Work in Style Blog

Medical scrubs aren’t just uniforms; they’re tools of your profession. Anyone working shifts knows how much difference the right scrubs make: comfortable enough for 12-hour days, durable enough for constant washing, and professional enough to represent your role with confidence.

Work in Style, one of the UK’s largest and most trusted scrub retailers, brings together a huge catalogue ranging from essential everyday sets to premium, design-led and exclusive ranges. Our extensive range ensures a wide choice of scrubs, tailored to suit different preferences and needs. Whatever your role, style or budget, whether grey scrubs or blue, we offer a solution that supports both comfort and ease of clinical performance. Healthcare professionals in the UK can easily buy scrubs online or in-store from WorkInStyle, making the process convenient and accessible. Work in Style values its customers by focusing on a user-friendly shopping experience and personalised service.

Explore our complete scrub collection

 

 

Best Scrubs on Work in Style

Top scrubs for comfort, durability & long-shift performance.

You can browse all our brands

But below we've picked out 7 of the strongest scrub options to consider for 2026, organised by performance, comfort and value.

 

1. Barco One

Why it’s a top pick: Renowned for ultra-soft, eco-conscious performance fabric with impressive stretch and quick-dry ability, this product offers ease of movement and wear while ensuring comfort and durability for long shifts.

Pros:

• Featherlight comfort

• Eco-friendly recycled materials

• Breathable, moisture-wicking fabric

• Easy to care for

  Cons:

  • A more premium price point

    Best for:
    Active roles like A&E, physio, theatre, rapid-response teams.

 

2. Cherokee

Why it’s a top pick: A long-time favourite among UK clinicians for its reliability and professional styling.

Pros:

• Extremely durable

• Excellent pocket design

• Flattering fit achieved through thoughtful design elements that enhance a wide range of body shapes

Cons:

• Some styles can be less stretchy

Best for: Junior doctors, nurses, and practical daily wear.

 

3. Dickies

Why it’s a top pick: Workwear toughness with clinical practicality. What makes Dickies scrubs a preferred choice for hands-on clinical roles is their durable materials and professional appearance, ensuring both comfort and reliability.

Pros:

• Hardwearing, robust fabrics

• Classic, professional look

• Excellent longevity

Cons:

• Stiffer than performance scrubs

Best for: Vets, dental teams, porters and hands-on clinical roles.

 

4. Grey’s Anatomy (by Barco)

Why it’s a top pick: Luxury comfort meets refined tailoring, with attention to detail like reinforced seams and elegant finishing touches.

Pros:

• Incredibly soft “premium feel” fabric

• Elegant, draped fit

• Rich, professional colour tones

Cons:

• Premium pricing

Best for: Clinicians who want an elevated, polished appearance.

 

5. Skechers by Barco

Why it’s a top pick: Athletic inspiration, with breathable panels and flexible movement, helps wearers feel confident and comfortable during demanding, high-mobility shifts.

Pros:

• Great stretch

• Modern athletic silhouette

• Lightweight and breathable

Cons:

• Sporty styling may not suit all roles

Best for: High-mobility roles, long shifts, warm clinical environments.

 

6. Key Scrubs (Work in Style Own Brand)

Why it’s a top pick:
High durability and a great buy, ideal for NHS use and frequent laundering.

Pros:

• Affordable

• NHS-friendly

• Made for reliability

Cons:

• Simpler styling

Best for:
Students, trainees, high-turnover departments.

 

7. Eco Scrubs

Work in Style is expanding its eco-friendly options, especially through brands like Barco, which champion recycled materials and greener production practices.

Barco has spent 90+ years perfecting medical workwear, and now they’re tackling sustainability too. Their Barco One and Skechers scrubs use 5–7 recycled plastic bottles per garment, turning waste into high-performance fabric. So far, they’ve recycled 40 million+ bottles, all while keeping the comfort, stretch and durability healthcare workers rely on. For anyone looking for premium, eco-conscious scrubs in 2026, Barco’s recycled ranges are an easy, feel-good upgrade.

Best for:
Eco-conscious professionals and modern clinics.

 

 

Best Exclusive Scrub Brands

Explore our exclusive range

What Does “Exclusive” Mean for Work in Style?

