Drawstring Shorts

Three pairs closed with a cord instead of a zip and button. Lengths at size M run 45 cm on the Tekida to 54 cm on the Drawstring Cargo, in cotton, linen blend and nylon.
3 items

A waistband with no fixed size

A waistband with no fixed size

No zip, no button, no fixed waist measurement to be wrong about. A drawstring closes to wherever you tie it, so a pair that would be a size too big on a rail still fits, and it keeps fitting through a heavy lunch or a cold month.

The trade is structure. A drawstring waist gathers, so it reads casual and never dresses up. Nobody buys these to dress up.

Cotton, linen and nylon

The Tekida is 100% premium cotton broadcloth at 240 gsm, measuring 45 cm long with a 34 cm flat waist, so 68 cm around. The Nokai is a linen blend at 50 cm long with a 72 cm waist, a 114 cm hip and a 63 cm leg opening.

The Drawstring Cargo Shorts is 100% nylon and the longest at 54 cm, with a 76 cm waist, a 103 cm hip and a 72 cm thigh. All three carry a full size chart. Sizes run S to 3XL and the shoot uses a 189 cm model. Wash cold and hang dry the linen.

Printed shorts and full lengths

For the printed training shorts that make up most of the range see anime gym shorts.

For the same cord waist in a full length see japanese pants and linen pants. All shorts sit in shorts.

Measurements come from the manufacturer's flat size table for each garment, converted to centimetres and mapped onto one size ladder. Available for 3 of the 3 garments here, last checked 2026-09-23. How we measure.

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Frequently asked questions

Do drawstring shorts fit if I am between sizes?

Better than a fixed waistband. The cord closes to wherever you tie it, so size up and pull it in if you are between letters.

Where do they sit on the leg?

At size M lengths run 45 cm on the Tekida to 54 cm on the Drawstring Cargo. The shortest sits well above the knee.

Which one works best in heat?

The Nokai linen blend. Linen stands off the skin and moves air, where the nylon pair is better for water and quick drying.

Is the waist measurement flat or around?

The Tekida chart lists 34 cm laid flat, so 68 cm around. The other two are published as full circumference.