the trust on the brand?

Here are the top five aspects that our customers value the most in TAUKO. The list is based on a customer survey we carried out a few weeks ago.

Reused and recycled materials

We were super happy to find the recycled textiles on the highest ranking on our customers priority list! Since the beginning of TAUKO’s history, for more than 10 years now, we’ve been focusing on the research of textile recycling for fashion. The work is still continuing as we are hoping to find less energy driven ways to treat the reused textiles.

Transparency and information of the origin

We have nothing to hide and we believe that sharing information teaches us and others new things. It is not perfection, but a process of learning from one another. As part of the transparency we wish to tell also about our journey and hope that others (brands and individuals) do the same. Learn about the radical transparency of our cost split here.

Timeless design

Sustainability has a lot to do with design. We rarely have prints, which make the clothes easier to adapt to new trends. With different styling of the same item they are fit for many different occasions and do not go out of fashion. Characteristic timeless design influencers for us are brands like Jil Sander.

Original and unique design

Leijat -collection was one of our early top sellers and it drew the first lines of TAUKO’s design language. Edgy, geometrical, with elegance and funny twist sounds exactly what we are after. Every new collection brings in a new design element. For summer 2020 it is the balloon sleeves of the Aurelia dress and jacket.

High quality and durability

This is one of the aspects we are very proud of. Choosing recycled materials as the raw textiles for our production has its pros and cons. The pros are obviously related to the environmental aspects of the textiles, but also to the durability. These textiles are by far the best we have ever worked with. And we can guarantee that they will last. One of the cons is the cost (expenses). It requires a lot of work to select and test the materials. As with everything, we do prefer the quality over the quantity. Learn how to love and care your TAUKO piece here.

What do you think is the ultimate number 1 aspect for a sustainable fashion brand? Or is there something you would like to give us feedback on? Please feel free to drop us a line tauko@taukodesign.fi

Text: MIla Moisio

Photos: Laura Oja

Photo from the sewing company by Till Bovermann

Sometimes I wish I would be a jellyfish – On climate emergency and circularity of life

2020-02-16T12:47:00+02:00

Have you ever seen a jellyfish in the wild? I’ve spotted big flocks of these floating animals during the late summer days whilst being carried on soft waves in my kajak. Moved only by the streams near the surface, I started to wonder: How would it be to perceive life as a jellyfish?

During the warm summer months Aurelia Aurita, the jellyfish common to the Baltic Sea, stay deep down, near the bottom of the sea, invisible for us, who are trapped to boats or other dry surfaces. But later in the year, around August and September, they rise closer to the surface to breed, revealing their existence to us. But what makes jellyfish extremely interesting is that their existence is so different from ours. There is something extraterrestrial to them: A recent study, for example, found that Aurelia Aurita is capable of lifecycle reversal — individuals grow younger instead of older.

This somehow indicates how our common idea of life being a linear time-frame is a big (and possibly dangerous) misconception. Whether we think of life from the perspective of an individual, culture, economics or even the planet, there is really no beginning or end.

No matter how different, we are still part of the same ecosystem with jellyfish. And as we painfully come to realise, there are major issues, real problems, concerning the environment where I and the jellyfish live. What our species is doing and how we are acting has a tremendous effect not only on human life but also the life of jellyfish. And again, what will happen to the jellyfish, as an effect of human actions, will have an effect on human life. It is a down-cycle caused by us and our actions accelerating every minute.

Our problems, the climate crisis and mass extinction we see around us, is also affecting jellyfish.

And their looming extinction again becomes my problem. The same applies on the dry land within different human actions that I would rather not like to be identified with: resource exhaustion by excessive agriculture, mining, and over-fishing, financial purely profit-oriented speculations in businesses, as well as cultural and political struggles are not challenges limited to these specific areas, rather they are our, my problems and therefore problems for the jellyfish.

