Quick Answer
Dickies, Cherokee and Wink are the three most trusted scrub brands in Australia. Dickies suits high-wash hospital environments with its workwear-grade durability. Cherokee is the go-to for clinics needing colour consistency across large teams. Wink (W123 and Boundless) is preferred for long shifts in warm climates thanks to its lightweight, 4-way stretch microfibre fabric. All three are available from Infectious Clothing Company with free returns and free shipping over $250.
Comparing brands before you buy? Browse the full Scrubs Australia collection or jump straight to Dickies, Cherokee or Wink.
Choosing between Dickies, Cherokee and Wink is one of the most common questions we hear at Infectious. All three are globally recognised, all three are stocked in depth — but they're built for different bodies, roles and working environments. Get the match right and you'll wear your scrubs confidently for two or more years. Get it wrong and you'll be replacing them after six months.
This guide gives you the honest comparison: fabric compositions, collection-by-collection breakdowns, role recommendations, sizing notes and the specific scenarios where each brand consistently outperforms the others.
The Big Three: What Each Brand Actually Stands For
Before diving into collections, it helps to understand the philosophy behind each brand. These aren't interchangeable — they've each been built with a distinct healthcare worker in mind.
Dickies started as industrial workwear in 1922 and brought that same engineering-first mindset into healthcare. Their scrubs are designed around wash durability, seam strength and colour retention — the things that matter most in hospital laundry environments and high-frequency use. If you've ever pulled scrubs out of a commercial wash and watched them fade or distort, Dickies is engineered to resist exactly that.
Cherokee is the most widely worn scrub brand in Australian hospitals and clinics, and has been for decades. Their strength isn't in being the most technical or the most fashion-forward — it's in consistency. Colours stay consistent across seasons, sizing stays consistent across reorders, and their range stays available long-term. For practice managers outfitting a team of 20, that reliability is worth more than any single feature.
Wink (formerly WonderWink) takes a different approach altogether. Their W123 and Boundless collections are built around microfibre poly-spandex fabrics that are noticeably lighter and softer than either Dickies or Cherokee at the same price point. In Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia — where summer shifts run hot — Wink's moisture-wicking, quick-dry fabrics have built a loyal following among nurses, vet staff and allied health workers.
Dickies Scrubs: Collection-by-Collection Breakdown
Dickies stocks three core collections in Australia through Infectious. Each is built around a different fabric and fit profile — it's worth understanding the differences before ordering.
Dickies EDS (Everyday Scrubs) is the heritage workhorse. Made from a 55% cotton / 45% polyester poplin twill, EDS delivers that classic structured scrub feel — slightly heavier, very durable, and excellent for colour retention after repeated high-temperature washing. The cotton content makes it more breathable than pure synthetic alternatives. EDS is the right choice for aged care facilities and hospital departments running commercial laundering at 60–70°C. Sizing tends to run a little generous, which suits healthcare workers who want room to move without pulling tight across the back or shoulders.
Dickies Balance is the modern evolution — 77% polyester, 20% rayon, 3% spandex — giving a polished, athletic drape with 2-way stretch and a noticeably softer hand feel than EDS. Balance sits closer to the body without being restrictive, making it popular with nurses and allied health who want to look sharp without sacrificing movement. The rayon component gives it a subtle sheen that reads as professional even after washing. If you're used to wearing FIGS or similar premium brands and want comparable quality at a lower price point, Balance is the Dickies collection to try.
Dickies EDS Essentials sits between the two — a stretch poplin blend with rib knit accents that adds flexibility without fully moving to a performance fabric. It's popular as a student-entry point and with clinics doing their first bulk order who want Dickies durability at a conservative price.
Across all Dickies collections, sizing runs XXS to 5XL with consistent measurements across reorders — a significant advantage for clinic managers who need to replace individual pieces without worrying about fit drift between seasons.
Cherokee Scrubs: Collection-by-Collection Breakdown
Cherokee's range in Australia centres on three collections that cover distinct needs — from entry-level clinical to performance-grade theatre wear.
