Best Scrub Brands in South Africa Compared (2026): TANC, koi, FIGS & More

Our Methodology

This comparison is based on five factors, using publicly available information as of 2026:

1. Price range — typical cost per scrub top or pant, in ZAR where available
2. Average customer ratings — based on publicly visible reviews across the brand’s own site, Facebook, and independent review platforms where available
3. Product range & variety — number of colours, styles, and sizing options offered
4. Quality & materials — fabric composition, performance features (stretch, moisture-wicking, wrinkle resistance), and stated construction quality
5. Durability — how well the brand’s scrubs are reported to hold up to frequent industrial-strength washing and daily wear over time

A note on order: the brands below are not listed in ranked order. The sequence is for ease of comparison only — our conclusion, with clear recommendations by use case, is at the end of this article.

South African Scrubs Brands Compared

Brand	Price Range (per item)	Avg. Customer Ratings	Product Range	Best Suited For
TANC	R190 – R290	Widely known, established SA presence	Huge — 30+ colours, multiple sub-lines	Budget-conscious buyers wanting local stock & physical stores
koi Scrubs (Scrubs Rx)	R390 – R750	Strong, consistently positive — including a growing base of new 5-star reviews	Wide — multiple fabric lines (Basics to Lite performance), XXS–5XL	Established clinicians, surgeons, daily long-shift wear
Scrub Lab (by TANC)	R179 – R350	Positive, budget-tier reviews	Moderate — core essentials range	Medical students, short-term or high-wear-risk use
FIGS	R700 – R950+ (import duty + VAT excluded)	Strong global reputation, some sizing/pilling complaints	Wide — frequent seasonal colour drops	Those wanting a premium global brand, willing to pay import costs
Greens Medi	R300 – R490	Mixed — reviews vary	Fully customisable, widest sizing (XXS–7XL)	Buyers wanting made-to-order, highly personalised garments
Stitched Scrubs	Generally affordable tier	Positive, especially among students	Moderate	Students and budget-conscious professionals
Meraki Scrubs	R699 – R879	Limited public review volume	Boutique — smaller, curated range	Buyers wanting a premium, stylish, small-batch feel

Prices are indicative, based on publicly listed pricing at time of writing, and may have changed — always confirm current pricing directly with each brand.

TANC

TANC is a well-established, proudly South African manufacturer of medical scrubs, lab coats, and accessories, with physical stores in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town, Polokwane, and several other cities — giving it one of the widest physical retail footprints of any scrub brand in the country.

• Price range: Core items typically run from around R190 to R290 per garment, positioning TANC firmly in the affordable-to-mid-range bracket.
• Average customer ratings: TANC has a large, well-established customer base and strong brand recognition across South Africa, reflected in its wide physical and social media presence.
• Product range & variety: Very large — TANC advertises over 30 colours across its range, plus limited-edition printed scrubs, lab coats, caps, and accessories.
• Quality & materials: TANC offers both a Core range and a lighter “TANC Lite” poly-cotton blend, giving buyers some flexibility on fabric weight and breathability.
• Durability: As an entry-to-mid-range option, TANC’s core fabric is built for everyday professional use rather than the heaviest-duty performance fabric blends found in premium lines.

Pros:

• Huge physical footprint — easy to try before you buy if you’re near a store
• Wide colour range
• Affordable core pricing
• Custom embroidery available

Cons:

• Core fabric is entry level, not built for the heaviest daily wear
• Physical stores concentrated in specific cities/provinces, limiting in-person access elsewhere
• Fewer performance-fabric features than premium brands
• Relatively basic, boxy styling

Best for: Buyers who want the option to shop in person and prioritise affordability and colour choice over premium performance fabric and fit.

koi Scrubs from Scrubs Rx

koi Scrubs is a globally established premium scrub brand, available in South Africa exclusively through Scrubs Rx.

