FIGS

FIGS is an American apparel company focused on medical uniforms and related clothing for healthcare professionals. Founded in Los Angeles in 2013 by Heather Hasson and Trina Spear, the company was created around the idea that healthcare workers lacked a purpose-built apparel brand comparable to the athletic-clothing companies serving athletes. Hasson developed the initial business concept after observing the limited fit, function, and design of conventional medical scrubs, while Spear, then working in finance, helped develop the commercial model. The founders began with their personal savings and initially sold products directly to healthcare workers in hospital parking lots. This early approach gave FIGS direct feedback from nurses, physicians, and other medical staff and helped shape the company's emphasis on fit, comfort, durable materials, practical pocketing, and contemporary design. The company raised a $2 million seed round in 2013, followed by additional financing in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, Campfire, a venture fund backed by Lululemon, led a $5 million Series A round. In 2017, investor Thomas Tull made a $65 million investment and became the company's majority owner at that time. Other reported investors included Will Smith, Irving Place Capital, former Lululemon chief executive Christine Day, and Mohr Davidow Ventures. FIGS operates primarily through a direct-to-consumer model. Its core offering consists of scrub tops, scrub pants, underscrubs, and coordinated medical apparel. The company also sells lab coats, activewear, loungewear, footwear, compression socks, masks, and other accessories. Its fabrics have been marketed around features such as four-way stretch, odor resistance, and functional storage. By 2023, products outside the traditional scrub category, including lab coats, activewear, loungewear, footwear, and compression socks, represented approximately one-fifth of company revenue according to the cited reference material. The company expanded its physical and geographic presence while retaining an online-led model. It opened a Los Angeles pop-up shop in 2019 and expanded sales into the United Kingdom and Australia during the COVID-19 period. During 2020, FIGS added face masks and other protective products, while its reported revenue reached $263 million, approximately double the prior year, and reported profit approached $50 million. These figures relate specifically to 2020 and should not be treated as current financial results. FIGS completed its initial public offering in May 2021. On May 27, 2021, it began trading on the New York Stock Exchange and was described in the cited material as the first company led by two female co-founders to trade on that exchange. The company also provided retail investors with access to purchase shares before the official public sale, an unusual feature for a U.S. IPO at the time. Beyond commerce, FIGS has presented itself as a mission-oriented company serving the global healthcare community. Its Threads for Threads program donates medical uniforms to healthcare workers in countries with limited access to suitable apparel. By 2019, the program was reported to have distributed more than 500,000 sets of scrubs across more than 35 countries. During the early COVID-19 response, FIGS donated scrubs to Bellevue and Mount Sinai hospitals in New York, distributed care packages to healthcare workers, and contracted production of more than one million N95 masks for donation to hospitals and medical professionals. The brand's positioning combines technical performance, fashion-oriented design, professional identity, and direct engagement with healthcare workers. Its growth has also exposed it to scrutiny. In 2020, a promotional video was criticized as sexist and disrespectful toward female and osteopathic physicians because of its imagery and use of a medical terminology book. FIGS removed the video, apologized, announced plans to use outside consultants for future creative work, later partnered with the American Osteopathic Association, and pledged $100,000 to that organization. In a separate legal matter, a California jury rejected a competitor's claims against FIGS in November 2022 after nearly four years of litigation, finding the claims concerning false advertising and misleading business practices not valid.

