Tag Archives: Performance Fabric

stain-resistant-lab-coat

The Biggest Factor Of Choosing Your Lab Coat

A lab coat to a physician is what a suit is to a business person. That’s why you really shouldn’t cut corners when it comes to picking out a lab coat – if you picked out a cheap, shoddy lab coat what does that say about you? Believe me, your patients and colleagues will notice if you have been thrifty (or stingy, depending on how you look at it) with your uniform shopping, and one of the biggest reasons for that is that cheap lab coats are made with cheap fabric.

On the other hand, a nicer quality lab coat will really show. Quality is apparent in the cut, style and details of your coat, and a professional appearance for a doctor also depends on that coat being impeccably bright white.

So the biggest factor of choosing a lab coat…is the ability of that lab coat to release stains.

You don’t need me to tell you that during your shifts there is a large chance you’ll get some sort of bodily fluid on your clothes, or spill your coffee, or have a pen explode in your pocket. Once a coat is stained, you really can’t wear it again, so to make your lab coat last you as long as possible, you should find a high quality white lab coat made with a performance fabric.

Most performance fabrics are made with the wearer in mind. In the case of performance lab coats, this means that the lab coat should easily release stains in the wash. That way you can wear your coat again and again without having to throw it out once it gets a stain!

Cheap Scrubs Aren't Cheap

Why Pay More For Medical Scrubs?

In an endless sea of options for scrubs, you’re going to see a very large variation in price. Some scrubs are as cheap as $18 for a set of unisex pants and top, others can be twice that amount for just a top or pair of scrubs pants.

To the thrifty shopper (which I know you all are!), the choice seems obvious: go for the cheaper ones. Maybe not the cheapest of the cheap, but you might be thinking something along the lines of “as long as they get the job done, why waste my money on a fancy pair of scrubs that does basically the same thing?”

Well, quite frankly, the answer is that they don’t do the same thing. Here’s why it’s worth it to shell out a little extra cash for a nicer set of nursing scrubs.

The fit and styles

Cheap scrubs are just that: cheap. This includes how they are designed, and you’ll often see that inexpensive scrubs are made in unisex sizes, which is ridiculous considering that men and women are proportioned very differently.

Even if there are different options for men and women, the fact is that if scrubs are cheap then the manufacturer probably didn’t put very much time and effort into creating a fit that is actually flattering and gives you coverage.

Comfort

The number one most important question you have to ask yourself before you buy any set of scrubs is this: will I be comfortable in these scrubs for a 12+ hour shift?

Again, with cheap scrubs the answer is, probably not. Think flimsy cheap fabrics, scratchy tags and seams, and a subpar fit that gapes open during the most inappropriate times (such as when bending over to pick something up).

Performance fabrics are HUGE

The biggest reason to pay a little more for nice scrubs is the fabrics. Quality starts with the raw materials, and you can bet your bottom dollar that cheap scrubs are made with cheap fabric. Cotton is better than polyester, but ideally you should look for scrubs made with performance fabrics that actually provide some benefit for you, as the wearer.

It may seem ridiculous, but anything made with performance fabrics is going to be way more comfortable, less likely to shrink in the wash, and not rip or tear. Moisture wicking technologies are pretty impressive these days, and if you don’t think that matters then try to think back to the last high-pressure situation you were in and whether or not you were sweating bullets.

You’re actually not saving any money.

After all is said and done, you’re not actually saving yourself any money when you buy cheaply made scrubs. Though you might be spending half as much at the time of purchase, you get what you pay for and poor-quality scrubs are just that: poor quality. There is a pretty high likelihood that your cheap scrubs will only last through a few washes in the laundry before they get stained, shrink, or start to rip apart at the seams.

You do the math. Paying $18 every month to replace your cheap scrubs is actually almost three times more expensive than paying $80 one time for scrubs that will last a year or more.

Eco Friendly Fabric

No Surprise Here: Bamboo Is The Most Eco-Friendly Fabric In The World

Climate change is upon us, and it’s everyone’s responsibility to do what they can to reduce our carbon footprint. Reusable shopping bags, not using disposable paper plates and cutlery, biking or walking short distances instead of driving – these are all great ways to be a little nicer to our earth.

But did you know you can also make an environmental difference with your clothing?

Cotton and other fabrics aren’t necessarily bad for the environment – they are biodegradable and will break down over time. But it turns out that clothing made of bamboo fabrics are actually the most environmentally friendly in the world. That’s because it’s generally grown with almost no chemical inputs (think pesticides).

Hemp, cotton, and silk are all also relatively eco-friendly since they are biodegradable and made of natural fibers as well. The main difference is that in some cases, there are more chemicals used to convert the raw material into fibers to crate fabric.

