While fashion often rushes toward the next big thing, Taus puts the brakes on. The Copenhagen-based brand, named One to Watch by CPHFW NEWTALENT for SS26, presented a collection that felt like a deep exhale in a world obsessed with speed. Cover image: Ed Gumuchian, courtesy of Taus
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TAUS – CPHFW’S PROMISING NEW TALENT
“The collection is grounding,” Juho Lehiö, co-founder of Taus, explains. “This collection feels deeply rooted. It’s about slowing down, breathing, and being present in the moment.” This philosophy shows up in tangible ways. Take their Juho belt, crafted from deadstock Japanese denim in Copenhagen. Each piece gets made to order, requiring up to two weeks for production. In an era of fast fashion, that wait time becomes a statement.
For Taus, dressing with intention means something specific. “To us, dressing with intention means wearing what you love and taking care of it,” Lehiö says. “It’s about valuing garments more than we typically do today.” This translates into clothing designed with purpose, where fit matters, details last, and pieces get passed down through generations.
The brand works extensively with upcycling, finding stories in forgotten textiles. The designers imagine who wore these fabrics before, why they were passed on, and what experiences they carry. “Garments can carry memory, and their meaning often shifts when they change hands,” they reflect. “There’s something romantic, poetic, and a little sad about how meaning can fade when something leaves its original context.” Their design process draws from film, art, music, and the people around them. Sometimes inspiration comes from abstract sources: a gesture, a memory, a feeling. Other times, it’s about chance discoveries in vintage shops or hidden corners of friends’ closets.
Being part of the NEWTALENT initiative brings both opportunity and pressure. The recognition creates new challenges as a small team of two with limited resources. “Things can get overwhelming quickly,” Lehiö admits. “What matters most to us is protecting the quality of our garments, our identity, and our health and lives.” The visibility allows more people to connect with their work, but they are mindful about growth. They want to work hard without burning out or losing joy. “We’ve learned the power of the unexpected,” Lediö says about their fashion week experience. “Some of our best ideas come from chance finds.” They’ve also discovered the importance of editing, finding value in simplicity, and holding back rather than showing everything at once. Their stylist, Louise Borchers, has been instrumental in developing this perspective over the past year.
TAUS SPRING/SUMMER 2026
The SS26 collection embodies this restraint. It references the past while feeling contemporary. The designers describe it as their most timeless work, free from micro-trends or the pressure to chase whatever “core” aesthetic dominates social media. Instead, Taus builds a world that makes sense to them. They create pieces meant to be worn, cared for, and hopefully passed on many times. In a fashion landscape obsessed with newness, Taus offers something different: clothes that improve with time, stories that deepen with wear, and a reminder that sometimes the best thing fashion can do is slow down.
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