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Why the Same Size Fits Differently Between Brands (And Even Between Batches)

· Hedy Nie· 5 min read
Why the Same Size Fits Differently Between Brands (And Even Between Batches)

You ordered a medium top last year, loved it, ordered another medium this year, and the new one fits like a small. Or a large. Or fine in the chest but tight in the sleeve in a way the old one wasn't. You didn't change. The pattern did.

This is one of the most overlooked complaints in scrub buying, and it shows up across r/nursing threads from "Very very small scrubs! HELP" to "Issues finding in-between sizes". Here's what's actually happening, and how to buy around it.

Why scrub sizing drifts

Three forces are pulling at the pattern between batches:

Pattern revisions without naming the change

Brands quietly tweak fit two or three times a year based on returns data. Sometimes that's good. Sometimes the new "improved fit" is half an inch tighter through the hip than last season's. The size chart often doesn't update.

Different factories on the same SKU

Mid-size scrub brands often run the same style across two or three factories. Each factory's interpretation of the tech pack is slightly different. The fabric weight might be a half ounce off. The seam allowance might be 1mm wider. Stack a few of those small differences and the same SKU fits differently.

Fabric shrinkage variation

Different fabric lots shrink at slightly different rates. If a brand isn't pre-shrinking, the first wash on the new batch can pull the garment a full size tighter while the old one stayed put.

Why this is worse for scrubs than for streetwear

Three reasons:

  1. You wash scrubs constantly. Six to ten washes a month means shrinkage variation hits you faster.
  2. You buy in matched sets. If you're rotating six sets and two of them shifted on the new pattern, half your closet is now uneven.
  3. Hospital dress codes lock you in. You can't just "switch brands" if you're required to wear a specific color. So when sizing drifts on your one approved brand, you're stuck.

How to buy around this

Buy tops and pants separately

Sets are convenient until they're not. When sizing drifts, you can replace just the affected piece instead of a full set. Eipnare sells everything as separates ($38 each) and as sets ($68) so you can choose.

Look for brands that publish a stable size chart

If the size chart hasn't changed in two years, the pattern probably hasn't either. If it changes every season, expect drift. (We don't change ours.)

Ask about pre-shrinking

If a brand pre-shrinks the fabric before cutting, post-wash variation drops significantly. Most don't, because it's an extra step. Brands that do will usually say so on the fabric page.

Buy enough on the first round

If a piece fits, buy two. The version six months from now might not.

What Eipnare does about this specifically

Two things:

  1. One pattern, one factory, no quiet revisions. When we ship a Charcoal medium top in 2026, it's the same pattern, same fabric weight, and same factory as the Charcoal medium top we shipped in 2024. If we change the pattern, we name it (a new style number, not a silent update on the same one).
  2. Staff wear-tests every batch. Customer service, design, and ops wear new production runs on full days before we approve them. If something feels different from the last batch — a tighter sleeve, a softer hand, a longer rise — we send it back.

This is also why our ShiftWeave™ fabric tests at 4–5 on standard pilling grades batch after batch. Consistency starts at the fabric mill and gets enforced at every step after.

FAQ

Why do my scrubs fit different even though they're the same size?

Three usual reasons: the brand revised the pattern, the production factory changed, or the fabric shrinkage rate varied between lots. Brands that lock down all three keep sizing consistent. Most don't.

Do scrubs run small or large?

Both, depending on the brand. FIGS tends to run slim. Cherokee tends to run loose. Eipnare aims for true-to-measurement on our published size chart. The honest answer is: don't trust general "runs small" advice, check the actual chart and your measurements.

How do I tell if a scrub size chart is reliable?

Check if the brand publishes garment measurements (not just body measurements) and whether the chart has changed in the past 1–2 years. Stable chart, garment measurements, and customer photos in the size you're considering are the three trust signals.

Should I buy scrubs as sets or separates?

Separates if you have any size mismatch between top and bottom, if you replace pieces individually, or if you want to mix colors. Sets if your sizing is consistent and you're ordering a full new rotation in one color.

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Hedy Nie is COO of Eipnare. Connect on LinkedIn.

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