The only significant difference between me and the jellyfish is, that we, as a species, cause these problems all the while being aware of it and its consequences, making us, me, somehow responsible. So, while it is my responsibility to work on these problems, jellyfish continue to float, breed, and slowly change and adapt.

Being a human, in the sense of being able to anticipate consequences and thus being responsible to take action requires a lot of effort and change. This is where I sometimes wish to be a jellyfish.

Thinking of the life of a jellyfish and human influences on underwater life, has been one of the starting points for creating our “How long is a wave?” -collection. The bell-like figure of a jellyfish, Aurelia Aurita (Korvameduusa), has been the main influence for the balloon sleeved Aurelia dresses and jackets of the collection.

Text by Mila Moisio

Underwater photo by Pekka Tuuri

TAUKO SS20 campaign images by Laura Oja

Gifts for the Future

2019-11-07T21:56:00+02:00

What if you could get back something you already thought you lost? Fix the one that was broken? Save the one that is important for you?

This Christmas we want to offer you the possibility to give a gift of life to the Baltic Sea. We have prepared a special Gifts for the Future selection with stunning photography art prints and TAUKO x GULLKRONA apparel where all the profits are directed for the work of the Baltic Sea Action Group. With additional gift ideas including padded scarfs, organic merino wool knits, beanies, aprons and dresses you can choose to support the work for Baltic Sea with donations starting from 10 40 euros.

With each gift, we will send a thank you card that tells your loved ones how they have participated in helping the Baltic Sea to recover.

Read more about how Baltic Sea Action Group is working for the environment and acting to reduce climate warming HERE.

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Just Breath – fine art photography series

Laura Oja is a Helsinki based photographer that has made a photography series called “Just Breath” in collaboration with TAUKO. It is made to support the work of the Baltic Sea Action Group.

The series is a selection of photos that are part of TAUKO campaigns “Deep time” and “How long is a wave?”. With these images the feeling of how we are connected to everything that surrounds us, human or non human, is transmitted.

The photographs are printed with sustainable hemp paper in a local Helsinki based print house and sold via TAUKO online store. All the profits of the “Just Breath” -photography series will be donated to the Baltic Sea Action Group to restore the good balance of the Baltic Sea.

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The essentials, TAUKO x GULLKRONA

The capsule collection includes unisex t-shirts for adults and kids and a sturdy tote bag. The designs were created in collaboration with newly opened Gullkrona island hosts to support the work that is done for the Baltic Sea. All the profits of these products will be donated to the Baltic Sea Action Group. Read more about the collection HERE

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Timeless design, extra fine organic merino wool cardigans and beanies

Made from mulesing free organic merino wool in Tuusula, Finland. These pieces will last for a lifetime. To give a gift for the Baltic Sea, choose Donation variant “40eur for the Baltic Sea Action Group” (cardigans and pullover) or “10 eur for the Baltic Sea Action Group” (beanies).

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Padded vegan scarfs

Voluminous scarves are made from re-purposed rental textiles with down-like 100% recycled polyester padding. Super soft and warm gift with a loving thought. To give a gift for the Baltic Sea, choose Donation variant “20eur for the Baltic Sea Action Group”

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Dust dress

Wrap dress with recycled brass buttons. The dress is made from re-purposed rental textiles with ocean plastic lining that feels like luxurious silk. Easy fit that can be worn as a dress or a waistcoat. To give a gift for the Baltic Sea, choose Donation variant “30eur for the Baltic Sea Action Group” .

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#66 Apron

One size apron for all the food lovers! Detachable neck strap, pockets and easy maintenance are the key features of the minimal design. The design is also loved by the newly opened Muji Finland store. To give a gift for the Baltic Sea, choose Donation variant “10eur for the Baltic Sea Action Group”.

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Get inspired by the Gifts for the Future and share the love with people around you <3.

