Scrubs have long since entered lexicon and moved from uniforms for nurses, doctors and medical staff, to being embraced as a true mode of fashion.
Because they allow freedom of movement and comfort to hard-working medical professionals, the garments have become as popular as warm-up suits for those in and out of the field.
Scrubs were born of necessity and at first were worn by physicians because they provided ease of movement and sanitary dress in operating rooms that could be quickly disposed of. According to an article on DressAMed.com, nurses once wore long, bulky gowns for protection but were prone to transmutation diseases.
Modern scrubs were pioneered by Dr. William Halsted, who also developed the first pair of latex gloves. But it took decades before what we now recognize as scrubs spread from operating-room wear to the de facto uniform of almost every hospital medical staffer.
While most medical facilities provide the drab green or blue scrubs most are familiar with, those in the medical field have sought out an even-more comfortable and fashion-forward look and uniform companies have responded.
It’s no mistake that people who wear any sort of uniform want to invest in a look that feels good, wears well and expresses some individuality. And manufacturers have responded.
Among them is Barco, a Gardena-based uniform supplier that has been in business since 1929. The company claims to have created “the world’s first fashion scrubs” in 1965, and also makes uniforms for such fast-food chains as McDonald’s and Taco Bell, according to an article in The New York Times.
But Barco also has a close connection to the entertainment world, supplying scrubs for a range of television and movies for decades, the article notes.
It’s biggest hit is a line in partnership with the popular, long-running medical drama, Grey’s Anatomy. The show — and the scrubs — proved so successful that Barco turned from making scrubs for fictional TV shows to a line based on that show for real-world medical wear, The Times reported.
On its website, Barco features no fewer than five signature Grey’s Anatomy lines of scrubs for women and men made from soft, stretchable fabric that “drapes elegantly and conveys a polished professional image.”
But Barco is not alone in producing fashion-forward scrubs. Several companies — including Med Couture, Jaanuu and Cherokee — are changing the look of medical uniforms, introducing bold colors, patterns and prints.
As an article on WorkingNurse.com pointed out,” looking good makes you feel good, and feeling good makes you perform your job even better. And that’s never out of style.”