Why Buy Underscrubs

Underscrubs: What Are They And Why Should You Wear One

Underscrubs are the newest trend in medical apparel, adding one more necessity to the closet of any self respecting medical professional. But what are they, and why should you fork over your money for an underscrub shirt?

What are underscrubs?

Strictly speaking, any undershirt you wear underneath your scrubs – whether for comfort, style, or coverage – can be considered an underscrub. This can include regular undershirts, plan tee shirts, and so on.

But the best type of underscrubs, and the ones you should consider investing in, are made of high quality performance fabrics and are cut to fit close to the body without obstructing movement. This close fitting quality is what makes them optimal to wear underneath a scrubs top, while performance fabrics are usually designed to wick away moisture and keep you cool and dry during even the most high-pressure situations.

Why buy an underscrub shirt?

Considering that you can just wear a plain old tee shirt under your scrubs, why would you ever consider spending money on a shirt just because it’s marketed as an “underscrub”?

Well, the fact is that not all undershirts are created equal. In this case, it’s more than a marketing gimmick because as mentioned above, these shirts are designed specifically to give you full range of movement and still look flattering when they peek out from under your scrubs.

Furthermore, shirts designed as underscrubs should be made with the same kinds of performance fabrics as you see with athletic wear. This will extend the life of your garment, and it really gives the shirt a purpose past just giving you coverage. A regular cotton tee will quickly absorb moisture from sweat in one place and give you sweat stains, as well as being uncomfortably damp in patches, while an underscrub shirt won’t have this problem.

An underscrub shirt is also designed to transition comfortably from the cold hallways of the hospital to a warm day outside with making you heat up, and vise versa. They’re simply more versatile and serve many more purposes than just keeping you covered, they really do keep you more comfortable in many ways throughout your day.

The best part of underscrub shirts is that they are incredibly versatile! This isn’t a piece of clothing that you can only ever wear while you’re working – on the contrary, since they’re made with performance fabrics in an ergonomic design, you can also wear them while working out, running errands, or doing chores – it’s an addition to your entire wardrobe!

Easy Care Scrubs

Why Low Maintenance Scrubs Are The Way To Go

Let me get one thing straight: scrubs should be cleaned after every use, because it is true that they carry bacteria – as does every other piece of clothing that you own. But since scrubs are worn in a clinical setting, you should be washing them after every use. Scrubs definitely aren’t the type of clothing that you can get away with wearing a few times in between washes.

But some scrubs are more low maintenance than others, by which I mean they are less likely to get stained and that they don’t wrinkle. Let’s face it, scrubs made of 100% cotton are just more likely to wrinkle during the day or even before you put them on, if they’ve been washed but left unfolded.

It’s also worth the trouble of paying a bit extra for scrubs made of fabric that doesn’t stain, or that releases stains easily in the wash, because this extends the life of your scrubs and actually ends up costing you less in the long run. If you buy a cheap set of scrubs and the stains won’t come out in the wash, you have to buy an entirely new set of scrubs!

For those who wear scrubs to work every day, investing in a scrubs set that is comfortable and low maintenance is a no-brainer. You’ll end up saving money and feel more confident throughout the day, as opposed to being worried about wrinkles every time you stand up. Low maintenance scrubs are the way to go!

 

Softest Scrubs Ever

Here’s Why Medelita Physician Scrubs Are Softer Than Any Other Brand

If you’ve been following this blog, you know we have a strong preference for Medelita products. What can we say? They really are the best in terms of fit and quality. They last far longer than any other scrubs or lab coats, and they’re easy to take care of because of the wrinkle release and stain release technology thats imbued in the fabric.

One of the many reasons we prefer Medelita scrubs is not about style or fit: it’s because they are quite literally the softest scrubs I have ever had my hands on. They are so comfortable that I have even worn them to bed on occasion, and I would even consider wearing them on a long-distance flight.

I recently asked Medelita’s chief of operations why their scrubs are so soft, and he gave me the inside scoop. Apparently, the finish of the scrub fabric on the inside is slightly different than the outside: this is because the fabric is brushed.

What does brushed fabric mean? According to TextileGlossary.com, brushing is:

A finishing process for woven or knit fabrics in which brushes or other abrading elements are used to raise a nap (a fuzzy or downy surface). Brushed fabrics have a soft, slightly weathered, broken-in feel.

You know that favorite old t-shirt that you have, that has become so soft over years of wear that it’s become the most soft and comfortable thing you own? It’s basically the same thing, but for scrubs.

You can’t wear your favorite old t-shirt to work…but you can wear your Medelita scrubs!

Fabric Softener Performance Fabric

Why You Shouldn’t Use Fabric Softener On Your Performance Garments

Fabric softeners primarily come in two forms: liquid, or dryer sheets. Softeners are very popular to use when washing your clothes, eliminating static, softening fabric fibers, and even adding a lovely floral scent. However, you’ll definitely want to think twice before using fabric softener with your athletic clothes, lab coat, scrubs, or other performance fabrics.

