Why white became the standard in healthcare (and whether it still makes sense)

27 July 2026

Think of a classic hospital and there’s a good chance you immediately picture a lot of white. White coats, white uniforms, white walls and, of course, white shoes. The color has become so strongly associated with healthcare that we barely stop to think about it.

Yet doctors and nurses did not always wear white as standard. So where did that tradition come from? And perhaps even more interestingly: is white still the most logical choice today?

Healthcare clothing used to be dark

The first nursing uniforms looked very different from the white uniforms that later became so recognizable. Nursing clothing was heavily influenced by the dress of religious orders and was often made in dark colors. The first professional nursing uniforms of the nineteenth century were also commonly gray, blue or dark in color.

Doctors, meanwhile, often wore black well into the nineteenth century. It suited the formal, serious image associated with the profession at the time.

That image only began to change in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Medical science developed rapidly and increasing attention was paid to bacteria, hygiene and antisepsis. White became the visual symbol of this new, cleaner and more scientific way of working.

From a color to a symbol of hygiene

White took on several meanings in healthcare. It stood for cleanliness, professionalism and order. Dirt was also easy to see on white clothing. A spotless white uniform therefore quite literally showed that attention was being paid to a neat and clean working environment.

For nurses, the uniform also played an important role in recognizability. It immediately showed patients who was part of the care team and helped the profession develop its own professional identity. Research into the history of nursing uniforms shows that factors such as professionalism, status, recognizability and hygiene all played a role in their development.

In this way, the white uniform gradually became one of the most recognizable symbols of healthcare.

But white does not automatically make something more hygienic

This is where an important distinction between symbol and practice comes in.

A white pair of trousers, coat or shoe is not automatically more hygienic than a blue or black version. For modern healthcare clothing, qualities such as cleanability, the materials used, changing garments regularly and following hygiene protocols ultimately matter much more than color itself.

You can see this in modern healthcare too. In many hospitals, the all-white uniform has been replaced by scrubs and workwear in all kinds of colors. From the 1960s and 1970s onward, green and blue scrubs became increasingly common, partly because they were more practical in medical environments and provided a more comfortable visual contrast than an entirely white setting.

Does white still have advantages?

Absolutely. White has lasted this long for a reason.

It looks clean and professional, is easy to combine and is still immediately associated with the medical world. Light-colored clothing also makes it easy to see when something is dirty and needs to be changed or cleaned.

But that does not mean every healthcare professional needs to dress head to toe in white today.

The emphasis has increasingly shifted away from one traditional look toward clothing that suits the work being done. Comfort, freedom of movement, safety and practical materials are at least as important during a long shift.

And that has created more room for color too.

More color in the workplace

Where an entire uniform used to be prescribed, many healthcare professionals now have more opportunities to express some of their own style. Shoes and socks are a good example.

A white healthcare sneaker remains a timeless choice and goes with almost anything. But why not wear navy, pink, green or black sneakers if your workplace allows it?

Color does not change how well you do your job. It can, however, make your work outfit more personal and make an often fairly neutral hospital environment feel a little less clinical.

From a white tradition to your own choice

White did not become the color of healthcare by accident. It emerged during a period when hygiene, science and professionalization were becoming increasingly important, and eventually grew into a globally recognized symbol.

But healthcare has changed. And healthcare clothing is changing with it.

At Clove, we combine the practical features you need during a long working day with a range of colors and styles. From classic white and black to bolder shades for anyone who wants to add a little more personality to their work outfit.

Whether you choose traditional white or prefer color, what matters most is that your shoes fit your working day.

Explore the full Clove collection and choose the healthcare sneaker that suits you.