From Sugarcane to Shorts

Yokazono
The name “Sugarcane Shorts” is very distinctive. When I first heard it, that was the first thing that caught my attention. Could you tell us where the name comes from?

Kamiya
When we decided to make a pair of shorts, we looked for all kinds of materials. That’s when we found a polyester made in part from corn and sugarcane. The material was really excellent, and inspired by those keywords—corn and sugarcane—we came up with the name “Sugarcane Shorts.”

Yokazono
We often hear people say that having plant-derived material in the fabric makes it feel especially good against the skin. I feel the same way when I wear them myself. Does the plant-based origin actually affect the texture?

Kamiya
The hand feel is definitely very nice, but when we were searching for materials, our main criterion was to avoid using petroleum-derived materials. At HERENESS, one of our principles in material selection has been to use as little petroleum-derived material as possible. But back then, there were hardly any recycled materials on the market that could meet that standard while still delivering the level of texture and performance we wanted. That’s when we came across this plant-derived material.

Innovation Through Being Polyurethane-Free

Yokazono
Stretch fabrics generally use polyurethane, but this material is polyurethane-free. How do you achieve stretch without it?

Kamiya
This fabric is made from a single yarn composed of polyesters with different characteristics. That yarn structure creates kickback—a natural stretch and recovery. Polyurethane typically starts to lose its elasticity in about three to five years. It also has the drawback of adding weight to the fabric. This fabric delivers stretch with 100% polyester, so it is lighter and less prone to deterioration over time. That’s a major advantage.

Most people have probably experienced a favorite piece of sports or outdoor wear losing its shape after a few years. The waistband loosens, the fit disappears, and the whole fabric begins to look tired. In many cases, the cause is the aging of polyurethane. Retaining the same elasticity even after three or five years also contributes to reducing waste.

From Trail to Town, in One Pair

Yokazono
Could you tell us about the key design points?

Kamiya
From the product planning stage, our theme was to create something that could be used in a wide range of settings, from everyday wear to running. For that reason, compared with other running shorts, we made the thigh area slightly wider. The fit is a little roomier, but thanks to the fabric’s lightness and the way it stays off the skin, it does not compromise movement when running.

An early morning trail run, a stop at a café afterward, and then an afternoon walk around town. Sportswear, yet not overly sporty in appearance—that subtle balance is the design philosophy behind Sugarcane Shorts.

Yokazono
This waist pocket has a very distinctive zipper placement. Was there a particular reason for its size and position?

Kamiya
More and more people run with their smartphones, so we added a smartphone pocket at the waist. It can fit even large smartphones, and we added a zipper so that things like energy gels or keys won’t fall out. Usually, zippers are placed horizontally, but we intentionally made this one vertical so both ends could be secured by stitching. It takes a little getting used to at first, but it provides great stability and has been very well received.

Yokazono
I got used to it almost immediately. In fact, other shorts now feel strange by comparison.

Mesh That Solved a Small Frustration

Yokazono
There’s mesh under the side pockets. What’s the reason for that?

Kamiya
One reason is drainage. We wanted water to drain easily after trail running or when going into a river or the sea. The other is the problem of empty gel wrappers. When you put them in your pocket, leftover contents tend to collect at the bottom, which can be frustrating. With mesh, you can just rinse it with water and everything drains right out. That’s why we chose this specification.

A Standard That Never Stops Evolving

Yokazono
How do you see Sugarcane Shorts evolving in the future? Could you share what you’re thinking about now?

Kamiya
These shorts have been one of our core products since the brand was launched, so we will continue them. But for us, “standard” does not mean “unchanging.” We will keep making small updates over time. For example, starting with this year’s production, we are changing the fabric’s water-repellent finish from C6 to PFC-free C0 water repellency. This reflects the broader movement toward environmentally conscious manufacturing. The texture remains almost unchanged. We are also developing a version with improved abrasion resistance to address the whitening that can occur around the waist and crotch after years of use. If we achieve a good result, we would absolutely like to adopt it.

These may not be dramatic model changes, but the transition from C6 to C0 water repellency is an important update that reduces environmental impact while maintaining product quality. Improving abrasion resistance also responds to the wear-related changes long-time users have noticed over the years. They may not be things you notice immediately just by looking at the product, but it is steadily getting better. That is HERENESS’s idea of how a standard product evolves.


SUGARCANE SHORTS (MEN) Product Page


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