One might think that Kathryn Hayes, CEO of J.W. Scrubs, had a crystal ball. In 2019, Hayes, a Bridgewater-based nurse, started working on a plan for a business that would sell affordably priced, comfortable and stylish scrubs to local health care providers.
The original plan was to help coworkers, who, like Hayes, were dissatisfied with scrubs made out of scratchy, inflexible fabric that wouldn’t breathe or allow them to move as easily as they wished. Then came the pandemic, with fears of the virus spreading in health care facilities and a dwindling supply of scrubs due to supply chain disruptions overseas.
“My colleagues could not find scrubs and were afraid of contamination. They were taking their scrubs off in their garage, throwing them away and buying new ones. Scrubs cost a pretty penny. A pair of pants can be $60,” Hayes says. “I wanted to help the local hospitals and health care workers.”
On the advice of a friend from out of state who sold scrubs, Hayes contacted Med Couture, a company that makes affordable, comfortable attire for health care workers, about selling their line. In August 2020, she launched J.W. Scrubs—named after her 12-year-old son, Justin William—online from her home in Somerville. Still a full-time nurse and medical scribe, Hayes runs the business with the assistance of her mother, Dorothy Roberts.
Hayes announced the business launch on social media and networked with colleagues—and word spread fast. Her customers now are as far away as London, Belgium and New Zealand. “We were used to scrubs that felt like sandpaper that wouldn’t allow us to move,” she says. “These are flattering, breathable, comfortable and very soft. My customers, especially the men, say they didn’t realize scrubs could be that soft.”
The durability of the polyester and cotton blend fabric keeps customers coming back for more. “We need to be able to run, bend, stretch and gracefully catch patients who are falling so they don’t hurt themselves. These scrubs move with us, while others rip,” she says. “Also, the scrubs don’t need ironing and the colors don’t fade in the wash.”
The scrubs are as stylish as they are practical. “Younger people are going into nursing, so companies are becoming more modern,” Hayes says. “In fact, many people wear their medical clothes outside of work because they are so comfortable.”
Hot items at J.W. Scrubs are the fitted, body-flattering Peaches Collection and jogger pants. Other popular items include zip-up tops, fleeces, lab coats, cargo pants and bomber jackets, which Hayes says are “so stylish, you wouldn’t know they were actually from a scrub business.” On the horizon are leggings and a line of scrubs for kids.
“We are still navigating COVID-19. Kids are returning to school and there is an interest in having them wear scrubs that they can take off at the end of the day for hygiene,” she explains. “Some people have been buying small-sized women’s scrubs for their kids, but a kids line will fit them better. I’ll offer that line when it comes out and test the waters.”
View the latest collections at jwscrubs.com.