Tag Archives: Trends

Athleisure On The Runway

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If you haven’t heard about the new athleisure trend, prepare to meet your new favorite trend. This trend is all about comfort and functionality, so you can live your life in the same clothes you use to work out – but in style.

Stylish sportswear hit the runways for the first time in 2014, but in 2016 we predict that the trend will grow even bigger since it fits well into a busy, active lifestyle. In other words, this is a trend made for busy, on-the-go professionals, rather than a trend that you must change to adopt.

Check out some of these pictures of the athleisure trend on haute couture runways:

Activewear on the Rebecca Minkoff runway

Activewear on the Rebecca Minkoff runway

Alexander Wang x H&M

Alexander Wang x H&M

2(X)IST Men's Spring/Summer 2015

2(X)IST Men’s Spring/Summer 2015

Interesting Facts About Lab Coats & Scrubs

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  1. Nuns were originally the caretakers of sick people, which is why the nun’s habit was evolved into the first generations of nursing outfits and scrubs.
  2. Lab coats evolved from butcher’s uniforms, as surgeons throughout history were often glorified barbers.
  3. Black used to be the most popular color for doctor’s apparel since it hid dirt, stains, and blood.
  4. The hats seen as a part of nursing uniforms in the past eventually fell out of style because male nurses didn’t like wearing them.
  5. Studies have shown that participants performed better on tests when wearing lab coats.

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World’s First Laundry-Folding Robot

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“I can’t wait to go home after work and fold all that laundry that’s been sitting in a pile on my bed!” said no one, ever.

For those of you who put off folding your laundry until they need to be washed again, Laundroid is your dream come true. The world’s first laundry folding robot turned heads at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where it was introduced as a collaboration between Seven Dreamers Laboratories Inc., Daiwa House Industry Co. and Panasonic Corp.

Laundroid works through image sensors, which are used to detect the type of clothing to be folded after the freshly-laundered pieces have been placed in a bottom pull-out bin. After Laundroid determines whether the article of clothing is a t-shirt, collared shirt, skirt, shorts, or pants, the clothes are folded neatly and moved up to the shelving area.

According to the manufacturers, Laundroid can hold up to 4.5 kg of clothes, and each article of clothing takes between 3-5 minutes to fold. That seems like a lot of time, but think about it: you could dump your laundry in the machine, go run an errand or two, and by the time you come back all your laundry will be neatly folded.

The current model of Laundroid will be available for sale this year, but by 2018 the manufacturers hope to have integrated the machine into Panasonic washers and dryers to create your dream laundry machine.

laundroid

Read original article here.

What Is The Value Of Your Lab Coats And Scrubs?

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The truth is that low-cost lab coats and scrubs actually end up costing the wearer more, not less. Yet sadly most medical professionals have resigned themselves to a life sentence of cheap, ill-fitting “unisex” lab coats and scrubs — certainly not clothing they would choose to buy, given their druthers. If they have a choice between cheap scrubs or new set of pajamas — pajamas win, hands down.

So why, in this age of medical and scientific progress, do smart professionals have such low standards for their own comfort and appearance? When it comes to defining the market for lab coats and scrubs, the major health-care uniform manufacturers have set the bar lower, rather than higher, by competing not on meaningful innovation, but on price. In their pursuit of lowering manufacturing costs, most medical uniform companies have found ways to minimize the expense of virtually every element of the garment.

From the fabric, design, sizing, and even stitching, this priority to drive down costs has resulted in low prices – achieved at the expense of comfort, fit, and fashion. Garments are boxy and shapeless. Waistlines are too big and necklines too low. Fabrics fade. Seams tear. Stains set in. Those in medicine and dentistry have had no choice but to accept this lowered standard as the professional status quo, price has defined the market, and continues to influence the selection of medical uniforms.

Ironically, those who purchase uniforms — physicians, physician assistants, dentists, and nurse practitioners, to name a few — have incomes that support spending more for quality medical uniforms. So how does one change old perceptions that rely on price instead of embracing true value?

In the last year, the paradigm has begun to shift and new alternatives have emerged that challenge the idea of low price as the sole determining factor. Medelita founder, Lara Francisco PA-C, maintains the overall design of traditional scrubs and lab coats, modernized with performance fabrics and tailored, yet professional styling. The company’s lab coats and scrubs utilize technologically advanced M3 performance fabric and are designed to bring true value to the wearer.

As they say, you only get one chance to make a first impression. In addition to being wearable, a garment must convey excellence and professionalism, and by that, we mean good workmanship and a crisp, polished appearance.

Lab Coats on Hangers

The Evolution And Trends Of Medical Apparel

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Medical uniforms play a key role in healthcare, as they allow patients and workers to distinguish between different fields or roles within a hospital or private practice. In the past, medical apparel was designed with extreme comfort as the top priority. Unfortunately, this usually results in drab, shapeless medical uniforms that don’t give the wearer a feeling of pride.

