Easy Ergonomics – The Kyoto Work Pants
There comes a time in everyman’s life, when he has to let his free flag fly. Maybe it’s mainlining Crunchies instead of doing crunches, going microphone only on that boring Zoom call, or being first in the queue when they open a new checkout at the supermarket. These small victories are the air punch moments that make your day feel a little bit more enjoyable. We all need these wins as we sail through the week, but it’s worth remembering that the cashback doesn’t have to stop here – we can spread that self-love a bit further by cutting our lower quadrants some slack in the trouser department (literally).
This is where the Kyoto Pant slopes in. Available in Needle Cord and Herringbone Denim, these laid-back numbers were engineered to effortlessly straddle the crossroads between slacker and smart. Refreshed for 2021 by Universal Works, the Kyotos give you permission to stay deep in that comfort zone thanks to their easy, unstructured shape and elasticated waistband with drawcord. Inspired by Japanese Monpe workpants, the ergonomics put simplicity first. Made with a liberatingly loose crotch fit and slightly tapered hem, they’re immune to fuss and formality. Designed as paired-back (but polished) pull-ons, with side seam pockets at the front and a couple of trusty patch pockets at the rear, the single front pleat keeps things looking neat.
Founder of Universal Works and long-time admirer of Japanese workwear David Keyte explains, “I’ve collected quite a few of these traditional vintage pants on my trips to Tokyo. There’s something so humble and straightforward about them, but they never felt properly wearable in a modern sense, so they needed to be reinterpreted. We’ve been careful to retain that classic Japanese ‘look’, but with an updated cut to make sure they’re a contemporary fit and right for the UW customer. We’ve put extra panels in at the crotch and cropped the leg a little bit shorter than our regular pants to make sure they’re right for city living, rather than a shift on a Japanese rice field!”