Exclusive ranges include premium fabrics, enhanced tailoring, antimicrobial technology, superior stretch, advanced durability, and sometimes colours or editions available only through Work in Style. Some exclusive product lines are only available through Work in Style.

Here are the standout premium/exclusive picks:

1. Healing Hands

Features: Fashion-led silhouettes, premium softness, and elegant detailing.

Why choose it: A blend of luxury comfort and modern clinical style.

Best for: Private clinics, interviews and leadership roles.

 

2. Cherokee Revolution

Features: Lighter, stretchier and more flexible than classic Cherokee.

Why choose it: Perfect for long shifts where comfort is critical.

Best for: Ward nurses, A&E teams and busy clinicians.

 

3. Cherokee Originals

Features: Classic fits, timeless reliability and proven durability.

Why choose it: It’s the go-to “workhorse scrub” for long-term use.

Best for: Any role that needs dependable, fuss-free scrubs.

 

4. Cherokee Core Stretch

Features: Added stretch for movement with classic Cherokee toughness.

Why choose it: A comfortable upgrade at a non-premium price.

Best for: Anyone wanting comfort without going luxury.

 

5. Infinity

Features: High-performance fabrics, sporty cuts and antimicrobial tech.

Why choose it: One of the most advanced, technical scrub ranges available.

Best for: Active clinicians, high-intensity departments.

 

6. Dickies

Features: High-performance fabrics, toughness with clinical practicality

Why choose it: Durable materials and professional appearance

Best for: Hands-on clinical roles

 

How to Build a Professional Look with Scrubs

Creating a professional look in healthcare isn’t about fashion, it’s about presenting confidence, competence and care. Today’s premium and exclusive scrub ranges make it easier to elevate your appearance without sacrificing comfort. With the right approach, your scrubs can feel as good as they look.

 

Choose the Right Fit

A tailored or semi-fitted silhouette instantly upgrades your look. Premium ranges like Grey’s Anatomy, Healing Hands and Cherokee Core Stretch offer cuts designed to flatter while allowing full movement. A well-fitted top that follows your shape, not clings to it, paired with tapered trousers, creates a streamlined, modern look suitable for any patient-facing environment.

 

Opt for High-Quality, Structured Fabrics

One of the most significant advantages of premium scrubs is the fabric. Performance blends hold their shape throughout long shifts and maintain a crisp, refined appearance even after multiple washes. Brands like Barco One and Infinity use moisture-wicking, wrinkle-resistant materials in their product lines, keeping you fresh, comfortable, and looking professional all day.

 

Choose Professional Colour Palettes

Deep, rich colours project calmness and authority. Navy, black, ceil blue, teal and wine remain favourites across NHS and private settings. Exclusive product lines often offer sophisticated, saturated shades that elevate your overall look. Darker colours also maintain a polished appearance even after a long shift.

 

Layer Smartly for a Premium Finish

Layers instantly add polish. Whether it’s a fitted underscrub, a matching warm-up jacket, or a softshell in a complementary colour, layering will add a cohesive, intentional feel to your uniform. Premium and exclusive ranges often include coordinated layers designed to work perfectly together, creating a capsule-style professional wardrobe.

 

Choose Clean, Functional Accessories

Minimalist accessories keep your look professional. Opt for neutral shoes, such as our Shoes for Crews range, sleek badge reels and compact pouches. Premium scrubs often have excellent storage, so bulky extras aren't necessary. A cleaner silhouette reads more professional to patients, colleagues and leadership teams.

 

Maintain Your Scrubs Properly

Premium scrubs deserve premium care. Gentle washing, low-heat drying and occasional steaming all help maintain fabric quality and prolong lifespan. Exclusive fabrics often hold colour and shape better, meaning they stay looking new far longer than basic sets. However, they can all be washed at temperatures up to 60 degrees, which can be important in medical settings for hygiene.

 

Curate a Healthcare professional's Wardrobe

Think in sets rather than individual pieces. A selection of 3–5 coordinated scrubs, including at least one premium or exclusive set, keeps you polished throughout the week. Reserve your premium options for important patient days, presentations or leadership responsibilities, those moments when looking your best matters.

