Japanese Apron, Canvas Waist Apron with Wrap Tie

These Japanese aprons are waist aprons that cover you from the hips to below the knee. The chest stays free. The Japanese look comes from the cut: a flat waist-only panel with no bib, ties that wrap around to knot at the side, and a single plain colour from top to hem. It belongs to our Japanese clothing for men collection and suits anyone who cooks, pours coffee or makes things by hand.

A flap pocket on the front holds a pen or a phone. Tuck a towel into the tie at your hip. It comes in seven colours. Black, brown, navy, khaki, grey and red are cut from water-repellent canvas, and the green one is made in a stretch cotton with a little more give for bending and reaching.

Fit and sizing

One size fits most waists. The ties wrap around your body and knot at the side, so you set the fit each time you put it on, snug for a busy shift or looser for slow work at a bench. There is no size to choose, only the colour.

Fabric and care

The canvas is water-repellent. Water and coffee splashes bead up on the surface and wipe off with a damp cloth, so a long shift at the stove or the espresso machine leaves less of a mark on it. The green stretch cotton is not listed as water-repellent. For washing, follow the instructions on the care label.

How to wear it

Keep the clothes underneath simple.

• In the kitchen, wear a black apron over a white tee and dark trousers, knotted at the left hip.
• At a coffee bar, pair brown or khaki with a plain shirt and the sleeves rolled to the elbow.
• For the workshop, go navy or grey over work trousers with a pencil in the pocket.

For more ways to put a Japanese-style outfit together, read our guide to Japanese clothing for men.