FIGS was established in Los Angeles in 2013 by Heather Hasson and Trina Spear. Hasson identified an opportunity in healthcare apparel: athletic brands had developed technically engineered and visually distinctive products for athletes, but medical professionals were generally served by standardized uniforms with limited attention to fit, comfort, or style. Spear brought financial and business experience from Wall Street, and the founders developed a brand intended specifically for healthcare workers. The company began with the founders' personal savings. Rather than relying immediately on conventional retail distribution, Hasson and Spear sold early products directly from hospital parking lots and used conversations with medical staff to refine the garments. This direct feedback model became an important part of FIGS's identity and supported a direct-to-consumer approach. The company raised $2 million in seed financing in 2013, then secured a further $3 million across 2014 and 2015. In 2016, Campfire, a venture capital fund backed by Lululemon, led a $5 million Series A financing. In 2017, Thomas Tull invested $65 million and became FIGS's majority owner at that point. Other reported backers included Will Smith, Irving Place Capital, former Lululemon chief executive Christine Day, and Mohr Davidow Ventures. By 2018, the company was reported to have raised $75 million in total funding. That year, Inc. recognized FIGS as one of the fastest-growing companies in the United States, citing a three-year growth rate of 9,948 percent. The company was also selected for the Endeavor network in December 2015, giving it access to an entrepreneurial mentorship and support organization. FIGS expanded beyond online sales in 2019 with a Los Angeles pop-up shop. Its core business remained medical apparel, particularly scrub tops, scrub pants, and underscrubs. The garments were designed around practical requirements such as stretch, odor resistance, and storage, while using a more fashion-conscious silhouette than many traditional medical uniforms. The company also broadened its assortment to include lab coats, activewear, loungewear, footwear, compression socks, and other products associated with the working and personal lives of healthcare professionals. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated both product and charitable activity. FIGS introduced face masks, expanded sales into the United Kingdom and Australia, donated 30,000 sets of scrubs to Bellevue and Mount Sinai hospitals in New York, and sent recurring care packages to healthcare workers. It also contracted the production of more than one million N95 masks for donation to hospitals and medical professionals. The company reported that its 2020 revenue reached $263 million, approximately twice the previous year's level, while profit was close to $50 million; these are historical figures for that year. FIGS pursued public-market financing in 2021. It filed for an initial public offering in May and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on May 27. The company was described as the first led by two female co-founders to trade on the NYSE. It also offered retail investors early access to shares before the formal public sale. Following the listing, FIGS remained identified with Hasson and Spear's co-chief executive leadership structure. The company has also promoted a social-impact dimension through Threads for Threads, a program that provides medical uniforms to healthcare workers in places with limited access to appropriate apparel. By 2019, the initiative was reported to have donated more than 500,000 sets of scrubs in over 35 countries. Brand marketing produced a significant reputational controversy in 2020. A video showed a female osteopathic physician in neon pink scrubs holding an upside-down copy of a medical terminology book, followed by a close view of a blank badge marked with the letters DO. Physicians criticized the portrayal as sexist and dismissive of osteopathic professionals. FIGS removed the video and apologized, saying it would seek expert advice for future creative work. It subsequently partnered with the American Osteopathic Association and pledged $100,000 to the organization. FIGS also faced a competitor's lawsuit alleging false advertising and misleading business practices. In November 2022, after almost four years of litigation, a California jury rejected the claims as not valid. By 2023, the company had continued developing non-scrub categories, which together represented approximately 20 percent of revenue according to the cited reference material. Its overall strategy remained centered on a specialized, digitally distributed apparel platform for healthcare professionals.

• 2023

  Non-scrub categories become a larger revenue contributor

  [1]FIGS (company)en.wikipedia.org

  Non-scrub products are reported to account for approximately 20 percent of company revenue.

• 2022

  Competitor litigation concludes

  [1]FIGS (company)en.wikipedia.org

  A California jury rejects a competitor's claims concerning alleged false advertising and misleading business practices.

• 2021

  Initial public offering

  [1]FIGS (company)en.wikipedia.org

  FIGS begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange on May 27, 2021, under the ticker FIGS.

• 2020

  Pandemic response and international expansion

  [1]FIGS (company)en.wikipedia.org

  FIGS adds masks, expands sales into Australia and the United Kingdom, and increases donations of scrubs and protective equipment.

• 2019

  First reported Los Angeles pop-up shop

  [1]FIGS (company)en.wikipedia.org

  FIGS opens a pop-up retail location in Los Angeles while continuing to operate primarily through online sales.

• 2017

  Thomas Tull makes a major investment

  [1]FIGS (company)en.wikipedia.org

  Thomas Tull invests a reported $65 million and becomes the company's majority owner at that time.

• 2016

  Series A financing

  [1]FIGS (company)en.wikipedia.org

  Campfire leads a reported $5 million Series A financing round.

• 2015

  FIGS joins the Endeavor network

  [1]FIGS (company)en.wikipedia.org

  FIGS is selected for the Endeavor network, an entrepreneurial support and mentorship organization.

