Dear Pharmacy Phashion Phans:

My name is Hai Thai (Dr. R.X. Phashion).  I am a pharmacist who dispenses "phresh, phun, and phashionable" pharmacy shirts.  My brand is PHARMACY PHASHION.

I started making pharmacy-inspired tshirts in 2007 to wear to work.  At the time, I was working as an inspection pharmacist at a mail-order pharmacy where the dress code was casual. This was such a relief for me since over the past 10 years working as a drug rep. and a retail pharmacist, I was always dressed in button-down shirts, ties, and slacks.  This was very uncomfortable in Arizona particularly in the summer months.  So, I dug into my dresser and found different skateboarding tshirts and golf brand polo shirts to wear to work.  Over time, I thought to myself why wear skateboarding or golf brand shirts when I could make and wear pharmacy-inspired shirts more fitting to what I am doing.  After making a few and wearing them at work, my peers would ask me where I got the shirts and soon everyone wanted one.  Surprisingly, I got a great deal of attention when sporting the shirts in public as well. People would stop me and ask me what's that on my shirt. 

From this experience, I realized two things.  First, there is a growing need to enhance the appearance of many pharmacists...just kidding:)  I realized that while pharmacists are widely perceived to be nerdy and, well, extremely anal, pharmacists in general are very creative and cool people who have a relaxed and fun side to them.  I believe this creativity could be translated into cool shirts that pharmacy people can wear proudly.  Secondly, I realized that there is a need to positively promote our profession to the public.  Wearing pharmacy related shirts is an effective way to brand our profession.  When people stop me to ask about the shirts I am sporting, I take it as an opportunity to start a dialogue with them about pharmacy and its benefits to society.

I believe I am the perfect person to achieve the above needs.  Why?  Because it seems like everywhere I've practiced, my peers including technicians, pharmacists, store managers, and customers always comment on my dress and appearance.  For example, I was voted "Mr. GQ" by the Merck Sales Training Class in 1999.  In addition, for as long as I could remember, I had a keen interest in fashion and style.  I was also the cartoonist for my high school newspaper.  But more importantly, this is my hobby and I love what I do.  So naturally, PHARMACY PHASHION has become my passion.

PHARMACY PHASHION is a home grown business, not a big corporation.  I run the business with the help of a couple of friends.  I am involved in the initial tshirt design all the way to shipping the shirts.  Just like if I was working in a pharmacy, I take great pride in seeing the product from beginning to end.  In a sense, it is like taking a prescription from a patient at the in-window, processing and filling the prescription, and then giving it out at the out-window myself...the old fashion way.  This ensures that I provide to my customers a high quality product and outstanding customer service. 

My shirts are unique from other pharmacy shirts sold elsewhere because PHARMACY PHASHION is a brand.  When it comes to tshirts, I prefer brand over generics!  I do not use third party vendors or tshirt shops like CafePress to make and ship out shirts for me.  Although there are a wealth of pharmacy related tshirts there, I am not interested in making tshirts for a quick buck nor am I interested in making tshirts to poke fun of our profession.  Instead, I want to build a postiive, progressive brand and a following among the pharmacy community that will last a long time.  Like most curious pharmacy consumers, I like to know the mechanism of action, the indication, side effects behind the brand I am consuming.  Thus, I am open to let you into my story and my brand.  PHARMACY PHASHION is the first and only apparel company with a pharmacy label.  I pay close attention to details and I am involved in every step of the shirt making process to ensure my customers get a high quality product deserving to carry a pharmacy name.

The Apothebot (formerly called Bottle-Bot) is the brand's signature logo.  It was inspired by the mortal and pestle idea.  I wanted to make a company mascot and so I added pharmacy bottles or vials to make up the head, arms and legs of the robot.  The outcome is a "phresh, phun, and phashionable" logo that catches people's attention.  That was the whole idea behind the brand.  This is like an opener in sales which captures the audience's attention.  When this is achieved, I explain to them that I am a pharmacist and I discuss the importance of pharmacy.  It is really a fun experience!  I hope you enjoy my collection of shirts, and I am sure people will ask you about them when you wear them in practice or in play. 

Sincerely,

Dr. R.X. Phashion