WORN — T A O

slow ethical worns respecting the circular regeneration of soil, soul + society.

‘worns’— the idea that what we wear is not a separation but an extension of the body; pieces that find their form when worn-in, the garment softening and shaping to the wearer.

Timeless, ageless, trendless forms for everyday wear. T A O worns are made to allow for freedom of movement and rest as we ebb and flow through our day.

TAO carefully selects natural fabrics for their gentle (positive) impact on all elements in the chain of growing, making and wearing. They are fabrics that are comfortable in wear, gentle against the skin and giving in their allowance for daily movement. The holistic effects on environment & biodiversity are considered at every stage. It all starts with soil health and biodiversity; the understanding that everything we make either returns to the earth as food or poison. These fabrics (European linen, British and European wool, and peace silk) are not only gentle on the environment, but beneficial, supporting the regeneration of the soil and the continuation of small scale growing and production.

Shop all worns here

local makers

we work with locally skilled makes such as Rain tailors and makers - A Community Interest Company: a small studio of a highly a skilled group of women in the south west. They hand make our small batches of worms. The profits are reinvested into training and education programmes for the local community.
All knits are zero waste. 3D seamless knits are made here in west Cornwall. Hand knits are all knitted locally by loving hands.

natural materials

T A O jumpsuits are made with flax linen grown in Northern Europe, where it is perfectly suited to the climate with plenty of rainfall eliminating the need for additional water or pesticides. These crops are rotated, regenerating the soil and biodiversity, in turn allowing for carbon sequencing.
A continual search for wool. Our merino wool is currently ethically sourced from Italy, a temporary measure whilst we work to source from within the UK. It is a long process, working with Exeter University to set up supply chains that support small scale ethical merino farming here in the UK. A future collection is in the works, using wool yarn cultivated here in the South West through responsible regenerative farming dedicated to the sheep’s wellbeing and soil health.
Unlike conventional silk which relies on a process of boiling silkworms to harvest their delicate cocoon fibres, peace silk allows the silkmoth to hatch from the cocoon, alive and unharmed after metamorphosis, before the silk is then carefully unravelled and spun to be woven into lengths of fabric.

circular design

The understanding that everything we make either returns to the earth as food or poison.
We never mix in any synthetics so our worms are 100% biodegradable, meaning that at the end of life can decompose and actually enrich the soils microbiology.

Fabrics

TAO carefully selects natural fabrics for their gentle (positive) impact on all elements in the chain of growing, making and wearing. They are fabrics that are comfortable in wear, gentle against the skin and giving in their allowance for daily movement.

The holistic effects on environment & biodiversity are considered at every stage. It all starts with soil health and biodiversity; the understanding that everything we make either returns to the earth as food or poison. These fabrics (European linen, British and European wool, and peace silk) are not only gentle on the environment, but beneficial, supporting the regeneration of the soil and the continuation of small scale growing and production.

They are materials chosen for their support for small scale growers in production, their comfort and longevity in wear, and their transformation into medicine in their eventual return to the earth. We never use synthetics (pure or mixed) meaning our worns are 100% biodegradable. At the end of their life, all pieces will naturally decompose and enrich the soil’s microbiology.

Planning for a viable future in sustainable wear

TAO is dedicated to continually pushing the boundaries and definitions of ‘sustainable wear’, responding to the interconnected needs of soma, soil, soul, and society. We are currently working with Exeter University to set up UK based Merino supply chains.

We value the people and communities who have made our clothing.

‘Eco’ means home. At the core of TAO studio is a fundamental belief in the importance and value of supporting our local economy, natural environment, biodiversity, and community.

Our makers are the integral part of these localised eco-systems/eco-nomys in bringing our worns to life. We work with locally skilled makers, supporting the continuing arts of knitting, weaving, cutting and stitching. Each organisation is female owned, hand making our small batches of worns.

Alice Sainsbury (founder of TAO)

Founder of TAO, Alice Sainsbury designs all TAO worns with respect for the needs of the wearers, makers, growers and farmers who collectively form TAO’s supply chain. All pieces are designed in response to the body’s need for freedom of movement in the gentle ebb and flow of each day and season. -

Raine Tailors - Ena Playsuit / Peace Shirt.

A female-led sewing studio based in TAO’s home of Newlyn, specialising in sampling, clothing production, alterations & repair. Raine seeks to encourage and educate on the process of garment repair and alteration as a revival of these fading crafts in the local community. All garments are made in small scale batches.

Makers HQ - Ena Jumpsuits in Long & Short.

Makers HQ is a Community Interest Company, a small studio of a highly a skilled women in the South West hand making our batches of worns. Profits are reinvested into training and education programmes for the local community.

Inverterre - Soma Suit / Soma Tee / Soma Shorts.

A female-led knitwear studio based in St Ives, Cornwall marring together Cornish heritage craft with innovative seamless, zero waste, 3d knit technology.