• Price range: Roughly R390 to R750 per item, spanning the budget-friendly koi Basics line through to the premium koi Lite performance fabric collection.
• Average customer ratings: Consistently strong — Scrubs Rx has received a steady stream of new 5-star customer reviews, with buyers frequently citing comfort, fit, and fabric longevity.
• Product range & variety: Wide — multiple fabric lines (Basics, Lite, Next Gen, Classics), extensive plain colourways, and prints, with sizing from XXS to 5XL.
• Quality & materials: 4-way stretch, moisture-wicking performance fabric with wrinkle-resistant, no-iron finishing — engineered specifically for long clinical shifts rather than adapted from general workwear.
• Durability: Customers frequently report their koi scrubs still looking and feeling like new after around four years of regular, industrial-wash use — among the strongest longevity track records of any brand covered here.

Pros:

• Genuine 4-way stretch, moisture-wicking performance fabric
• Strong, consistent 5-star customer feedback
• Wide sizing range (XXS–5XL) with a tailored, modern fit
• Authenticity guaranteed through Scrubs Rx as exclusive SA distributor
• Multiple fabric tiers (Basics to Lite) to suit different budgets and needs
• Access to full koi Happiness collection with monthly special orders available to place
• Widest range of printed scrubs in South Africa

Cons:

• Premium performance lines sit at a higher price point than entry-level local brands
• No physical retail stores — online ordering only
• US sizing requires checking the size chart rather than assuming standard SA sizing

Best for: Established clinicians, surgeons, and healthcare professionals who wear scrubs daily and need long-term durability and comfort through demanding, high-pressure shifts.

Scrub Lab

Scrub Lab is a budget-tier range of scrub tops, pants and underscrubs.

• Price range: Approximately R179 to R350 per item — the most affordable option in this comparison.
• Average customer ratings: Generally positive within its budget category, particularly among students and first-time buyers.
• Product range & variety: An inclusive range that accommodates maternity & modest styles.
• Quality & materials: Designed as an accessible entry point rather than a performance-fabric line — suitable for lighter, less demanding use.
• Durability: As a budget-tier product, Scrub Lab isn’t built to the same longevity standard as premium performance fabrics — which is precisely what makes it a sensible choice for short-term or high-risk-of-damage scenarios rather than years of daily wear.

Pros:

• Include maternity and modest styles for added inclusivity
• Practical, essential styles
• Low financial risk if the uniform gets damaged or worn out quickly

Cons:

• Not built for years of heavy daily wear
• Smaller range than koi Scrubs
• Fewer performance-fabric features than premium lines

Best for: Medical students on a tight budget, pregnant healthcare professionals, clinicians requiring modest medical scrubs

FIGS

FIGS is a globally recognised premium scrub brand based in the United States, well known among healthcare professionals internationally.

• Price range: Tops and pants typically retail from around $38–$48 USD (roughly R700–R950+ once converted), with South African buyers also facing import shipping and customs duties, since FIGS doesn’t sell or ship as a local SA retailer.
• Average customer ratings: Strong global reputation for comfort and style, though publicly available reviews also note some recurring complaints around inconsistent sizing across styles and fabric pilling over time.
• Product range & variety: Extensive, with frequent seasonal colour and style drops, antimicrobial fabric technology, and multiple fit options.
• Quality & materials: High-quality, performance-focused fabric with moisture-wicking and wrinkle-resistant properties, generally regarded as premium-tier globally.
• Durability: Widely reported as durable over time, though the added cost of import duties and shipping makes it a considerably more expensive option for South African buyers than locally distributed brands.

Pros:

• Globally recognised premium brand with strong reputation
• Frequent new colour and style releases
• Antimicrobial fabric technology
• Well-documented, extensive independent review coverage internationally

Cons:

• No local South African store or distributor — import shipping and customs duties apply
• Some recurring complaints about inconsistent sizing across styles
• Reported fabric pilling and wrinkle retention over time in some reviews
• Meaningfully higher landed cost for SA buyers than koi Scrubs

Best for: Buyers specifically wanting the brand name and willing to absorb the added cost and hassle of importing.