Cherokee Workwear Professionals is the most widely ordered Cherokee collection in Australia — and for good reason. Built from a 55% cotton / 45% polyester blend with soil-release technology, Workwear Professionals is hardwearing, budget-conscious and available in a broad colour palette that maps reliably to Australian hospital and clinic colour codes. Navy, ceil, teal, wine, eggplant and black are consistently in stock. This is the collection that practice managers reach for when uniforming an entire team — the price per set sits lower than both Balance and Infinity, and the sizing consistency means new hires can reorder the exact same garment their colleagues are wearing.
Cherokee Infinity is Cherokee's performance tier — 95% polyester / 5% spandex with Certainty Antimicrobial technology that actively reduces odour-causing bacteria. The 4-way stretch moves with you in all directions, making Infinity popular with nurses on high-acuity wards, physiotherapists, and anyone who spends long shifts bending, lifting and reaching. The antimicrobial finish is particularly relevant in Queensland's humid climate, where synthetic fabrics can become uncomfortable quickly without it. Infinity also offers the broadest colour and print range of any Cherokee collection, including options not available in Workwear.
Cherokee Revolution occupies the middle ground — a 78% polyester / 20% rayon / 2% spandex twill blend that delivers a more structured, polished look than Infinity while retaining meaningful stretch. Revolution Tech (a sub-line) adds fluid barrier protection, making it appropriate for theatre and procedural environments. If your role requires you to look more clinical and less athletic, Revolution is typically the better fit than Infinity.
All Cherokee collections run XXS to 5XL with dedicated women's, men's and unisex cuts across most styles.
Wink Scrubs: Collection-by-Collection Breakdown
Wink rebranded from WonderWink in recent years but retained the same fabric DNA that built their reputation. Their Australian range focuses on two collections that serve different needs.
Wink W123 is the most popular scrub among Queensland nurses and the most frequently recommended fabric for hot-climate healthcare work at Infectious. The W123 is built from a silky 65% polyester / 35% cotton microfibre blend that is noticeably lighter and softer than anything in the Dickies EDS or Cherokee Workwear range. The fabric has a slight drape to it — less structured than Dickies, more relaxed than Cherokee Revolution — which makes it a favourite among nurses who find stiffer fabrics uncomfortable across 12-hour shifts. The W123 also features a distinctive 7-pocket design with divided pockets and a hidden inner pocket, which regularly appears in nurse forums and social media as a standout functional feature. Available in 18 colours for both women and men, with consistent teal and ceil options for student and EN colour codes.
Wink Boundless is Wink's performance evolution — a 91% polyester / 9% spandex stretch blend that prioritises 4-way stretch and moisture management above all else. Boundless is lighter than W123, dries faster, and is the preferred choice for vet nurses, dental staff and allied health workers who need maximum mobility. The fabric has a more athletic feel than W123 and sits closer to the body — if you're used to EDS or Workwear Professionals and want to try Wink, W123 is the easier transition. If you're coming from Cherokee Infinity or a premium brand, Boundless will feel immediately familiar.
Wink sizing tends to run slightly smaller than Dickies and Cherokee — if you're between sizes, sizing up one is the standard recommendation from our team. Both collections run XXS to 5XL.
Head-to-Head: Dickies vs Cherokee vs Wink
| Feature | Dickies | Cherokee | Wink |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best fabric for durability | EDS cotton/poly — built for high-temp commercial laundering | Workwear Professionals — soil-release, fade-resistant | W123 microfibre — durable but not suited to 70°C washes |
| Best fabric for stretch | Balance (2-way) or EDS Essentials | Infinity (4-way, antimicrobial) | Boundless (4-way) — highest stretch of the three brands |
| Best for hot climates | Balance — lighter than EDS, moisture-wicking | Infinity — antimicrobial, breathable | W123 and Boundless — lightest fabrics overall |
| Best for team/clinic orders | Very good — consistent sizing across reorders | Excellent — widest colour range, long-term availability | Good — strong core colour range, W123 most consistent |
| Best for individuals | Balance — modern fit, great value | Infinity — performance feel, broad style choice | W123 — most popular individual choice at Infectious |
| Sizing range | XXS–5XL, runs generous | XXS–5XL, true to size | XXS–5XL, runs slightly small — size up if unsure |
| Embroidery suitability | Excellent — firm fabric holds logo well | Excellent — most popular brand for clinic embroidery | Good — best on W123, care needed on Boundless stretch |
| Price point | $$ mid-range | $ – $$ entry to mid | $$ mid-range |
Which Brand by Healthcare Role
Nurses & Midwives
For Registered Nurses on busy wards, the most common choices are Dickies Balance (for those who want a polished structured look) and Wink W123 (for those who prioritise comfort across long shifts). Midwives frequently choose Cherokee Infinity for its 4-way stretch and antimicrobial properties, particularly in high-movement birthing suite environments. Student nurses and Enrolled Nurses on placement are well-served by Dickies EDS Essentials or Cherokee Workwear Professionals — both are durable, affordable and available in the teal and ceil tones required by most Australian universities. See our full nursing scrubs range.
