Care & Nursing - Scrubs, Workwear & Uniform

C A RE

&NURSING

SCRUBS, WORKWEAR & UNIFORM

Care & Nursing workwear collections like no other.

Image Credit: Kindthread and monkeybusinessimages via IStock

Scrubs choosing the right fabric to meet your needs

So, to make it all as simple as possible, we’ve broken the process down and produced guide that highlights the benefits our various scrub fabrics bring and what you need to look out for in your workwear to make sure you get what you need to see you through each shift!

Fade Resistant and Wrinkle Free

If your priority is to make sure you have a uniform that works as hard as you and looks just like new however long you’ve had it, then keep an eye out for items made from a blend of Polyester, Rayon and Spandex.

Rayon is derived from bamboo and is much more

moisture absorbent than cotton – it’s also soft and comfortable to wear.

Our Proflex Scrub range by Landau is a great example of this fabric mix which resists wrinkles, fading and sagging. The comfort of two-way stretch twill fabric keeps you looking tailored and professional all day long. Optimized for movement,

the range boasts athletic inspired styling and is fade resistant, providing you a fresh-looking uniform after every wash. There’s also no need to iron or worry about looking unprofessional with wrinkles and creases as these garments offer great shape retention.

Versatile Scrubs for style on every shift

When rushed off your feel all day, or night, a lightweight, breathable uniform can be essential. If that resonates with you, then look for fabrics which contain Polyester or Polycotton.

Polyester wicks moisture away from the body, resists pilling and is also quick drying too. Polycotton is a fabric made from a blend of natural cotton and synthetic polyester fibres, designed to give the advantages of both cotton and polyester in one fabric such as hypoallergenic, softness and breathability. It’s most definitely two for the price of one on that front!

We recommend our classic Essentials collection that are made from a blend of polyester and cotton.

Practical, durable and with a timeless design that will work in any context, these garments are designed to deliver endless versatility, with sturdy construction and faderesistant fabrics that helps the wearers look sharp and professional though even he busiest shifts!

Over recent years, it’s safe to say that scrubs have become ever more popular for a broad range of healthcare settings, and the technology behind the different fabric options has come on leaps and bounds. But, with so much choice consumers can often feel bamboozled as to what elements will work best for them – particularly when considering workwear.

Performance and sustainability

Looking for workwear that’s performance-driven? Look no further than the latest collection – Forward. Premium fabrics and active-wear inspired design deliver style, comfort and adaptability. Garments are made with CiCLO® sustainable textile technology – a non-toxic technology helping synthetic fibres to behave more like natural fibres and speed up biodegradation, helping to reduce the accumulation of plastic waste in our oceans and landfills.

Our Forward collection features four-way stretch, moisture wicking, fade & wrinkle resistant properties, with flexible panels for greater range of motion and comfort. There’s also lots of handy pockets, including zip pockets to help keep your belongings secure.

To find out more about Ciclo® fabric technology visit www.grahamegardner.co.uk/ ciclo

Hard working scrubs for enduring value

A dependable range of scrubs built to endure heavy use and frequent washing –the Scrubzone collection is one of our most dependable and popular. Easy to care for, these lightweight garments are designed to work hard in the most challenging professional environments.

Boasting fade resistant, breathable fabric (65% polyester and 35% cotton) across the range, these are durable enough for commercial laundry and with a broad selection of costeffective styles and colours, Scrubzone is a perfect choice for groups.

Movability & Stretch

If you feel restricted and uncomfortable in your workwear, then a fabric that contains spandex is what you’re after – a blend that has just a hint such as 95% Polyester/5% spandex will do the job.

Spandex adds flexibility, so you can move and stretch easily without being restricted. It expands and stretches with movement while remaining strong and will return to its original shape after stretching. In addition, spandex is really quick drying and when mixed with cotton or polyester, the elastane provides additional ‘stretchiness’ without sacrificing the look and comfort of the fabric.

Our Urbane Impulse and Performance ranges are all about garments that push performance and style to the limits whilst maintaining

comfort and freedom of movement. Packed with a host of dynamic benefits, from breathable knit panels to super soft, 360° stretch fabrics that make for optimum mobility and an effortless fit. Impulse’s double-knit fabric (75% polyester/24% spandex) offers extreme 360° stretch that moves with you, fits more body types, and delivers a slimming appearance. Urbane Performance’s lightweight, athletically inspired fabric offers four-way stretch for maximum comfort and flexibility as well as being face and wrinkle resistant. With just a touch of spandex (5%), this plain-weave fabric is 95% polyester so helps to keep you cool throughout the day.

www.grahamegardner.co.uk

info@grahamegardner.co.uk

0116 255 6326

Images Credit: Kindthread

Tunics & Trousers How to find a perfect-fitting uniform

At Grahame Gardner Ltd, we have had 116 years of experience in creating long-lasting workwear that not only moves comfortably with your body thanks to quality fabrics but also adheres to important safety requirements.

