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FabricPoly-Cotton vs. Performance Stretch Scrub Fabric: Which to Choose
Nearly every practice ordering scrubs for the first time asks the same question: poly-cotton or performance stretch? Both are good, durable choices, and the right answer depends more on how your staff moves through a shift than on price.
Here is how the two fabrics actually compare in daily use.
Poly-cotton: the reliable workhorse
A poly-cotton blend is the traditional scrub fabric — breathable, easy to launder at high heat, and the most cost-effective option at volume. It holds embroidery cleanly and resists shrinking, making it a dependable default for front-desk staff, administrative teams, and any role that isn’t constantly bending or reaching.
Performance stretch: built for movement
Four-way performance stretch fabric moves with the body, which matters for clinical staff who are reaching, bending, and standing for long stretches. It also tends to hold a more tailored, put-together silhouette, which is why med spas and aesthetics clinics often choose it for client-facing roles.
Durability and embroidery hold
Both fabrics take embroidery well and hold up to hospital-grade laundering, though performance stretch fabric is engineered specifically to recover its shape wash after wash, which can extend a garment’s useful life for high-activity roles.
| Fabric | Best for | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|
| Poly-cotton blend | Front desk, admin, lower-activity roles | Lower |
| Performance stretch | Clinical staff, high-movement roles, client-facing fit | Moderate |
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