Doctors & Hospital Staff
Doctors and hospital-based specialists typically choose Dickies Balance or Cherokee Revolution for a more professional, less casual silhouette. Both sit closer to the body than EDS or Workwear Professionals and have a slightly more refined finish suitable for consulting rooms and patient-facing environments. Browse our hospital scrubs collection.
Dental Teams
Dental staff consistently favour Cherokee Infinity and Wink Boundless — both provide 4-way stretch for the bent-forward, seated posture typical in dental work, and both offer antimicrobial or moisture-wicking properties that matter in close-contact environments. Cherokee Workwear Professionals in ceil or white is also a standard choice for practices wanting a clinical look. See our dental scrubs range.
Veterinary Staff
Vet nurses and vets consistently choose Wink W123 and Boundless — the microfibre fabric is notably more resistant to pet hair than cotton-blend scrubs, and the quick-dry properties are appreciated after wet procedures. Dickies Xtreme Stretch is also popular in busy mixed-animal practices. See our vet scrubs range.
Aged Care & Community
Aged care and community health workers often lean toward Cherokee Workwear Professionals for its affordability, easy-care fabric and availability in dementia-friendly colours like soft blue, lavender and warm teal. Dickies EDS is popular in facilities with commercial laundry requirements. See our aged care uniforms range.
Allied Health
Physiotherapists, occupational therapists and other allied health professionals who need maximum movement typically choose Cherokee Infinity or Wink Boundless. Both deliver the 4-way stretch required for floor work, patient handling and high-movement tasks. Browse our full healthcare uniforms range.
Ordering for a Clinic or Team?
The brand decision changes when you're outfitting a team rather than buying for yourself. The three most important factors are colour consistency, long-term availability and embroidery performance.
Cherokee is the most common choice for clinic group orders — particularly Workwear Professionals — because the colour range maps consistently to Australian health system colour codes and has been available without interruption for many years. When a new staff member joins six months after your initial order, you can reorder the same navy top in the same shade. That matters more than most practice managers realise until they've experienced the alternative.
Dickies EDS and Balance are also strong clinic choices, particularly for hospitals and facilities running commercial laundering at high temperatures, where the cotton/poly blends in EDS outperform pure synthetic fabrics over time.
Wink is increasingly popular for dental and vet clinic group orders — especially W123 in navy, black or teal — where the lightweight fabric is valued and commercial laundering requirements are less stringent than hospital environments.
For embroidered clinic uniforms, all three brands accept logo embroidery well. Cherokee Workwear Professionals and Dickies EDS provide the firmest base fabric for embroidery, which gives logos the cleanest finish. Our team can advise on placement and thread colours for any brand.
How the right uniform reduces staff turnover →
Explore clinic & group orders →
Custom embroidery for your team →
Fabric Care: Key Differences Between the Three Brands
All three brands are designed to be washed frequently, but there are meaningful differences in how they should be cared for to maximise longevity.
Dickies EDS (cotton/poly blend) tolerates the highest wash temperatures — up to 70°C in some collections, making it suitable for commercial healthcare laundering. Turn inside out, avoid fabric softener (it degrades soil-release coatings), and tumble dry on medium. EDS scrubs typically become softer after the first 3–5 washes.
Cherokee Workwear Professionals and Infinity should be washed at 40–60°C. The Infinity antimicrobial finish holds best when fabric softener is avoided. Tumble dry on low. Cherokee fabrics are designed to resist fading — washing darks inside out in cold water will extend colour life further.