With so many varied styles, designs and materials on offer, we thought we’d compile a simple guide to make sure that your uniform fits perfectly. There are some key requirements to consider for your classic healthcare uniform, from comfort, protection and security, to reflecting your professional identity and enhancing the image of your team or organisation.

Comfort

Could you work comfortably throughout a busy shift in this clothing? One way to be sure about this is to move around and ensure you have enough space and durability in the uniform for movement and handling. A uniform that is too tight will restrict movement, while a uniform that is too loose may get in the way as you perform tasks.

A well-fitting tunic will hang in a relaxed manner over the hips and as you raise your arms, the tunic will rise and move freely with you. Make sure that when you raise your arms, the tunic should not rise above your trouser waistline. We manufacture our own hard-wearing garments with features to allow for appropriate movement, and extra room is included when the clothing is made to

further assist with this. If you feel you fall between sizes, we recommend always choosing the larger of the two.

When it comes to trousers, try crouching in them and if they are a good fit, they shouldn’t pull on the waist or thighs. Our trousers are designed as a working garment and are not intended to have narrow legs, the reason being to maintain ultimate comfort while you work.

Effective tailoring

At Grahame Gardner, we include two pleats on the back of each of our classic healthcare tunics. The purpose of these pleats is so that when your arms are outstretched, these will move with the body to prevent any shoulder restriction. They should revert back to the original shape when your arms are relaxed.

Side vents are also positioned in each side of the tunic to ensure that the garment will sit properly on the hips in a normal standing position. Trousers are supplied with handy belt loops and the waist band should sit clearly above the hips. If you look for this type of quality tailoring it will make all the difference when searching for a great fitting uniform.

Hemming

If you find the perfect trousers but the length isn’t quite right, using hemming web is an ideal way to fix the issue. Here is a quick rundown of how to do it in the best way.

• Turn trousers inside out.

• Measure the length of hemming against the bottom of your trousers and cut a large enough piece. Then snip a second length for the other side.

• Turn the trousers up to the required length, making sure each crease is the same on both sides. Just before you apply the hemming web, try the trousers on once again to make sure you’re happy with the length you’ve chosen. Once the hemming is applied, you cannot undo them.

• Once you’re happy with the length, insert the piece of hemming into the fold that you’ve created.

• With a hot iron, push down firmly and steam for 20-

30 seconds. This will secure the hemming web to that side of your trouser.

• Turn over the trouser and repeat on the opposite side by sliding the hemming into the fold, making sure it’s flat and applying the hot iron.

• Now repeat with the other leg.

We hope that you have found our guide useful - for further information on both tunic fitting and trouser hemming visit the Grahame Gardner YouTube channel for our easy to follow ‘How To Guides’

www.grahamegardner.co.uk

info@grahamegardner.co.uk 0116 255 6326

A comfortable uniform that enables you to perform at your very best during long and busy shifts is worth its weight in gold for any healthcare professional.

Image Credit: Grahame Gardner Ltd

Exclusive healthcare collections with innovative fabric technology

boast odour prevention, are hypoallergenic, gentle on skin and vegan friendly.

The scrub top design features multiple pockets, with two waterproof chest pockets and a wearers right hand hip pocket with useful pen divide and an elastic loop for a clip-on hand sanitiser. The trousers also have side and back pockets, along with a drawstring waist.

faster and helping to reduce the accumulation of plastic waster in landfill and plastic in our oceans.

In a recent exclusive healthcare partnership with Micro-Fresh®, we introduced a new scrub range which uses leading antimicrobial technology to stay fresher longer and help reduce cross-infection.

The range, exclusive to Grahame Gardner, incorporates cutting-edge technology - Micro-Fresh®to help keep healthcare workers safe by ensuring wearer sterility, reducing cross infection and at the same time, maintaining all day comfort and form.

The garment fabric is incorporated with innovative Micro-fresh® technology at point of manufacture. The antimicrobial technology not only continues to kill 99.9% of bacteria beyond 50 washes but is also proven to reduce the spread of human coronavirus by 99.2%.

With wash resistant antibacterial protection, Micro-Fresh® garments remain effective even when washing at 40C and also

Available in two fits –unisex and female – and the scrub top is available in six colourways: each with a classic contrasting white trim. The trousers are available in 3 complimentary colours.

CiCLO® fabric technology - an innovative way to combat plastic waste.