 

FAQ: Your Scrub Questions Answered

How do I choose the right scrub fabric?

The best fabric is the one that supports both your comfort and your workload. Many clinicians prefer polyester blends for their durability and wrinkle resistance, especially when juggling long shifts and frequent washing. Cotton adds softness and breathability, while spandex provides movement. If you’re concerned about skin sensitivities or chemicals, look for trusted certifications like OEKO-TEX Standard 100 product lines, which guarantee safer textiles. Ultimately, the right fabric should feel comfortable, keep you cool and hold up to the demands of clinical life.

How many scrubs should I own?

Most healthcare professionals find that three to five sets create the perfect rotation. That’s enough to get through even the busiest week while giving you flexibility around washing cycles. If you work in unpredictable or high-turnover environments such as theatre or emergency care, keeping an extra set in your locker can be a lifesaver.

Do premium or exclusive scrubs actually last longer?

Generally, yes. Premium scrubs use higher-quality fabrics, reinforced seams and more stable dyes, meaning they look fresher for longer. The difference is particularly noticeable in the drape and softness of the materials. With gentle washing, a premium product will maintain its appearance for years, an investment that pays for itself in longevity.

How should healthcare professionals wash scrubs to keep them looking good?

Treat your scrubs like your work armour. Cold or warm washes help preserve colour and fabric integrity. Turning your scrubs inside out before washing reduces friction, especially for darker shades. Avoid fabric softeners with performance blends, and add bleach only when essential. A little care goes a long way, especially for exclusive fabrics designed to last.

Are Work in Style scrubs trustworthy?

Absolutely. Work in Style is well-known among UK healthcare teams for its fast delivery, reliable quality and customer-friendly policies. Our strong Trustpilot rating reflects years of consistent service, and our free returns system gives shoppers peace of mind when trying new brands or fits.

What about eco-friendly scrubs? Are they legitimate?

Eco-friendly scrubs are becoming increasingly mainstream, and Work in Style is at the forefront, partnering with Brands like Barco, which have invested in recycled fabrics and sustainable manufacturing. These scrubs feel just as comfortable and durable as traditional fabrics, with a greener footprint.

Which scrub colours are the most professional?

Colours communicate professionalism. Navy and black are perennial favourites, while ceil blue remains closely associated with NHS settings. Teal and wine offer a modern alternative without sacrificing clinical credibility. If you want a truly premium look, deeper shades and structured fits add a polished aesthetic from the start of your shift to the end.

What scrubs are best for long shifts?

For long hours, comfort becomes non-negotiable. Scrubs with performance stretch, breathable panels and lightweight materials make a significant difference. Brands like Barco One, Skechers by Barco and Cherokee Revolution consistently receive praise from clinicians for helping them stay comfortable, calm and mobile during demanding shifts.

Ready to refresh or upgrade your scrubs for 2026?

Browse the full Work in Style collection

Explore the exclusive premium range

What brand do you swear by? Share your favourites with colleagues, friends and your healthcare community.

 

We are pleased to announce an exciting new partnership with a leading textile and work wear recycling company, offering our customers a reliable, professional, and safe way to dispose of end-of-life garments.

This collaboration reinforces our commitment to sustainability, supporting our customers in achieving their environmental objectives while maintaining the highest standards of security and professionalism.

For healthcare, medical, hospital, and education providers, secure disposal of work wear and scrubs is crucial. Improperly discarded garments can pose a significant security risk if misused. To address this, our partner provides secure lockable disposal units strategically placed around customer sites. These units are collected on a pre-agreed schedule, ensuring seamless and efficient waste management.

Textile waste remains a significant environmental challenge, with over 350,000 tonnes of textiles sent to landfills in the UK each year, generating 26.2 million tonnes of CO2 annually.

By offering an innovative recycling solution, Work In Style is helping customers contribute to reducing this environmental burden. Once collected, garments are securely processed and recycled into new products, fostering a circular economy and minimising landfill waste.

“This partnership represents an important step forward in our mission to provide sustainable solutions to our customers,” said Carl Tilbury, Sales Director at Work In Style. “By offering a secure, efficient, and environmentally friendly way to dispose of garments, we’re not only addressing a critical need but also helping our customers make progress on their own sustainability journeys.”

