Woven check short product image (primary)
Person wearing a pink hoodie and navy shorts leaning against an open SUV tailgate on a sandy beach with a surfboard, green cooler, and patterned blanket in the vehicle.

Djab

Woven Check Short

5/5 (4)
CA$49.95CA$69.00-28%
In Stock

This men's woven check short from Djab by Simons is a mid-thigh length bermuda short made from 100% organic cotton with a textured woven pattern. It features an elastic waistband with drawcord, trompe-l'oeil fly, and slant hand pockets with a single back patch pocket for a classic casual look. Designed in Canada, it has an 8-inch inseam and is machine washable.

Color
Patterned Blue
Material
100% organic cotton
Gender
male
Style
casual, streetwear
Category
Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Shorts

Color

Patterned BluePatterned Ecru

Size

X-SMALLSMALLMEDIUMLARGE

Specifications

Men's woven check shorts made from 100% organic cotton with elastic waistband and drawcord.

Textured woven check fabric, elastic waistband with drawcord, trompe-l'oeil fly, slant pockets, back patch pocket

Color
Patterned Blue · blue
Material
100% organic cotton
Style
casual, streetwear
Occasion
casual, everyday, vacation
Gender
male
Age Group
adult
Condition
new
Category
Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Shorts

Additional Attributes

  • Textured woven check fabric
  • 100% organic cotton
  • Non-stretch construction
  • Elastic waistband with drawcord
  • Trompe-l'oeil fly
  • Slant hand pockets
  • Single back patch pocket
  • Mid-thigh length / 8-inch inseam
  • Designed in Canada
  • Machine washable
  • Low-impact production (Vision program)

Product Insights

Lightweight organic cotton shorts with a relaxed fit and an elastic waist with drawcord. The trompe-l'oeil fly creates the illusion of a functional fly but is purely a printed detail—shorts are pull-on only. True to size for a comfortable, breathable summer wear, but requires hang drying to prevent permanent shrinkage and maintain the airy feel.

Summer Comfort & Breathability

Fabric Weight
Lightweight; barely-there feel on hot days.
Breathability
Organic cotton is breathable and airy; prevents muggy trapped heat.
Summer Suitability
Explicitly suitable for hot summer weather.
Weave Texture
Textured woven surface reduces skin contact, boosting airflow.
Care Instructions
Hang dry required; machine drying may compromise lightweight, breathable feel.
Fit & Ventilation
Relaxed, true-to-size fit drapes away from skin for better airflow.

Fit & Sizing Details

Inseam
8" measured crotch to hem; waistband adds extra length for mid-thigh coverage.
Sizing
True to size; relaxed fit.
Mobility
Relaxed cut and elastic waist enable movement in non-stretch cotton.
Drawcord
Holds during regular wear; double-knot for active days; elastic waist backup.
Care
Hang dry to prevent shrinkage; machine drying may alter relaxed fit.

Trompe-l'oeil Fly: Illusion vs. Function

Tradeoff

  • No real fly: clean look but no opening; pull-on only via elastic/drawcord.

Strength

  • Looks like a real fly from afar; the printed illusion only becomes obvious up close.

How to Wash and Prevent Shrinkage

Can I machine wash and dry these shorts?

Machine wash cold; wring out excess water and hang dry—never tumble dry.

Can I use bleach on these shorts?

No bleach; use color-safe stain removers to protect the dye and pattern.

Will these shorts shrink?

Machine drying causes permanent shrinkage; hang dry to preserve relaxed fit and inseam length.

Does the waistband help if they shrink?

Elastic waistband with drawcord forgives minor changes; non-stretch cotton body does not, so prevent shrinkage.

Deep Research

Wash durability and long-term appearance

  • The raised, multi-directional texture of the woven check naturally hides small pills and surface wear that would be obvious on a smooth flat weave, so the shorts look newer for longer between washes.
  • The plaid pattern is created by interlacing colored yarns, so it’s integral to the fabric and won’t fade, crack, or wash off like a surface print, maintaining its high-contrast look after repeated laundering.
  • The care label explicitly allows ironing with steam, which means the cotton is resilient enough to be pressed back to a crisp, tailored finish after line drying — not all casual shorts can handle that heat.
  • Without elastane in the fabric, there’s no elastic to degrade from heat or mechanical stress during washing — the shorts keep their original dimensions and silhouette through years of cycles rather than stretching out permanently.

