Medical scrubs are hot right now—because, well, they’re hot all the time. They don’t go out of style, they’re always needed, and the people whose jobs require them will continue to rebuy them, as needed. The medical apparel industry was considered ripe for disruption, with direct-to-consumer brands like Jaanuu, Clove, Folds, and Figs featuring fashion-forward scrubs and footwear, thereby widening healthcare workers’ otherwise generic options. The concept seems to hold weight: Figs’ IPO debuted in 2021, targeting what the company estimated to be a $12 billion U.S. healthcare apparel industry.
Jaanuu received a $75 million investment from Eurazeo in January, bringing their total funding to just shy of $100 million. Company cofounder and CEO Shaan Sethi said they’ll use the funds to further brand awareness. Jaanuu began diversifying its marketing channel efforts earlier this year—its new campaign “Reimagine Greatness” debuted in late May—and the brand continues to expand its key leadership team (including two former Nike execs), fabric innovations, and categories.
Sethi says, while the masks were designed for the general public, the company sees the loungewear category as “supporting the 12-hour shift for 24-hour people”—aka, giving healthcare workers something comfy to change into when off-the-clock. This concept is somewhat guilt-inducing as living a few blocks from Mass General Hospital reminds me daily of how trivial my workday risks are, compared to those on the frontline. Still, the buttery fabric and never-twist waistband call to me as soon as it’s no-pants-o’clock. They are my favorite summer-weight sweats; subtle and conventional enough to fly under the radar as streetwear. They hold their shape, they never pill, and have kept their silky, smooth feel through many washes.
“As a short man, I have always had trouble finding scrubs that don’t just swallow me whole,” he says. “In Jaanuu scrubs, I look like a member of my team rather than a kid playing doctor for the first time. Additionally, the fabric feels really good and can handle anything: hot coffee spills, blood, you name it. With every wash, all the stains and messes of the day are removed, even my Sharpied initials come right out, and the scrubs look just as good as the day before. All in all, I give Jaanuu a 10/10 for durability, inclusivity, and style.”
While I can think of no one more deserving of super-comfortable sweats than those coming off a 16-hour shift in an ER—I think there are plenty more amazing doers out there who would benefit from Jaanu’s leisure wear—think parents, caregivers, dogwalkers, even you. Because self-care is important, too.