Kyoto Collection Samue

Description

We make our Kyoto Collection Samue from 5.37 oz. lightweight cotton Japanese fabric to last a lifetime. Samue (or Samu-e or Samu-gi) is traditionally the work jacket for a Buddhist monk or nun in Japan. And it looks great on anyone. Wear it to the meditation hall, the dojo, around town or working in the garden. The fit is quite roomy.

Our samue is pre-shrunk, and may be dry cleaned or machine washed, and line or tumble dried.  Like all of our clothing, we make it right here in Seattle.

“Samu” means “work practice” in a Zen community – these are the garment of choice for Japanese monks and nuns when they are not sitting in meditation doing the work of the day. That said, we think they look and feel great in the meditation hall. And whatever your line of work happens to be, we think you’ll love doing it in this jacket.

Our Samue Jackets and Pants come in four colors:  Kyoto Midnight, which is black-brown charcoal weave; Kyoto Morning, a light grey weave, Kyoto Blue, a blue weave, and Night Sky, a dark blue pattern.

To help you choose a samu, this blogpost may help.

Kyoto Collection Samue Sizing Information

OUR SAMUE RUN LARGE

• X-Small Height 4′ 10″ to 5′ 4″ | Waist up to 32″
• Small: Height 5′ 2″  to 5′ 7″ | Waist up to 36″
• Medium: Height 5′ 5″ to 5′ 10″ | Waist up to 38″
• Large: Height 5′ 9″ to 6′ 1″ | Waist up to 42″
• X-Large: Height 6′  to 6′ 8″ | Waist up to 46″

Kyoto Collection Samue — FAQ

1. What makes the Kyoto Collection different from your other samue? The Kyoto Collection is made from 5.37 oz. lightweight cotton twill imported from Japan — finer and smoother than our standard cotton, with a subtle woven texture that gives it a refined, almost silky hand. Several customers compare the fabric quality to tailored clothing. It’s our most elegant everyday samue.

2. What colors are available? The Kyoto Collection comes in four colors: Kyoto Midnight (black-brown charcoal weave), Kyoto Morning (light gray weave), Kyoto Blue (blue weave), and Night Sky (dark blue pattern). Note that these are distinct from the Kyoto Collection cushion patterns, which share the collection name but are different products.

3. Is this samue suitable for formal practice or zendo use? Yes — the refined Japanese fabric and clean design make it a natural choice for the meditation hall or dojo. Many practitioners choose it specifically for formal sitting. It also works well as refined everyday wear.

4. Is it durable enough for work practice (samu)? It’s a lightweight fabric, so while it holds up well to regular wear and washing, it’s not our most rugged option for heavy outdoor work. If you’re doing serious garden work or labor-intensive samu, our Medium Weight or Indigo Denim samue will serve you better over time. For light work practice, daily wear, or sitting, the Kyoto Collection is excellent.

5. How does sizing run? Like all our samue, it runs large. The pants have an elastic and drawstring waist. Check our size chart — most customers find sizing down one gives a better fit, especially in the pants waist.

6. Can I buy jacket and pants separately? Yes, both are available individually. This is useful if you need different sizes for top and bottom, or want to replace one piece over time.