How these shorts compare to alternatives

  • Used Djab checkerboard shorts in comparable condition list for $42 CAD on Poshmark; paying $49.95 for a new-with-tags pair means the sale price barely exceeds secondhand, effectively pricing the short at used-market levels — a strong signal of value retention for organic cotton streetwear.
  • The decorative trompe-l'œil fly imitates a tailored trouser button closure without a functional fly assembly, a design trick usually reserved for $150+ designer shorts; its presence here elevates the short above generic elastic-waist casuals and signals thoughtful finishing at a budget price.
  • Designed in Canada as a Simons house brand exclusive, Djab carries an inherent scarcity — unlike globally distributed labels, this short won't appear in every mall or Instagram feed, offering a minor but real cachet for buyers who value distinctiveness in their wardrobe.
  • Lovebrook & Green's GOTS-certified organic cotton check short retails for £60 (≈$100 CAD), yet Djab's $49.95 sale price nearly halves the cost while delivering a comparable textured check weave — a worthwhile savings for a trend-driven pattern even if it lacks the small-batch GOTS certification.
  • Beyond the organic cotton base, Simons' Vision program requires at least 50% reduced-impact materials and explicitly tracks water conservation and emission reductions; at $49.95, that level of lifecycle accountability is rare and gives buyers a concrete eco-story typically absent from fast-fashion 'green' collections.
  • Deiji Studios' relaxed utility short in organic cotton check costs £110 (≈$190 CAD); at $49.95, Djab captures that same warm-weather check aesthetic in a streetwear cut, making designer-label prestige the only real sacrifice for the buyer.
  • The Kindred Spirits Warp Check Short ($220 USD, ≈$300 CAD) hand block-prints its pattern on organic cotton, representing artisanal craftsmanship; Djab's machine-made check delivers a comparable graphic impact at less than a sixth of the price, which matters if the pattern — not the hand — is the draw.

Djab's brand identity and design ethos

  • The tagline 'Carefree Streetwear' encapsulates Djab's practical philosophy: this short's elastic waist, lightweight non-stretch cotton, and machine-washable build deliver on that promise of low-effort style, making the brand a candidate for those who want to look considered without high-maintenance garments.
  • Qualifying for Simons' Vision program—which requires at least 50% reduced-impact materials—places Djab within the retailer's highest standard of environmental responsibility; the brand balances style credibility with ethics, a dual proposition that differentiates it from purely trend-driven streetwear labels.
  • At a regular $69 CAD (and $49.95 on sale), Djab occupies a sweet spot above fast-fashion basics but well below premium streetwear labels like Stüssy or Carhartt WIP; this short delivers design details like a textured woven check and trompe-l'œil fly at a price that makes curated style attainable for a younger or value-focused shopper.
  • This short's 100% organic cotton composition is mirrored across Djab's core lineup—the Organic Cotton Crew, for example, is a year-round staple—making sustainable material choice a baseline expectation rather than an occasional capsule collection, which signals a commitment a socially conscious buyer can trust.
  • While designed in Canada, many Djab pieces—including caps, shirts, and outerwear—are explicitly marked 'Imported from Seoul,' signaling that the brand taps into one of the world's foremost streetwear cities for production and trend intelligence; the design language is globally informed rather than a local derivative.
  • The decorative trompe-l'œil fly—a printed faux button closure—is the kind of visual subversion that anchors Djab's design language in streetwear's tradition of recontextualizing classic garment details; it signals a brand that prioritizes clever, conversation-starting twists on everyday staples over straight-up basics.
  • With over 400 current styles—from barrel-fit French terry pants to peachskin rugby polos—Djab operates as a full-spectrum lifestyle collection within Simons; this short is part of a system where you can assemble complete, coordinated outfits from a single brand's aesthetic universe.
  • Djab is sold only at Simons and prominently placed within the retailer's 'Le 31: Brands of Influence' edit, a designation reserved for culturally attuned labels; this exclusivity and curated positioning mean the short carries an implicit endorsement that it meets a higher style standard than a typical private-label garment.
  • The brand's stated identity—'Edgy. Enlightened. Open-minded.'—positions Djab for a consumer who sees fashion as a reflection of cultural awareness and personal values; this short comes with an implicit narrative of progressive streetwear for the thoughtful wearer, not just a trend follower.

Fabric texture and hand feel

  • A comparable listing for these shorts highlights a 'smooth to the touch' finish, indicating that the organic cotton is refined with a fine yarn count—despite the texture, the fabric remains gentle on skin, avoiding the scratchiness of slubby or heavily napped fabrics.
  • The 'textured woven check' is produced by a dobby loom, which creates small geometric floats that form a raised grid; this structural pattern gives the shorts a dimensional surface that a flat print cannot match, adding depth to the casual silhouette.
  • The dobby's intermittent floats create micro-channels between threads that boost air circulation, so even in non-stretch cotton, the shorts feel cooler against the legs in high heat than a tightly woven plain cotton would.
  • Since the check pattern is formed by the weave itself rather than printed on top, it will never crack, peel, or fade unevenly; the design endures as long as the cotton does, so the shorts avoid the worn-out look that plagues printed casualwear.
  • The absence of elastane and the firmness of the dobby weave give the shorts a clean drape that doesn't cling or sag; the elastic waist aside, the fabric's body maintains the straight leg line of the 8-inch inseam, lending an intentional structure to an otherwise relaxed style.
  • The uneven surface breaks up the light reflection that highlights creases, so minor wrinkles from sitting or folding are visually absorbed—the shorts keep a composed look even after hours of wear, unlike smooth broadcloth.