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Photos by Laura Oja

Campaign video By Baltic Sea Action Group

We made a commitment to help the Baltic Sea

2019-11-04T20:10:00+02:00

In the era of climate change, mass extinctions, pollution and numerous other kinds of environmental issues, it is increasingly important to think and act responsibly. The aforementioned problems cannot be solved without conscious co-operation between researchers, policy-makers, businesses, public sector, and private individuals. As we share the globe, we must also share the work to save the globe.

Saara Kankaanrinta, Baltic Sea Action Group

The commitment is an act with a positive impact on the Baltic Sea.

Baltic Sea Action Group works for restoring the good ecological balance of the Baltic Sea. This goal that can be reached only through extensive co-operation and one of the tools to work with, is the Baltic Sea Commitment that TAUKO is now part of.

Including three different aspects related to sustainable fashion, we want to show and set an example on how important it is that organizations integrate saving the sea into their operations.

We are committed…

to act analyze, report and develop the dyeing process of the reused textiles that are the bases of our collection production. The report on the results will be publicly available by the end of 2020. We will implement new methodology to improve our textile finishes by 2022.
to improve and develop the textile recycling of used TAUKO pieces and the production left over textiles.
to communicate the impact fashion industry has on the sea life, it’s habitat and the loss of biodiversity. This will be part of our communication and marketing strategy. We will inform people on what each individual can do to help the Baltic Sea in regards to fashion.

The Baltic Sea Action Group monitors the progress of all accepted Commitments. They keep in contact with Commitment makers and annually analyse and report the progress of all active Commitments.

Other than working with on the aspects listed on the commitment, we want to support the work of Baltic Sea Action Group by donations.

We have collected the pieces where all the profits are donated or where you can add a donation for the Baltic Sea Action Group under the tittle “Gifts for the Future”. Find the selection and take part on the climate action HERE.

Text by Mila Moisio

Photos by Laura Oja

Why do we have sales? About the sustainability of discount culture

2019-10-23T08:55:00+03:00

The upcoming weekend we will organise one of the most important sales event during the year. We'll be hosting the annual stock and sample sales, clearance of the stocks, displaying samples that never made it to the production.

It is challenging to start this topic without going too deep into the way we are accustomed to thinking about the environment. How [according to Timothy Morton] from the beginning of the so called agrilogistics we’ve been slowly enforcing the development of seeing our environment as the means of our own well being and pleasure. This has been resulting in the pursuit of human survival on the expense of everything else. And well, now we are in trouble. And without going any deeper, fashion and apparel industry, is an extreme example of this development. And we are part of it.

But sales. Discounts. How and why? Can sales be part of sustainable business model?

For us, the most important thing is to be honest and respectful for our clients and for the industry. We also try to be as transparent as possible (the only limitation with transparency is the overwhelming amou

nt of information that we are unable to communicate all the time). With sales or non-sales, our intention is not to trick anyone into buying something they don’t actually need or want. As some might see the sales as the evil plan of the companies to sell stuff to people who actually do not want it, we find it difficult to imagine that we would have such super powers.

Sales are as visible as everything else on our online and offline platforms. We do not hide or give the so called dead stock items to a third party members, who would then sell them on discount via their own platforms. To be able to keep up the image of “we never have sales”, it is a quite common strategy to hide the sales. And it can be a very good strategy also. But we have a different one.

For the question of why, the answer is quite predictable and simple: From each season there are items that are not sold. These items are called dead stock, as they are not being actively sold. Seasonal sales, every half a year, are the way to get the dead stock moving again.

And now comes the next question: why do we actually have seasonal collections? Wouldn’t it be more sustainable to have ongoing or permanent collections?

The nice thing about fashion is that it is a creative industry. It can be super fun! And it can be a very powerful tool of self expression, communal gesture or political activism. For this vivid and life beating feature of fashion, cyclical seasons bring the novelty, excitement and development into it. For each brand, the frequency of seasons and the size of each collection is re-estimated. For TAUKO having two seasonal collections annually feels like a good cyclical speed. It keeps us on the move and allows us to develop the design.