Did you know that over 60% of today’s textiles are made from synthetic fibres which are not biodegradable. Almost all fabrics shed tiny microfibres during manufacture, use and care. When we wash these materials they shed millions of these plastic microfibres that pass through wastewater treatment and into the sea… unless they are made with CiCLO® technology.

CiCLO® is an invisible, sustainable additive blended into the garment fabric at the manufacturing stage. The non-toxic technology is permanently embedded, so will never wash out.

It enables the synthetic plastic-based fibres to behave more like natural fibres, such as wool, but improves on natural fibres by biodegrading

Our new Landau Forward range is made with this innovation CiCLO® technology. An exciting addition to the healthcare scrubs portfolio, not only are these textiles eco-friendly and kinder to our planet but are also designed for style, comfort and adaptability.

The premium scrub collection offers six activewear-inspired styles that include scrub tops and bottoms, zip jacket and a

modern crew-neck base layer. In addition to the sustainable element of the fabric, the Forward collection also boasts 4-way stretch fabric, flexible side panels for added movement and modern ribbed trims on necklines, waistbands and cuffs for enhanced optimum comfort and styling. For practicality, the scrubs are moisturewicking, include plenty of pockets and are also fade and wrinkle resistant.

www.grahamegardner.co.uk

Info@grahamegardner. co.uk

0116 255 6326

With over 116 years of supplying quality uniforms, Grahame Gardner Ltd are firmly planted as experts within the healthcare sector. The latest exciting collections feature innovative fabric technology that take workwear to the next level.

Images Credit: Grahame Gardner Ltd & Kindthread Ltd

Do we need to wash at 60°C?

Here, we take a look at the importance of health professionals having the right workwear, some top tips for getting the most out of your uniform, whilst maintaining safety at all times, and explain why we are introduced a laundry product to our range.

Working in any healthcare setting demands a uniform that’s reliable, comfortable, and capable of working as hard as each member of staff does. We understand when our customers tell us that looking professional helps to reassure and comfort patients who are vulnerable, unwell, or in need of assistance. Here at Grahame Gardner, we provide an extensive range of smart, hard-wearing, and modern uniforms that are up

to the challenge, providing healthcare professionals and their patients with that all-important extra peace of mind.

The importance of uniforms in a healthcare setting

The NHS Guidelines are clear when it comes to the best practice for uniforms and workwear. Firstly, patient safety is imperative as the clothes that staff wear should facilitate good care practices and minimise any risks to patients. Secondly, it’s about public confidence which means that patients and the wider public should have complete confidence in the cleanliness and hygiene of their healthcare professional and environment. The way staff dress is an important influence on people’s overall perceptions of the standards of care they experience. And finally, staff should feel comfortable in their uniforms. Feeling at ease in what you are wearing can help ensure you work to the very best of your ability.

So, we know those of you working across care and nursing need access to high quality workwear for very important reasons but how do

you best look after it at home and ensure the garments’ longevity?

The big question… do I NEED to wash at 60 °C?

There are two options when it comes to washing your uniforms that comply with NHS guidelines, advice from other professional bodies and infection controls procedures. They are:

• To wash uniforms at 60°C for 10 minutes which will remove 99.9% of microorganisms that are present.

• To wash the uniforms at any temperature between 20°C and 60°C with a suitable antibacterial agent capable of killing 99.9% of bacteria even at 20°C.

Many of our uniforms can be washed commercially or domestically at 60°C. However, for those garments where the higher temperature wash is not advised, or for customers who worry about the environmental impact of washing so often at 60°C and want to wash at a lower temperature, we are recommending the use of an antibacterial cleanser.

The future is Cleanser

Using an antibacterial cleanser such as Dettol

Antibacterial Laundry Cleanser means you can wash your uniform at a lower temperature safe in the knowledge that the product will have the same effect on any bacteria present as when washing at 60°C. Regularly washing workwear at a lower temperature should also give an extension to the life of the uniform as it means there is less fabric degradation.

The cleanser, kills 99.9% of bacteria, works even in cold washes, boasts a 12hour freshness and is dermatologically tested and non-bio. Available from us in in a 2.5L bottle, you just add two capfuls to the softener drawer of your washing machine alongside your normal detergent. It’s as simple as that!

Knowing how best to care for your uniform not only helps keep you and your patients to stay as safe as possible when it comes to infection control, it also helps you feel comfortable on those long shifts as well as saving you money in the long run as you get more life out of your workwear.

www.grahamegardner.co.uk

info@grahamegardner. co.uk 0116 255 6326

A question we get asked a lot here at Grahame Gardner is ‘How do I best look after my uniform?’ and, with 116 years of experience providing long lasting uniforms and workwear up and down the country, we are just the people to ask!

Image Credit: Kindthread Ltd

Image Credit: iStock

Care & Nursing workwear collections like no other.