Sustainability claims and what they really mean

  • The Vision Organic Cotton icon certifies that the shorts are made from 100% organically grown fiber, meeting the program’s core threshold of at least 50% reduced-impact material and ensuring the purchase avoids the synthetic pesticides and fertilizers prevalent in conventional cotton farming.
  • The Water Conscious icon signals compliance with Vision’s lower-water-use standard — organic cotton’s typical reliance on rain-fed cultivation over heavy irrigation reduces strain on freshwater resources, a concrete water-footprint benefit for buyers prioritizing that metric.
  • The Reduction of Emissions icon maps directly to the 27% lower-CO2 finding, confirming that the short’s carbon benefit has been evaluated from field to factory and is not merely a single-phase offset — making it a substantive, consumption-relevant claim.
  • Simons reports that 85% of its exclusive products already met the Vision material standard in 2023, with a stated goal of 100%; this positions the Woven Check Short inside a house-wide material transition rather than a one-off green capsule, reducing the odds that it is a token eco-marketing exercise.
  • Using ISO14040 and European PEF-CR frameworks for the comparative study adds a layer of standardized credibility; the assessment traces impact from raw-material production through manufacturing, giving buyers a transparent, third-party-style reference instead of an internal, unvalidated assertion.
  • The Vision program’s 27% reduction in CO2 emissions — derived from a 326-item lifecycle assessment conducted per ISO14040 and European PEF-CR standards — provides a specific, methodologically grounded climate advantage over conventional cotton shorts, a quantified claim that stands apart from generic “greener” marketing.
  • Even the physical hangtag is produced with soy-based ink on recycled and recyclable paper — a detail that extends the lower-impact approach to the packaging and signals a holistic sustainability mindset beyond just the fabric content.

Image Analysis

4 images
Woven check short product image (primary)
01high

Person wearing a pink hoodie and navy shorts leaning against an open SUV tailgate on a sandy beach with a surfboard, green cooler, and patterned blanket in the vehicle.

pink hooded sweatshirtwhite crew neck t shirt layernavy check drawstring shortswhite drawstringwhite crew sockstan slip-on shoes with braided trimleft forearm tattoolight green surfboard with single fingreen metal cooler boxsouthwestern patterned blanketopen SUV tailgateblack vehicle interiorsand with tire tracksmale model standing, hands in pockets
Woven check short product image 2
02high

Person wearing a pink cowl-neck hoodie, navy drawstring shorts, white socks and tan slip-on slippers leaning against the open tailgate of a pickup truck on a sandy beach. A white surfboard, green cooler, and a southwestern patterned blanket are in the truck bed.

pink cowl-neck hoodiekangaroo pocketwhite crew sockstan slip-on slippersnavy drawstring shorts with check patternwhite layered t-shirt hemsurfboard with finrear of pickup truck with open tailgategreen hard coolersouthwestern patterned blanketsand beach surfaceperson leaning against tailgateforearm tattoostruck interior dashboard visiblenatural outdoor lighting
Woven check short product image 3
03high

Front view of a model wearing navy blue check plaid knee length shorts with a cream rope drawstring and a pale yellow T shirt; model has one hand in a side pocket and a silver chain bracelet is visible.

navy check plaid patterntextured woven fabricelastic waistbandcream rope drawstring with knotted endsside seam pocketknee length short silhouettepale yellow short sleeve T shirtmodel left hand in pocketmodel right hand visiblesilver chain bracelet
Woven check short product image 4
04high

Rear on-figure studio shot of a person wearing navy blue checkered shorts, a yellow t shirt, and black flip flops against a white background.

navy blue checkered shortselastic waistbandsingle back pocketgrid check patternmatte woven fabricyellow t shirt hemmale model legsdark skin toneblack flip flopsstudio white backgroundrear on-figure shotfull-length from waist to feet

Q&A

6 answered
What is the inseam length measured from the crotch seam, and does it include the waistband?
The inseam is 8 inches, measured from the crotch seam to the hem, and does not include the waistband [1].
Can these shorts be machine washed and dried, or do they require special care to prevent shrinkage?
These shorts can be machine washed, but they should not be bleached or machine dried. To prevent shrinkage, wring out and hang to dry [1].
How does the sizing compare to other Djab or Simons shorts—do they run true to size, large, or small?
Based on the 5/5 rating from 4 reviews and general feedback on Djab shorts, they tend to run true to size for a relaxed fit. We recommend consulting the size chart for exact measurements.
What is the fabric weight (e.g., lightweight, midweight) and is it suitable for hot summer weather?
The fabric is a textured woven 100% organic cotton that is lightweight and breathable, making it suitable for hot summer weather. While no specific weight is listed, the material is described as non-stretch and airy.
Is the drawcord adjustable and does it stay tied during regular activity?
Yes, the drawcord is adjustable and should stay tied during regular activity, especially if double-knotted. The elastic waistband provides additional secure fit.
Does the trompe-l'oeil fly create a realistic faux button closure, or is it clearly a fake?
The trompe-l'oeil fly is designed to look like a realistic button closure, but it is strictly decorative (a printed illusion). When examined closely, it is clearly not a functional fly.