Let us examine the evolution of nursing scrubs. In the early 1900’s the standard uniform for nurses was a starched white pinafore. While not very functional, these uniforms did reflect a level of professionalism as nursing started to become a more respected field. WWI marked a shift to drab, gray, cotton crepe uniforms because they were easy to wash and easy to mass-produce. WWI also brought about the emergence of white medical aprons, which were practical in that they allowed medical professionals the ability to treat more patients while staying (more or less) sanitary.

Florence Nightingale, the first modern nurse

Florence Nightingale, the first modern nurse

As time passed, nursing uniforms evolved to become simple white dresses with either long or short sleeves. Originally, scrubs were all white—to emphasize cleanliness. By the 1960’s many hospitals had abandoned white scrubs and replaced them with scrubs in shades of green and blue. These colors were more practical in that they reduced eye fatigue and were better at hiding stains. By this time, fashion was starting to become more relevant to medical uniforms. Medical professionals wanted uniforms that were both functional and flattering.

Styling and details in medical wear are becoming more important than ever as these workers are realizing the powerful connection between outward appearance and inner confidence and poise. Medical professionals of today demand respect, and their uniforms should reflect their prestige.

Because of this, we are now witnessing a rapid shift in the standard for medical uniforms. Medelita is proud to be a key driver in this paradigm shift. The new breed of consumers is a fashion-forward bunch who are more than aware of the importance of performance fabrics in their uniforms.

These consumers see performance fabrics in athletic wear, leisure wear—its past time to bring performance fabrics into the world of medical apparel. What a healthcare professional needs from the fabric of their medical uniforms is stain release, comfort, breathability, and easy care. Medelita is happy to say with complete confidence that the fabric in our garments not only meets all these qualifications, but they exceed them.

ipad pocket lab coat
On the runways at New York Fashion Week, the success of a garment is all in the details. As with high fashion, medical professionals demand attention to detail and exceptional fit with their garments. Wearers of medical uniforms have an appreciation for the details and features in their work wear (or frustration about the lack thereof). Medelita lab coats come with many utility features, including finished seams, plenty of pockets, a pocket to fit iPads, custom embroidery, and more.

Overall, the medical apparel industry has witnessed a revolutionary transition from shapeless, unflattering, uncomfortable uniforms to garments that are functional, comfortable, and flattering enough to wear outside of the workplace.

Read the original article here.

 

Athleisure Is The Perfect Trend For Medical Professionals

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Finally, a fashion trend for everyone from millennials to working professionals!

As more and more designers are sending couture workout apparel down the runway, it’s becoming clear that the athleisure trend is here to stay. Why? Because athleisure is more than just a fashion trend: it’s a lifestyle.

Athleisure refers to clothing that is designed for use as activewear, but can also be worn outside of the gym while doing day-to-day activities. These garments are soft, comfortable, flattering, and appropriate in a number of settings aside from just physical activity.

The modern working professional needs apparel that can transition from the office to life. Athleisure offers a complete solution that is as fashionable as it is functional. The busier the individual, the more benefits that person will derive from the ease and wearability of this trend.

Medical professionals in particular need to be able to rely on their apparel to effortlessly transition from the operating room, to board meetings, to running errands or exercising. Athleisure is a fashion trend that is perfect for wearing under scrubs and workwear. For physicians and grad students working in hospitals, this new aesthetic is perfectly versatile and allows modern professionals to transition smoothly from work to life.

For some companies the traditional work wear aesthetic will remain the standard, but for many companies, acceptable work attire is changing fast as the athleisure aesthetic is more ideal for the modern multi-functioning professional.

The Colors Of Medical Apparel

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In modern times, clinicians are marked by crisp white coats and scrubs come in a variety of colors, patterns, and styles. But did you know that every color used in medical apparel, whether scrubs or lab coats, has its own unique history and purpose?

Physicians have historically dressed in black clothing, for two reasons. The first reason is that black has long been considered formal, and medical matters are certainly a formal matter deserving of respect. The second, more obvious reason is that black better hides stains, bodily fluids, and dirt.

Around the early 19th century, modern germ theory began to circulate, leading to an uptick in hygiene and sanitation. Patients stopped dying (as often, at least) on the operating tables and physicians became more trusted by society. Before physicians and surgeons rose to the ranks of highly esteemed professions, they were mostly regarded as glorified butchers. 

As physicians gained a better understanding of how bacteria were spread, white became the hue of traditional physician garb. White is representative of cleanliness and purity, two characteristics that all physicians were meant to embody.

Medical scrubs were originally white as well, for the same reasons. However in the 1950’s hospitals began to phase out white scrubs in favor of scrubs in green tones – these colors are easier on the eye and allow for a visual contrast between the stark white color of the lab coats worn by physicians.

Today, trends in medical apparel have geared toward the function for the user. Performance fabrics have taken over the industry as the increased durability and technological features create garments that are more appropriate for the busy lifestyles of modern medical professionals. Scrubs color has shifted to be a matter of personal preference, but the crisp white lab coat continues the be a symbol of a doctor’s professionalism and prestige.

Ellody Cushing