The best workwear is created by listening to the makers

Mehiläinen's green brand color can be seen everywhere in the Töölö office in Helsinki, from the T-shirt of the receptionist to the tunic of the laboratory assistant hurrying past.

Medanta's workwear has proven to be more durable than expected in demanding use: The current workwear collection was designed for three years of use, but the fifth year has already begun.

Mehiläinen employs over 18,800 healthcare and care professionals in 440 locations across Finland. Most of them wear Medanta workwear. There are dozens of professional groups, and workplaces vary from operating rooms to office tasks. Suitable and clean workwear is needed for different situations every day.

“When we selected Medanta as our workwear supplier following a competitive bidding process in 2015, the selection was based on demanding criteria,” says Procurement Director Satu Suominen from Mehiläinen.

These are Mehiläinen's criteria for nursing workwear

Breathable, flexible, comfortable. Workwear for healthcare workers should be suitable for a wide range of work tasks and should be breathable, flexible and comfortable. The overall look should be uniform, but at the same time the clothes should be suitable for people of many sizes and shapes.

Ecological. “We emphasize ecology, meaning we take into account the materials, the manufacturing process and the longevity of the clothes. All of these criteria are met in Medanta's workwear,” says Satu Suominen.

Mehiläinen's clothing service operates on a three-way model: Medanta manufactures the clothes, the laundry service washes, maintains and transports the clothes to the workplaces, and Mehiläinen's personnel wear them.

When a garment is worn out, it is recycled and reused where possible. In the past, large quantities of workwear were burned when it was time to get rid of it. Today, workwear is burned less and fabric recycling is being actively piloted.

Medanta is also involved in development projects that seek more sustainable solutions for recycling. Among the research projects being carried out are antimicrobial, biodegradable fibers created by processing plastic granulate and resin.

Safe and hygienic. For healthcare professionals, workwear is part of infection control and occupational safety. This demands a lot from both materials and clothing designs.

The surface of Medanta's hospital clothing fabrics is treated with antimicrobial agents, which reduces the risk of spreading pathogens.

Read more about Medanta's product development

"Fabrics must also be sufficiently protective so that the occupational safety of the staff is not compromised - for example, splashes are part of everyday nursing work. The sizing and designs of clothing must also take into account the diverse situations in which the clothing is used," Satu Suominen reminds.

Functional and to suit everyone. Representatives of Mehiläinen's staff participated in the design of Medanta's clothing. The users of the clothing had many different wishes: they expected the clothes to be modern and comfortable. They wanted the materials to be breathable, flexible and of high quality.

“The collection includes three tops and two different trouser styles. The unisex tunic, T-shirt and Slimfit shirt are suitable for a wide range of users. One of the trouser styles is straight-leg and the other is a more sporty model with high elastic. Everyone has their own favorites,” says Satu Suominen.

The collection is deliberately compact to make it manageable from both a cost and brand perspective.

Of course, every user has their own wishes: one wants more pockets, another would like to get rid of pockets altogether. The selected models have tried to take these wishes into account. That is why there is also room for choice in the collection, and that is why the design of each garment is a well-thought-out whole down to every seam.

"Stylish and well-functioning work clothes create well-being at work. Not only is the comfort and appearance of the clothes important to the staff, but also the ethical and ecological issues related to their production. That is why the choice of clothes really matters," says Satu Suominen.

Discover the products in Medanta's online store

Bee Oy

• founded 1909
• private provider of social and health services
• 1.2 million customers annually
• 440 locations across Finland
• over 18,800 employees and professionals