Wink W123 and Boundless are the most delicate of the three in laundering terms — cold to warm wash (30–40°C), low tumble dry or hang dry. The microfibre fabric is more vulnerable to pilling if washed with abrasive fabrics. Keep these away from hook-and-loop (velcro) items in the wash. The payoff is that they come out of the dryer requiring minimal ironing. For more detail, see our Complete Guide to Scrub Fabrics 2026.
Still Not Sure? Here's Our Quick Decision Guide
| Your Priority | Recommended Brand & Collection |
|---|---|
| Maximum durability for hospital laundering | Dickies EDS |
| Polished modern fit with stretch | Dickies Balance |
| Team/clinic orders with long-term colour consistency | Cherokee Workwear Professionals |
| High-movement roles needing 4-way stretch + antimicrobial | Cherokee Infinity |
| Lightweight comfort for long shifts in warm climates | Wink W123 |
| Maximum stretch for vet, dental or allied health | Wink Boundless |
| Student placement on a budget | Dickies EDS Essentials or Cherokee Workwear Professionals |
| Plus size with full range of styles | Plus Size Scrubs — all brands to 5XL |
FAQs: Dickies vs Cherokee vs Wink in Australia
▶ Which scrub brand lasts the longest?
Dickies EDS consistently lasts the longest in high-wash environments, particularly where commercial laundering at 60–70°C is used. The cotton/polyester construction resists shrinkage and shape loss better than pure synthetic alternatives. Cherokee Workwear Professionals is a close second. Wink W123 and Boundless are durable for personal laundering but not ideal for high-temperature commercial cycles.
▶ Is Wink the same as WonderWink?
Yes. WonderWink rebranded to Wink. The W123, Boundless, Renew and Work collections are the same products — the fabric compositions, fits and sizing have not changed with the rebrand. At Infectious we stock the current Wink-branded range.
▶ Which brand is best for nurses in Queensland?
Wink W123 is the most popular choice for Queensland nurses at Infectious — the lightweight microfibre fabric manages heat and humidity better than cotton-blend alternatives. Cherokee Infinity (with antimicrobial technology) is the second most popular. For Queensland Health facilities with mandatory colour codes, all three brands stock the relevant teal, navy and other required colours.
▶ Can I mix Dickies and Cherokee in a clinic uniform?
You can mix brands within a clinic provided the colours match — navy from Dickies and navy from Cherokee are very close but not identical. For the most consistent team presentation, we recommend selecting one brand and one collection for each role tier. Our clinic ordering team can provide colour swatches before you commit to a bulk order. Call 1300 661 475 or visit our business orders page.
▶ Which brand is best for embroidered clinic uniforms?
Cherokee Workwear Professionals and Dickies EDS are the most popular choices for embroidered clinic uniforms — the firmer woven fabric holds the embroidery cleanly without puckering. Wink W123 also embroiders well. Stretch fabrics like Cherokee Infinity and Wink Boundless require a backing stabiliser and are best for smaller logos. See our embroidery service page for full details.
▶ Do these brands cater for plus size healthcare workers?
Yes — all three brands run to 5XL across most core collections. Dickies Balance and EDS, Cherokee Workwear Professionals and Infinity, and Wink W123 all offer extended sizing with proportionally adjusted cuts rather than simply scaled-up standard patterns. Browse our dedicated plus size scrubs range for the full selection.
▶ Are Dickies scrubs better than FIGS?
Dickies and FIGS target different priorities. FIGS focuses on fashion-forward styling and premium brand positioning at a significantly higher price point. Dickies — particularly Balance — delivers comparable fabric quality and stretch for considerably less, with better local availability and after-sales support through Infectious. For bulk orders and long-term reordering, Dickies is consistently the stronger practical choice for Australian healthcare teams.
▶ Can I try before committing to a bulk order?
Yes. We offer free returns and exchanges on all orders, so individual staff members can trial different brands and collections before your clinic commits to a group order. Visit our Sunshine Coast showroom at 3/15 Page Street, Kunda Park QLD 4556 to try on styles in person, or call our team on 1300 661 475.
More From Infectious Clothing Company
Infectious Clothing Company has supplied Australian healthcare professionals with Dickies, Cherokee and Wink scrubs since 2001. Free shipping over $250. Free returns. Sunshine Coast showroom open Mon–Fri 9am–5pm.
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