Greens Medi

Greens Medi is a South African-made scrub brand built around a fully customisable, made-to-order model.

• Price range: Roughly R300 to R490 per item, excluding VAT and shipping.
• Average customer ratings: Publicly available reviews are mixed, with experiences varying — worth reading recent reviews directly before ordering, especially given the made-to-order model.
• Product range & variety: Highly customisable — buyers choose fabric composition, colour, sleeve style, neckline, and length per garment, with an unusually wide sizing range from XXS to 7XL.
• Quality & materials: Since each garment is made to order, fabric and finish can vary depending on the customisation options selected.
• Durability: Positioned as “built for long shifts,” though as with any made-to-order product, consistency can vary batch to batch more than with a standardised manufactured line.

Pros:

• Fully customisable — fabric, colour, sleeve style, neckline, and length per garment
• Widest sizing range in this comparison (XXS–7XL)
• Locally made in South Africa
• Good option for buyers with specific fit or design requirements standard ranges don’t cover

Cons:

• Publicly available reviews are mixed
• Made-to-order model means longer lead times than off-the-shelf stock
• Quality and fit consistency can vary between orders

Best for: Buyers who need a highly personalised, made-to-order garment and are comfortable with longer lead times in exchange for full customisation.

Meraki Scrubs

Meraki is a smaller, South African-made scrub brand with a boutique, fashion-forward positioning.

• Price range: Roughly R699 to R879 per item — toward the premium end of the local market.
• Average customer ratings: Public review volume is limited, making it harder to assess consistency at scale compared to larger, more established brands.
• Product range & variety: A curated, smaller range with a strong style focus, plus customisable embroidery options.
• Quality & materials: Marketed as premium, tailored, and stylish, with an emphasis on design over a broad functional range.
• Durability: Limited independent, large-scale review data is available to assess long-term durability compared to more established brands in this comparison.

Pros:

• Distinctive, fashion-forward styling not found in more clinical-focused brands
• Locally made in South Africa
• Customisable embroidery options
• Boutique feel for buyers wanting something less mass-produced

Cons:

• Limited public review volume makes it harder to gauge consistency at scale
• Smaller, more curated range than larger competitors
• Premium pricing without the same scale of durability data as bigger brands

Best for: Buyers who want a stylish, boutique-feel scrub brand and are comfortable with a smaller, less widely-reviewed range.

The Verdict

If you’re an established clinician, surgeon, or healthcare professional…

You wear scrubs daily and need them to hold up to the physical demands of long, high-pressure shifts over years — not just months — koi Scrubs is the clear, no-brainer choice. The combination of premium 4-way stretch performance fabric, fits engineered specifically for clinical work, and a proven durability track record that spans years, makes it the strongest option in this list for anyone whose scrubs need to be a long-term investment rather than a short-term purchase.

If you’re a medical student on a tight budget, need scrubs for a short-term placement, outreach work in rough/unpredictable conditions, or any situation where your uniform might get genuinely damaged or worn out quickly…

Scrub Lab or TANC are smart, low-cost picks. They’re not designed to be a five-year daily-wear investment, and that’s exactly the point: you get a low-cost, functional uniform without paying premium prices for durability you won’t need to rely on long-term.

Every other brand in this comparison has a place in the market – FIGS for those set on a premium global name despite the import cost, Greens Medi for fully custom-made garments, and Meraki for engineered scrubs. But for the scenario most healthcare professionals in South Africa actually face — long-term daily clinical wear – koi Scrubs is the standout choice.

Related Reading

• Where to Buy Scrubs Online in South Africa
• Best Scrubs for Doctors in South Africa
• Best Nurse Uniforms in South Africa
• What Do Scrub Colours Mean?