Work In Style is committed to making a positive environmental impact while providing exceptional service to its customers.

 To learn more about this secure disposal and recycling service, contact our team today. Together, we can work towards a more sustainable future.

For over 90 years, Barco has been making quality workwear for healthcare professionals.  Its popular collections - Barco One and Skechers scrubs, both available at Work in Style, and many others have been used by doctors, nurses, vets and other clinicians across the world for decades. Recently, Barco has taken a pioneering step in reducing their environmental impact and promoting responsible manufacturing by creating scrubs made from recycled materials – with up to 7 bottles in each garment! But we’re not talking about recycling fabrics; we’re talking about that major scourge on the planet – plastic.

The rise of the plastic blight

The production of large quantities of plastics began following the Second World War. Since then, plastic pollution has become one of the most serious threats to humankind, with around 350 million tonnes of plastic waste being produced by the world each year. It’s in the air, in the soil, in freshwater, in the sea, and it has even been found in our bodies – such is the pervasiveness of this material that it’s even finding its way into our food*.

Plastic pollution is a serious global problem that does irreparable harm to the environment. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, every day, the equivalent of 2,000 rubbish trucks full of plastic ends up in our oceans, lakes, and rivers, poisoning and killing sea life and getting into the food chain. Despite efforts by environmental activists, businesses and individuals to cut down on plastic waste, the amount being produced and discarded is out of control.

Whether it’s water bottles or food containers, packaging or playthings, tons of plastic products find their way into our homes daily. Plastic is convenient, portable, and cheap to produce, which is why it is used for most packaging materials. Indeed, plastic bottles contribute most to the global plastic waste problem because they are often used once and then binned. With over a million plastic water bottles bought every minute, this is not a problem that will be solved overnight – plus, it takes up to 1000 years for plastic bottle waste to degrade.

Barco’s commitment to a greener future

To tackle the plastic pollution problem, we need to reduce our use of plastic bottle waste, but we also need to deal with the mass that exists. In healthcare, where long hours and tough demands are the norm, it’s easy to overlook how workwear impacts the planet. But Barco is leading the charge by creating scrubs that don’t just meet their usual high standards in comfort—they also help reduce plastic waste.

 

From bottles to scrubs: How Barco makes a difference

Barco is putting some of plastic waste to good use by transforming recycled bottles into fabric for scrubs. It collects plastic waste, which is cleaned, melted, and turned into pellets. Those pellets become yarn, which then becomes fabric. Each Barco One scrub includes five recycled plastic bottles, and each Skechers scrub contains seven recycled plastic bottles.

Barco is making massive inroads into the plastic problem, having recycled over 40 million plastic bottles since 2016. That’s a lot of plastic kept out of oceans and landfills. In addition, this process uses less water, reduces carbon emissions, and saves energy when compared to traditional manufacturing.

Built for comfort, made for the planet

The best part is that even with all that sustainability built into Barco’s scrubs, the comfort and durability that healthcare professionals need haven’t changed. They’re lightweight, breathable, and tough enough to handle long shifts. Healthcare workers put these scrubs to the test daily, which never fail to hold up to the rigorous demands of their profession.

Your choice matters

If you’re in the healthcare industry and care about sustainability and making eco-conscious decisions, now is the time to make a difference. Every scrub made from recycled materials means fewer bottles in landfills. By choosing Barco’s recycled scrubs, you are joining the movement towards a greener future, where caring for the planet is as important as caring for others.

Barco is just one of the many thousands of companies finding innovative ways to supply their customers with the same quality product that they are familiar with and also to use fewer resources or recycle some of the waste we have created in the last several decades. Rather than finding ways to exploit new resources, as was the case only a few generations ago, people and companies are focusing on finding sustainable ways to grow while protecting the planet and the resources we have left. Businesses large and small, all over the globe are operating under this new ethos, and they deserve our support.

So, if you have the opportunity to support the business that supplies your workwear and help recycle some of the masses of waste we have created, without compromising on quality and comfort, then why wouldn’t you?

*Humes, E. Total Garbage; How we can fix our waste and heal our world.