The next question concerning the sales, would be the price. How is the price set? Could we just sell always on discount?

To be honest here, there is no “real” price. Within the collection there are items that are sold on the cost of production (materials, cutting and sewing) and items that have bigger margin for us. On average one could say that having -50% sales means that we cut out our own sales margin. As a brand, we still might get something from the sold product, but not always. Read more about the price structure of the TAUKOxGULLKRONA collection and other TAUKO items HERE.

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Was there an answer for the sustainability of discounts? No, not really.

From the perspective of a small brand like us, sales or discounts are not evil. They are also not a relief. Within the clothing industry, that we are part of, It is all about selling: making money so that we are able to do the production, pay rent, pay salaries, make photos, create new designs…. The list is long. And all the sales help us in doing what we do.

For me the big question is, on which expenses these sales are made?

Every time I see a new garment that is sold for 10 euros, it gives me shivers. Knowing about the cost structures and the ways of maximising the profits of the seller, whether or not in sale, that is too little. It is an extreme example of the blindness and ignorance on the effects that cheap production and labour have on the environment.

Text: Mila Moisio

Photos: 2016 ystävämyynti photos by Yehia Eweis, all the rest by Laura Oja

Colour trends from autumn woodlands, sand and stone

2019-08-21T17:05:00+03:00

The Deep time Autumn colors take their cue from autumn woodlands, sand and stone. Inspirational November landscape can reveal a whole spectrum of amazing dynamics of colour.

The perfect palette is created combining powerful and intense colors with lighter and classy tones. The dynamics between different colours create space and tensions that are the heart of your personal style.

THE POWER COLORS

Burnt Henna

Earthy red, as if glowing with the hint of orange. This is the perfect color for the ones looking for tender and sensual colors for the season. Combine the Stone dress and lighter melange burnt henna Dust dress with the depths of Alpine green and fresh drizzle grey bottoms.

Desert sun

Yellow with a hint of red spreading a lot of joy and warmth around you! Works best in small portions as in Mineral shirt combined with fresh tones of grey, blue and green. Try Mineral shirt with your favourite jeans as desert sun loves to match also with indigo blue!

THE CLASSICS

Alpine green

Thinking of the evergreen pine trees or sea moss is the best way to capture this beautiful tone of green. After several combinations and mixes, we start to believe that this colour fits with all the rest in the pallet. Also the lighter version, Melange Alpine green, as in Wish trousers and Dust dress, is the easy mix and match color.

Marine blue

Dark blue premiered in the TAUKO collection last autumn as we introduced the organic merino wool knits. Now this classic color is spread to Wish trousers. Combine with other classics such as Alpine green, add some power with desert sun Mineral shirt or bring in the cooler tones in drizzle grey and cameo pink.

Coal black

This is TAUKO’s classic, a signature color. Some consider it grey, but for us it is the gentle tone of deep and dark black. Fits with all.

THE FRESH AND LIGHT TONES

Drizzle grey

Bare birch tree trunks or early morning frost on the pavement describe this beautiful light grey, the drizzle grey. It is “open” and spacious color that offers space for the more intense and demanding power colors, burnt henna and desert sun. It’s also cool to make a monochromatic look with full drizzle grey outfit, such as Stone dress combined with Cargo trousers.

White

White has a small but essential role in the Deep Time collection. Nordic Tee is made from surplus fair trade cotton white, a slightly broken white tone on it. It brings in the coolness that only white can offer.

Melange estate blue

To be honest, the melange estate blue was a pure accident, a lucky one. With some miscommunication between the dyeing and sewing company, we received the first samples for the Autumn collection in a color that was supposed to be Marine blue. This color, much lighter than on the design table, was named as Melange estate blue. After some consideration and killing a couple of darlings, we decided to keep the color in the collection. For now, it has been the number one favourite and top seller <3.