When it comes to these performance fabrics, the fabric softener actually does more damage than good. Performance fabrics are made with technological features built in, such as moisture wicking or stain resistant – the problem with fabric softener is that it leaves a coating on the fibers of the fabric, so over time those technological features will fade.

This all has to do with the process by which fabric softener actually softens your clothes and linens. Fabric softener releases a sort of waxy substance onto your clothing – this is how it softens and prevents static cling. However, this is what makes your performance fabrics, well, not perform so well after you wash them with fabric softener. The difference may not be noticeable after the first wash, but it will build up over time.

The same principle applies to washing your towels or any micro-fiber fabrics. As a matter of fact, it is recommended in general that you not use heat to dry micro-fiber as it does a lot of damage to the fibers, making them lose all their moisture-wicking properties.

The moral of the story? Don’t use fabric softener with any fabric that has technological features!

Synthetic and Natural Fibers

What’s The Difference Between Synthetic Fibers And Natural Fibers?

All your clothing has one thing in common: their fabric has been made with either natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or a mix. Natural fibers have many benefits for clothing – they’re usually very breathable and fabrics like those made of 100% cotton are incredibly soft to the touch. Synthetic fibers, too, have their benefits – they’re usually more durable and can be imbued with technological features.

Here’s a breakdown of the main differences between synthetic and natural fibers:

Source:
Natural fibers come from nature, while synthetic fibers are completely man-made

Fiber Length:
For synthetic fibers, the length is determined by the manufacturer. Natural fibers’ length depends on nature and where the fiber came from.

Dirt:
Synthetic fibers have no dust or impurities, while natural fibers probably will.

Color:
Generally speaking, natural fibers are much easier to dye with certain colors than synthetic fibers.

Durability:
Natural fibers are biodegradable so they will wear down over time. In contrast, synthetic fibers are made to last a very long time.


 

Given the pro’s and con’s of each type of fiber, it seems that fabric with a blend of natural and synthetic fibers is the way to go, so you can get the best of both worlds. Luckily for you, Medelita’s M3 lab coat fabric is made of a cotton-poly blend, so you can get softness, breathability, performance, and durability!

Moisture wicking fabric

Why Should You Care About Moisture-Wicking Performance Fabric?

With the latest athleisure trend hitting the mainstream and permeating workwear culture, there have been a slew of new performance fabrics coming out, each touting highly technological features that promise some sort of benefit for you, the wearer. One of the most commonly seen features in modern performance fabrics is “moisture-wicking”, but why should you care about something like this?

According to You Design It,

“Wicking is defined by Wikipedia as the flow of liquids through porous media. In t-shirt terms, this translates into the fabric being breathable and allowing sweat to transfer from the wearer’s body to the air around them.”

Let’s compare how a garment made of moisture-wicking fabric performs against a garment made of, let’s say, regular cotton.

Scrubs Tops

Imagine you are running late for a shift, and you end up speedwalking most of your commute. By the time you’ve arrived, you have already sweat a fair amount, but it’s been mostly absorbed by your regular cotton scrubs. Awkwardly, your scrubs now have distinctive dark stains under your armpits and any other moist areas. What’s more, now that you are in the cold air-conditioned unit of your hospital, you might start to get chilly wearing your sweat-dampened clothing.

If you had been wearing scrubs made of moisture-wicking performance fabric, or even a versatile athleisure top, the moisture from your sweat would have been instantly pulled away from your skin and spread out over the fibers of the fabric. This means maximum comfort for you – and no embarrassing stains to worry about.

Lab Coats on Hangers

What Does Bacteriostatic Lab Coat Fabric Mean?

The medical apparel industry is awash in a sea of performance fabrics, each one touting different technological features and benefits for the wearer. Some of the terminology can be a bit confusing, so we’re here to break it down for you.

Medelita lab coats are made of a proprietary performance lab coat fabric called M3. This fabric is loaded with technological features that are embedded into the fibers of the fabric itself, meaning these features won’t wash out when you launder your garment. Among the many features that make this fabric amazing, bacteriostatic is one feature that we can explain to you.

Bacteriostatic Performance Fabric

Quite simply, throughout the day you and every other person on the planet are constantly shedding skin cells. These dead skin cells most often get trapped in the fabric of whatever your wearing, along with any bacteria that’s going along for the ride. By creating a surface that is nearly impossible for dead skin cells to cling to, bacteriostatic fabric prevents odors from trapping in the garment & virtually neutralizes order-causing bacteria.

Medelita Laennec Lab Coat

So what does this mean for you? Well, it means that you can wear your lab coat freely without fear of lingering body odor. So put on that white coat and show off your professional look!