When It Comes To Medical Apparel.
Walk into a lot of hospitals today and you might be tempted to look for the “Marriott” or “Hilton” signs.
“Hospitals and medical offices are focused more than ever on branding and ‘upscaling’ their care level,” says Tim Shields, director of marketing for Capital Mercury Apparel. “You can see it in the sophistication of the décor now found in many hospitals. They are really competing for patients and want them to feel comfortable during their stay – almost like they’re at a fine hotel.”
That trend bodes well for Capital Mercury, which manufactures the upscale Bill Blass Healthcare line of scrubs. “Fashion is important in all aspects of a person’s life today – from work life to home life to nightlife,” Shields says. “Today’s health-care worker spends a lot of time on the job, so they want to look good and be comfortable.”
Color and fabric feel are the most important criteria to Bill Blass customers, he says. “We use a peached finish on all of our styles, which yields an unbelievable hand feel,” says Shields. “Customers first notice the brighter colors, but once they feel the product they are ready to purchase.”
Best of all, scrub buyers don’t have to sacrifice functionality for fashion. “Features such as tool pockets and finishing details like taped side vents or bar tacks on pockets and other high-stress areas are a big hit with our customers,” Shields says.