Medical apparel hasn’t changed much over the years, but ex-executives from companies like Lululemon and The Honest Company seem to believe this industry is on the verge of massive growth.
According to Glossy, these executives are partnering with two medical apparel brands, Figs and Jaanuu, to revitalize medical scrubs. Both Jaanuu and Figs have raised millions of dollars, through investors and e-commerce experts, to begin this overhaul.
“We see a tremendous opportunity to leverage [our] collective experience and relationships to further brand and scale Figs to transform this $9 billion unbranded industry,” said Christine Day, the former CEOr of Lululemon and a partner at Campfire, at the time, according to Glossy.
While Jaanuu is for women only, both brands feature wrinkle- and stain-repellent fabrics with anti-microbial technology. Additionally, both brands boast more form-fitting tailoring, and even athleisure and street wear-inspired looks.
Jaanuu believes this industry is ready for disruption, and its direct-to-consumer model will be the perfect vehicle.
“This multi-billion dollar industry is built on a replenishment model where the useful life of a pair of scrubs is fairly short—it’s not like denim, where you’re not washing them daily and extending the life of the garment,” said Shaan Sethi, CEO or Jaanuu, according to Glossy. “Scrubs take a beating day in and day out, requiring the consumer to go back and replenish that stock often.”
Jaanuu and Figs are selling their medical apparel pieces at a higher price point, $35 to $100, but they believe the added features and improved styles will have a bigger payoff.
For those promotional suppliers and distributors working with medical apparel clients, like hospitals and outpatient facilities, this might be the time to consider adding more fashion-forward styles to your repertoire. With these trendy looks hitting the medical community, your end-users might be grabbing for tailored looks and athleisure-inspired outfits instead of their other scrubs.