Cameo pink

There is a little hint of playful pink in the Deep Time collection. It is a highlighting color that reveals itself in the knit structure of the Marine blue Horizon cardigan (coming soon!) and Line beanie. Combine the cardigan with drizzle grey Mineral shirt and coal black Cargo trousers to complete your looks.

New arrivals for the Autumn 2019 collection will be updated on the online store during August, September and October. Follow the news to find your favourites!

Text: Mila Moisio

Photos: Laura Oja

Autumn 2019 sustainable fashion collection is inspired by the concept of DEEP TIME

2019-07-27T13:23:00+03:00

Geological time inspires The Deep Time collection for Autumn Winter 2019, a perspective taking us back to earth’s very first days 4.5 billion years ago. The rocks, stones and sand were all here long before humans or any living organism – the materials weathered and transformed in a time cycle so slow it makes humans’ time on earth a mere blink of an eye.

We were fascinated by these very slowly transforming objects and their place in our everyday environment. People have taken an active role in guiding these transformations, and it is time to consider what this means. For in our time, Deep Time has been turned into rapidly moving cycles, spurring changes whose effects we cannot foresee.

The campaign visuality is themed around minerals, sand, stones and rocks. Layered looks are transmitting the metaphor of cycles of time.

Soil skirt and Pier turtleneck shirt are the first arrivals of the Autumn 2019 collection.

The colors of the collection take their cue from autumn woodlands, sand and stone. The silhouettes and lines are clean and progressive, designed for everyday ease yet full of personal expression. These are pieces that celebrate natural chic and style alongside sustainability.

Mineral shirt has brass buttons that are made from recycled brass. The boxy silhouette has been inspired by the robust geometrical shapes of rocks and stones.

The campaign visuality and storytelling has been designed and executed by a wonderful and talented team. Big thank you to:

Art Direction @Blackbird/berlin

Photogarphy @Laura Oja

Graphic Design @Dörte de Jesus

Styling @Sophia Schwan

Make up and Hair @Eva Dieckhoff

Muse @Sara Al-Shaalan

The best nature destinations in Finland

2019-07-16T09:14:00+03:00

The smell of the pine trees and the softness of moss under your bare feet, the sound of the waves and warm rocks to lay on or the vast and empty horizons with feeling of endless space around you – our reasons for leaving the city behind and heading to the nature are various and oh, so tempting!

Nature destinations are the easiest places for balancing the city buzz and reflecting on the continuous workload. Long walks without any communication mediums are luxurious and well needed to find new inspiration for the creative work.

Early last spring I visited Repovesi natural park, just few hours away from Helsinki. This year, I've been lucky to have experienced already the authentic and peacefull Gullkrona island on the Baltic Sea. And to have it all, for the last week of August I will head to Lappland for a hike.

These three nature destinations are my favourites, the best getaways from urban fuzz.

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Early spring escape to Repovesi

Repovesi is one of the most picturesque lake landscapes in Finland. Formed during the age age, these lakes are connected to each other with narrow pathways.

There are amazing views over the lakes surrounded by old pine tree forests. When we visited Repovesi in March, the lakes were still partly covered with thin ice.

You can rent a hut or stay in local BtoB, sleep in a tent, stroll around with a kayak or a canoe.

These links will help you to explore more:

Link to national park site: HERE

Link to repovesi (only in Finnish)

Guided tours, maps, accommodation in English via Tervarumpu

Rahkasammal has been inspiring the TAUKO x GULLKRONA collection, and the t-shirt for the collection has been named after this amazing plant.

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Summer trip to Gullkrona

Gullkrona Is a small island and a loved, natural harbour in the archipelago of Finland. The surrounding of Gullkrona offers a unique habitat for extraordinary sea life and amazing nature experience for the visitors. After being closed for ten years, the harbour was reopened in May 2019.

The TAUKO x GULLKRONA -collection has been inspired by the landscape and the unique feeling of this small island. Most of the people visiting Gullkrona come with their own boats, as it is quite far from the mainland. During the summer you can take a ferry from one of the bigger islands and stay in a tent for a night or two. There are lot's of beautiful spots around Gullkrona to explore.

