Image not found. Why the Different Colors? Why is it that some monks have robes made out of many different colors, while most monks seem to have a single robe color? Actually, all monks must wear robes that are stitched together from small pieces of cloth. Because they are usually dyed the same color, you might not notice the seams, but they are there. The Buddha once looked at a rice paddy field and really liked the pattern. Ever since then, that became the standard robe pattern for the monks.