Enclothed Cognition

So many of you already have one.  Can't live without it.  Carry it at all times.  Use it on the job.

Someone emailed us today and said, "Would you consider making the elastic waist band optional on the women's clinician scrub pant?  I like your description of the pants, but I do not like elastic waists." Sort of a flash from the past email.  I had forgotten about our clinician scrub pants having elastic.  There was a time when I thought this was the biggest risk we were taking  in our medical scrubs introduction, back in 2008.  We had really packed in the new, improved features for our introductory scrub set.  A higher v-neck, darting at the bust, contoured waist and hip area, a contoured rise, side seam pockets, very slight shaping to the leg and hip area, and more coverage in the back v. front of the waist.  But the elastic at the waist . . . that was a gamble.  Or at least I thought it was at the time.  Here is how elastic found it's way into our clinician scrub pants. At the very first stages of the business, when we were first starting to work with the patternmaker/fit specialist, I had thought that we would have a nursing style scrub pant with an elastic waist, and a clinician style scrub pant with a drawstring only. 

All was going very well until I was test wearing in my own size.  I first wore the nursing style, and then the next day the clinician style.  It was terrible!  I was eager to rip them off and put on the nursing style!  Even though I had previously worn unisex scrubs all my life, the nursing style was supremely more comfortable.  How could we make this huge leap from unisex to clinician style (plus elastic) . . . and have it be successful? So we went back to the drawing board.  Our new goal was to be the first to introduce a clinician/female scrub pant, with a “subtle” elastic waist band – most similar to an athletic waist band.  Something comfortable, professional, and acceptable amongst colleagues.  We absolutely did not want for there to be a “bubble butt” appearance (as it’s known) with thin or cheap elastic. 

We designed the waist as a separate piece, so that it would cause minimal puckering.  We also sourced a rubber free, very soft and not thick elastic, to prevent the feeling of bulk at the waist.  A tremendous amount of thought and energy went into ensuring that the clinician style waist/scrub pant in general were the very best, most comfortable it could be.  The result?  Our clinician scrub pants sell very well.  So much so, that we cannot keep them in stock lately. Much to my surprise, no one (to my knowledge) has ever complained about the elastic in the waist.  Not sure if this email today counts or not.  I offered her free shipping and free returns on her order, to see if she'd be willing to try something a tad out of the box.  Perhaps she'll like them, too.

Again, we're not superhero experts on stain removal.  Somehow our previous 'lab coat stain removal' got lots of tweets, much to our surprise. 

Anyone who stands on their feet for 8+ hours/day can fully understand the importance of good, orthopedically correct shoes.  Professional clogs, to anyone who falls in that category, have become nothing less than essential.  Up and down, chair to chair, room to room, walking and running down long hallways, all day long. Physicians, surgeons and dentists have worn the original Danish clogs, Sanita, since their origination back in 1907 (!).  At Medelita, we added Sanita clogs to our line of professional lab coats and medical scrubs in 2009.  And since that time, we have been happy to receive calls/orders from those outside of medicine and dentistry.  Ever notice Michael Symon's bright red clogs on Iron Chef?  He ordered those from us.  Sanita even made him a custom pair, because we told them how much he loves red Sanita clogs.  At least every couple of days, we notice an order going to a restaurant (v. a hospital or private practice).  And that adds a bit of excitement to our day.  Today I saw an order of Professional Oil clogs in black, heading to Hangers Restaurant in Richmond, KY. So if you know of someone on their feet for extended periods of time, tell them about Sanita clogs at //www.medelita.com/medical-clogs.html.  Their feet will thank you.  For a limited time, we are offering a 20% discount on clogs - enter code "comfyclogs" at checkout for a 20% discount PLUS free shipping.  Spread the word . . . to your non-medical friends, too.

At Medelita we are lucky to service a rather vocal group of professionals.  Considering how busy everyone is - we're always pleasantly surprised to get an email from a customer stating their impressions of our lab coats and medical scrubs.

Extreme patience would be an understatement.  Some of our customers/colleagues have waited over 4 months for lab coat styles that were forced into backorder status, much sooner than anticipated.  A sorta good issue and sorta bad issue to have.  Good - in that more and more physicians and dentists are interested in buying from Medelita, thanks to (mainly) word of mouth and taking note of the improved fit, styling, and fabric of Medelita lab coats. 

The negative - those who wanted a Medelita lab coat right away, had a painstakingly long wait to receive one.  Sorta a frustrating first impression, and not one that we would choose to give. But happily last Friday we heard the truck coming and anxiously ran outside to a sunny, warm day and the largest delivery we've ever received.  The Callia, Estie, Ellody, Osler, Laennec, and Fauchard style lab coats arrived in larger numbers than ever before.  And the quality - exceptional.  The six of us (see picture) managed to muscle up 204 very heavy boxes onto palates and then into our warehouse.  Not something that we typically do . . . but an extremely impressive effort. 

The energy and pride were at an all-time high.  Our team wanted nothing more than to get the items counted and stocked, as soon as possible, so that we could expedite the orders to our valiantly patient customers/colleagues. Those of you waiting for one these men's or women's lab coat styles, you can expect your lab coat to ship early this week - if not already.  Embroidered lab coat orders were given top priority, and will ship within 8-10 business days.

I can safely say that this customer is REALLY happy with his new Osler lab coat. We are continually grateful for these unsolicited testimonials, and realize that taking personal time to put thoughts in an email to us - even to look up our email address - is a big deal. 

Always a perplexing topic.  One in which honesty is not the best policy.  Or so it seems.  Still . . . a topic that arises frequently at our Medelita offices, usually prompted by customers sending back lab coats for embroidery or minor repairs

Wearing a completely monotone scrub top and scrub pant all day can get a little drab.  Medical scrubs are not too exciting to put on day after day, week after week.

We aren't your average lab coat, and that is something we are understandably proud of.  Gone is the boxy, shapeless, sandpaper-like fabric, flapping in the wind (typical) lab coat, but one that exudes prestige and aptitude.