Find out how to get to Gullkrona by browsing through these links:

The island LINK

Ferry services

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All the way up to Kilpisjärvi

Lapland is a very unique and special experience. The wilderness, having very few people around you, is liberating though it can give you some shivers also. The feeling makes you connected to the endless space which must be similar to the experience of a seafarer when in the middle of an ocean, at the open sea.

Within Finnish borders there are no steep slopes or dramatic fjords, but quite shallow, old mountains that have worn out to easy access and tame yet powerful wilderness and wisdom. Minimal and strong.

Kilpisjärvi is fairly easy to reach when traveling from Helsinki, but the travel takes a day. When up there, pack your bag for minimum of 3 day hike in the wilderness, sleep in a tent or in a modest hut and embrace the fact, that there is no reach of internet after a day of walk.

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A big inspiration writing this article, was the design process of the TAUKO x GULLKRONA collection. The collection items are named after spices specific to the Baltic Sea region. With the collection we wanted to raise awareness on the endangered habitat of the nordic sea.

The collection has the summer essentials for women, men and children. It is available at the TAUKO store and online until end of August 2019.

FOR ADULTS

Rahkasammal T-shirt, in sunshine yellow, sizes XS-XL

Rahkasammal T-shirt, sailor blue, sizes XS-XL

Rahkasammal T-shirt, soft grey, sizes XS-XL

Rahkasammal T-shirt, white, sizes XS-XL

Sinisimpukka Tunic dress, sunshine yellow, sizes XS-XL

Sinisimpukka Tunic dress, broken white, sizes XS-XL

Sinisimpukka Tunic dress, sailor blue, sizes XS-XL

Sinisimpukka Tunic dress, soft grey, sizes XS-XL

FOR KIDS, sizes 110/116 and 134/140

Rahkasammal T-shirt, soft grey, sizes 110/116 and 134/140

Rahkasammal T-shirt, in sunshine yellow, sizes 110/116 and 134/140

Rahkasammal T-shirt, white, sizes 110/116 and 134/140

Sinisimpukka Tunic dress, sunshine yellow, sizes 110/116 and 134/140

Sinisimpukka Tunic dress, broken white, sizes 110/116 and 134/140

FOR ALL

Vimpa hat, sunshine yellow, sizes 52-56

Maneetti hat, white, sizes 54-58

Rahkasammal bag

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Text by Mila Moisio

Photos:

Repovesi and Gulkrona, Laura Oja

Kilpisjärvi, Till Bovermann

Donation for the Baltic Sea – showing how the sustainable fashion collection was made

2019-06-27T15:08:00+03:00

TAUKO x GULLKRONA collection is a timeless and sustainably crafted collection for everyone, but also an initiative for introducing a holistic take on sustainability and circular fashion. What are all the different factors that are included in the process? How are the shares distributed among the different actors involved? We broke it down to numbers.

DESIGN 8%

With sustainable fashion it is as much about the design as it is about the production process. Being extra careful with the details, making sure that all the necklines, hems and belt loops have the right texture and placement, becomes essential. The more minimal the design gets, the more care there needs to be in the details. The well made design guarantees that the products are used and loved for long.

MATERIALS 9,5%

The collection is made from 100% reused and leftover textiles. There are no new textiles involved in the process of manufacturing TAUKO x GULLKRONA collection. Resourcing the production materials from the distinct textile waste sources: dead stocks of Finnish knitting companies and sorting used textiles from the laundry and textiles services is very labor extensive and time consuming work. The hard work results in the reuse of high quality textiles, that would be burned or discarded to the landfills, if not applied in the production of TAUKO x GULLKRONA collection.

CRAFTING 17%

It requires a trained eye and special skills to turn the old textiles into newly loved pieces. Most of the magic happens by two sewing companies located in Estonia. To show our appreciations each product tells exactly where it was made.

