Frequently Asked Questions
I'm buying this as a gift. How do I get the size right?
Check the tag on a button-up he wears often. Our shirts are sized like major US brands (not Japanese sizing), so if he's an M at J.Crew or Banana Republic, he's almost certainly an M here. The size guide has body measurements if you want to be sure.
Will he actually wear it?
That's what the shirts are designed for. The patterns look like texture from a few feet away, so they work at the office, and the details (hidden cats, lucky charms, Mount Fuji) are for people close enough to notice. If he usually wears navy or blue, start with Yama Yume, Kasumi Grid or Neko no Suzu.
Can he wear it to work? To dinner?
Both. The fabrics are mostly heavier Japanese cotton dobby that hold their shape all day. Tuck it in with chinos or under a blazer for work, then wear it untucked with dark denim at night.
Does it come gift-ready?
Yes. Every shirt ships in an Erica Kochi box, wrapped in branded tissue paper. Wrap the shipping box and you have a good present.
Why a woman's name on a men's shirt brand?
Because it's Erica's brand, and it grows out of her Japanese heritage: the fabrics, the craft and the stories in every pattern. Also, a lot of men's shirts are bought, or at least approved, by the woman in his life. Men's shirt brands usually have an invented Anglo-sounding name. This one has the name of the person who makes them.
Where are the shirts made?
In Japan, all of it. The fabric comes from Japanese mills, and the shirts are cut and sewn at a small factory in Nagano Prefecture, in the Japanese Alps. It's an exacting place: everyone changes into slippers at the door, and the stitching is checked under a magnifying glass before a shirt is finished. A lot of brands buy Japanese cloth and sew it somewhere cheaper. We keep the fabric and the craft in one place.
What makes these shirts different?
Fabric and fit. Small-batch Japanese cottons chosen for texture, hand-feel and a pattern with a story, paired with a clean, modern cut refined through many fittings.
What do the names mean?
Most are Japanese. Yama yume means "mountain dreams", nami means "waves", neko no suzu means "cat's bell", and maneki neko is the beckoning lucky cat. Each product page tells the story behind the pattern.
How did Erica Kochi get started?
Erica started making shirts for her husband in their Berkeley backyard cottage in 2022. People kept asking about them, so she made more for friends, and eventually went to Japan to find fabrics and a factory. More about Erica
Who are these shirts for?
Men who already own the basics and want something more interesting, and the people who shop for them.
How do the shirts fit?
Sized like major US brands. The fit is neither slim nor oversized, and works tucked or untucked. Size guide
What are the shirts made of?
100% Japanese cotton from Japanese mills.
How should I care for my shirt?
Machine wash cold with like colors. Tumble dry low or not at all. Warm iron if needed. They're made to be worn and washed, not babied.
Do you make plain white or light-blue shirts?
No. He has those already.
What is your return policy?
Unworn standard-size shirts may be returned within 14 days of delivery.
Because fabrics are produced in limited quantities, we encourage reviewing the product details and size guidance carefully before purchasing.
Will sold-out fabrics return?
Usually not. Many fabrics are sourced in very limited quantities, and once a design sells out, it's unlikely to return.
How can I get early access to new designs?
Join the mailing list for first access to new fabric drops and limited releases.
How often do you release new fabrics?
Currently, twice a year. Quantities are limited.