Working with TAUKO

1. Representation & Inclusion

We believe that fashion and creativity belong to everyone.

TAUKO is committed to representing a broad range of people, bodies, identities, cultural backgrounds and experiences. We actively seek perspectives that are often underrepresented in mainstream fashion media.

We work with emerging and established designers, writers and artists from different parts of the world. Our selections are guided by creative quality, originality, relevance to each issue's editorial theme and our commitment to diversity.

We use open calls to create opportunities for new voices and to make participation accessible beyond our existing professional networks.

In our photography, we aim to represent people as individuals rather than as ideals to aspire to. We value authenticity, personal expression and the many different ways people inhabit and experience clothing.

2. Fair Collaboration & Compensation

We believe that creative work deserves recognition, clear agreements and fair compensation.

We agree on the scope of work, responsibilities, schedules, compensation and publication rights with our professional contributors before beginning a collaboration.

Working with designers

Our collaborations with sewing pattern designers go beyond publishing a finished design. TAUKO provides extensive professional support throughout the development and publication process.

Depending on the project, this includes:

• Creative development and clarification of the design concept.

• Professional pattern development, grading into nine sizes and technical editing.

• Editing and proofreading of sewing instructions.

• Preparation of digital sewing patterns and instructions for independent online sales.

• Editorial photography, illustrations and a dedicated magazine feature.

• Opportunities to connect with our Make & Share community before publication.

• Promotion through TAUKO's editorial and social media channels.

• A complimentary printed magazine and the opportunity to purchase copies at wholesale prices for resale.

Designers can also sell their PDF patterns through the TAUKO online store, receiving a 50% commission on those sales. After a four-month exclusivity period, designers are free to sell their patterns independently.

The details of each collaboration, including compensation and rights, are agreed upon in advance.

Working with writers and other creative professionals

We commission articles, essays, interviews, photography, illustrations and other editorial work from independent professionals.

Fees vary according to the nature and scope of each assignment and are always agreed upon individually before work begins. We aim to establish clear expectations, realistic schedules and respectful working relationships.

We value the expertise and individual voice of every contributor. Editing is a collaborative process intended to strengthen the work while respecting the author's perspective.

Professional work and voluntary participation

We distinguish between commissioned professional work and voluntary community participation.

Our readers may choose to take part in community projects, test sewing patterns, model for photographs or share their own creations. Participation is voluntary and does not replace the paid work of professional contributors.

3. Respectful & Safe Participation

We want everyone who works with or participates in TAUKO to feel respected, welcomed and able to express themselves.

We do not tolerate discrimination, harassment, bullying or disrespectful behaviour.

Participation in our community activities is always voluntary. We communicate expectations and practical arrangements in advance and respect each person's boundaries and right to make decisions about their involvement.

Photography and representation

We approach photography as a collaboration between the photographer, the person being photographed and the editorial team.

We aim to create a respectful and supportive atmosphere during our photoshoots, where participants can express their preferences, ask questions and raise concerns.

People appearing in our editorial photography have the opportunity to review and approve the images selected for publication.

We recognise that representation carries responsibility. Our aim is to create images that celebrate individuality without stereotyping, objectifying or imposing narrow ideals of beauty.

Anyone who experiences or witnesses inappropriate behaviour during a TAUKO activity is encouraged to contact the TAUKO editorial team. We take concerns seriously and address them respectfully and confidentially, as far as possible.

4. Editorial Independence

TAUKO is an independently owned and edited magazine.

Our editorial decisions are guided by journalistic integrity, cultural relevance, curiosity and the values of the publication.

We explore fashion not simply as an industry or a collection of products, but as a reflection of society, identity, creativity and everyday life.

Our writers and contributors bring different perspectives to these conversations. We welcome thoughtful discussion and do not require everyone we work with to share identical opinions.

Commercial partnerships, sponsorships and advertising are kept distinct from independent editorial decision-making. Paid collaborations are identified clearly, and commercial relationships do not determine our editorial conclusions.

We believe that independent publishing depends on the trust of readers and contributors. Transparency about how we work is essential to maintaining that trust.

5. Environmental Responsibility

We recognise that publishing a printed international magazine requires paper, materials, production and transportation. These activities have environmental impacts, and we take responsibility for making considered choices wherever possible.

Publishing and materials

TAUKO Magazine is printed on FSC-certified paper.

We aim to create a high-quality publication designed to be kept, revisited and used for years rather than quickly discarded.

Our sewing patterns and editorial content encourage readers to develop their skills, make thoughtful material choices, repair and alter existing garments, and create clothing they will value and wear.

Photography and production

We collaborate with fabric retailers and suppliers who provide materials for our editorial projects. We aim to use materials thoughtfully and avoid unnecessary waste.

We frequently work with existing cultural spaces, museums and architectural locations rather than building temporary sets.

Distribution

We work with professional distribution partners who manage the practical and regulatory requirements of shipping our publications internationally.

We recognise that international distribution has an environmental footprint and continue to consider how our production and distribution choices can support more responsible publishing.

Editorial responsibility

Environmental responsibility is also reflected in what we publish.

We explore the environmental and social consequences of fashion, highlight repair and reuse, and encourage a deeper relationship with clothing through knowledge, creativity and personal involvement.

We do not believe that making something by hand automatically makes it sustainable. We believe that understanding materials, labour, use and longevity is an important part of making more responsible choices.

Creating TAUKO Together

TAUKO is shaped by the people who contribute to it: designers, writers, photographers, illustrators, makers, readers and collaborators.

We believe that an independent magazine can be more than a publication. It can be a place where different people and ideas meet, where knowledge is shared and where new possibilities emerge.

Our aim is to build these relationships with care, curiosity, fairness and mutual respect.

We welcome new voices, thoughtful collaborations and people who share our belief in the cultural value of making.

Editor-in-Chief
MILA MOISIO
mila@taukodesign.fi

Head of Design
KAISA RISSANEN
kaisa@taukodesign.fi

Head of Sales
HANNA NIEMI
magazine@taukodesign.fi