We consider ourselves lucky to have found the wonderful sewing companies in Estonia that we have already an established and long relation with. Working together with family owned small companies makes the production process enjoyable and safe.

Having long term planing and strategies for development together with our suppliers, we can guarantee the continuity of work for all the employees. Trust, honesty and openness are the mutual values that we cherish.

MARKETING 6%

Communication is one of the most important parts of TAUKO x GULLKRONA collection. Rather than "just" donating all the profits to the Baltic Sea Action Group, we have the urge to make people more aware of the impacts that textile industry has on the environment. We want to stress both the biodiversity of the Baltic Sea region, and the fact that many of the local species are in danger of extinction.

Designing and planing the visual materials for the communication, taking the photos and distributing the information is all part of marketing. On top, we wanted to tell, with each product, how and where they are made. Printed information on the product, cardboard hangtags and little care tags inside the products tell about the origin of the materials and where the products were made, how they should be treated for long lasting love and what should be done when no longer loved.

From these little pieces of information we are gathering the holistic story of what sustainable fashion is all about.

SALES 19%

Sales are the rests, the millions of little thing, running costs, that do not fit to any other category. From quality check and pricing of the products to shop rents and customer service, this part covers all the actions that are needed to actually sell the products. And this is where it all aims for.

For us, personal customer service, listening and caring, so that everyone actually gets what they want and need, is at the core of the sales. For this we wish to create the best possible surroundings online and offline. The TAUKO x GULLKRONA collection is sold at the Gullkrona harbour boutique, TAUKO store, Helsinki and online at the TAUKO online store.

TAXES 24%

We are happy to pay our share of the Finnish VAT.

PROFIT = DONATION 16%

The Baltic Sea Action Group works as a catalyst and a change maker. Brining together research groups, political decision making, businesses and what ever it takes, to have a significant work done for the Baltic Sea, has proven already as a holistic and far-sighted take on environmental issues.

The holistic and ambitious take on environment, that reaches out for new scientific, economical and cultural implications is something we want to support. TAUKOdesig Oy, as a company, will be committing more and more, to support the initiatives by the Baltic Sea Action Group during the autumn 2019.

SILENT KNOWLEDGE

TAUKO x GULLKRONA is a true collaborative collection where both the designers of TAUKO and the new owners GULLKRONA have given all their knowledge and own workforce for the project. The silent knowledge and countless working hours do not show in any charts, yet they become an essential part of making the collection. This project has been widely supported and we are very thankful for it.

TAUKO X GULLKRONA – Love the Baltic Sea

2019-05-29T12:24:00+03:00

A capsule collection designed and manufactured for loving and respecting the Baltic Sea will be out in June 2019. All the profit will be donated to the Baltic Sea Action Group.

TAUKO X GULLKRONA collection is created in collaboration with the founders of TAUKO, Mila Moisio and Kaisa Rissanen, and the new owners of Gullkrona harbour Saara Kankaanrinta and Ilkka Herlin. With this capsule collection we show how fashion can be designed and produced with loving care for the environment. The limited edition of sustainable clothing raises awareness for the endangered and unique habitat of the Baltic Sea.

Saara Kankaanrinta and Mila Moisio at the reopening of the Gullkrona harbour in May 2019. The collaboration has brought up a lot of new ideas how we can work together to rase awareness of the fashion industry's effects on the underwater sea-life.

ABOUT THE COLLECTION

The collection is designed for everyone to enjoy the beautiful summer days in the archipelago. Timeless, easy-to-combine t-shirts, tunic dresses, hats and bags have a special focus on details. The colors take their cue from the sea, the open horizon, and the rocky coastline habitat with its different plants. For the first time there are also kid's clothing within a TAUKO collection!

The collection aims to convey how respect and love for the environment can be incorporated into clothing design and production. It also raises awareness of the ways that clothing manufacturing impacts nature, including the fragile ecosystems and species of the Baltic Sea. The items in the collection are named after species native to the Baltic Sea region. This is to stress both the species diversity in the ecosystem, and the fact that many of them are in danger of extinction.

”Conscientious and responsible production has always been one of the key aspects of TAUKO. For this collection we have gathered inspiration from marine archipelago landscapes, their vast horizons and inhabitants”, says Mila Moisio.

”Fashion industry has long-term environmental impacts, for example through cotton farming, monocultures and the use of pesticides. It is especially important to us that this collection recycles existing textile materials, instead of producing new material. We want to be completely transparent in demonstrating what makes up the price of genuinely sustainable and beautiful clothing”, comments Saara Kankaanrinta.

GULLKRONA

Is a small island and a loved, natural harbour in the archipelago of Finland. The surrounding of Gullkrona offers a unique habitat for extraordinary sea life and amazing nature experience for the visitors. After being closed for ten years, the harbour will be reopened in May 2019 by Saara Kankaanrinta and Ilkka Herlin.

Saara Kankaanrinta and Ilkka Herlin are the new owners of the Gullkrona harbour. Kankaanrinta and Herlin are known as a couple for their persistent and loving work for the environment. Rethinking the energy production and farming respecting the conditions of the environment are among the key factors of their work. As owners of two farms that are based on carbon farming and nurturing the biodiversity, the couple is experimenting on how food and energy could be produced in a way that improves biodiversity, curbs emissions and sequesters carbon while cycling nutrients.

”Giving nature more space” is the motto for Kankaanrinta and Herlin couple. For the Gullkrona harbour, they will create a sustainable visitors culture that is based on the well-being of the surrounding nature.

DONATION FOR THE BALTIC SEA ACTION GROUP

BSAG works to restore the good ecological balance of the Baltic Sea. It is a goal that can be reached only through extensive co-operation. For us, the Baltic Sea, is a an endless source for inspiration, a delicate and sill quite unknown Sea that we have a huge respect for. During the last years we've become more and more aware of the underwater life of the Baltic Sea that has been endangered due to human actions.

Today the Baltic Sea is in critical condition – it is considered one of the most polluted seas in the world. It can still be saved but actions should be taken immediately.

The most severe problems of the Baltic Sea are eutrophication, hazardous substances, risks of the maritime traffic and the loss of biodiversity. The environmental problems are interwoven. When we are talking about climate change, we are also talking about the state of the Baltic Sea.

BSAG, The Baltic Sea Action Group, (officially “Foundation for a Living Baltic Sea”) is an independent non-profit foundation (2008) based in Finland. BSAG works to find solutions and right actors to restore the good ecological balance of the Baltic Sea.

The work is based on constructive cooperation among all levels of society, including the highest political level in all the Baltic Sea countries, public authorities, and the private sector. BSAG works as a matchmaker, bringing research findings to the use of the decision makers, activating companies to find and implement solutions, and bringing together the parties needed to save the Baltic Sea.

With the TAUKO x GULKRONA we want to make the first steps as a company to inform people and help BSAG to work for the Baltic Sea. All the profit of the collection will be donated to the Baltic Sea Action Group.

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The collection has the summer essentials for women, men and children. It is available at the TAUKO store and online until end of August 2019.

FOR ADULTS

Rahkasammal T-shirt, in sunshine yellow, sizes XS-XL

Rahkasammal T-shirt, sailor blue, sizes XS-XL

Rahkasammal T-shirt, soft grey, sizes XS-XL

Rahkasammal T-shirt, white, sizes XS-XL

Sinisimpukka Tunic dress, sunshine yellow, sizes XS-XL

Sinisimpukka Tunic dress, broken white, sizes XS-XL

Sinisimpukka Tunic dress, sailor blue, sizes XS-XL

Sinisimpukka Tunic dress, soft grey, sizes XS-XL

FOR KIDS, sizes 110/116 and 134/140