• 2013

  FIGS is founded

  [1]FIGS (company)en.wikipedia.org

  Heather Hasson and Trina Spear establish FIGS in Los Angeles and begin developing fitted, performance-oriented medical uniforms.

• 2013

  Seed financing is raised

  [1]FIGS (company)en.wikipedia.org

  The company raises a reported $2 million seed round to support inventory and early growth.

A premium, design-led, direct-to-consumer medical-apparel brand built around the comfort, functionality, identity, and professional needs of healthcare workers.

• Medical apparel · 2013

  Medical scrubs

  FIGS's central product category consists of coordinated scrub tops and scrub pants designed for nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals. The garments are positioned as alternatives to conventional medical uniforms, combining a more fitted and contemporary appearance with practical workplace features. The cited material describes proprietary fabric characteristics including four-way stretch, odor resistance, and functional pockets.

• Medical apparel

  Underscrubs

  Underscrubs are base-layer garments intended to be worn beneath scrub tops or other medical uniforms. They extend FIGS's apparel system beyond the outer uniform and support layering, comfort, and temperature management during long healthcare shifts. The category fits the company's broader strategy of serving professional and everyday clothing needs within the healthcare community.

• Medical apparel

  Lab coats

  Lab coats are one of FIGS's principal extensions beyond traditional scrubs. They provide a more formal professional layer for physicians, researchers, and other healthcare or laboratory personnel while retaining the brand's emphasis on modern design and functional use. Lab coats were among the non-scrub categories identified as contributing to the company's revenue by 2023.

• Lifestyle apparel

  Activewear and loungewear

  FIGS's activewear and loungewear broaden the brand from work uniforms into clothing for movement, commuting, rest, and life outside the clinical setting. These lines support the company's effort to become a wider apparel platform for healthcare professionals rather than a single-category scrub supplier. Both categories were reported among the non-scrub products contributing to revenue.

• Healthcare accessories

  Footwear and compression socks

  Footwear and compression socks address practical needs associated with long periods of standing and walking in clinical environments. They complement the core uniform assortment and allow FIGS to build a more complete head-to-toe offering for healthcare workers. The cited material identifies both categories as part of the company's non-scrub product portfolio.

• Protective apparel · 2020

  Face masks and protective equipment

  During the COVID-19 pandemic, FIGS added face masks and arranged production of more than one million N95 masks for donation. These products represented an emergency-response extension of the company's healthcare-oriented apparel capabilities and charitable activities rather than its original core assortment.

• 2020

  Promotional video criticized as sexist

  FIGS faced widespread criticism over a video showing a female osteopathic physician holding an upside-down medical terminology book. Critics argued that the imagery demeaned women physicians and osteopathic practitioners. The company removed the video, apologized, and said it would consult subject-matter experts on future campaigns.

  Source

Read more

• 2020COVID-19 healthcare support

  United States

  FIGS donated scrubs to Bellevue and Mount Sinai hospitals, sent recurring care packages to healthcare workers, and arranged production of N95 masks for donation during the early pandemic response.

  Outcome. The response expanded FIGS's charitable role during a period of acute shortages of medical clothing and protective equipment.

  Source
• 2020Criticized osteopathic physician promotional video

  United States

  A promotional video depicted a female osteopathic physician in pink scrubs holding an upside-down medical terminology book and included a close-up of a badge marked DO. Physicians criticized the execution as sexist and dismissive of osteopathic professionals.

  Outcome. FIGS removed the video and apologized, later announcing a partnership with the American Osteopathic Association and a $100,000 pledge.

  Source
• 2013Hospital parking-lot direct selling

  United States

  The founders sold early FIGS products directly near hospitals, using conversations with healthcare staff to collect product feedback and refine the initial assortment.

  Outcome. The approach helped establish a healthcare-worker-centered product development and direct-to-consumer model.

  Source
• 2013Threads for Threads

  International

  FIGS created Threads for Threads to donate medical uniforms to healthcare workers in countries with limited access to suitable professional apparel.

  Outcome. By 2019, the initiative was reported to have distributed more than 500,000 sets of scrubs in over 35 countries.

  Source

• 2022

  Defend against competitor advertising lawsuitOther

  Background

  A competitor alleged that FIGS had engaged in false advertising and misleading business practices in litigation lasting nearly four years.

  Action taken

  FIGS defended the claims through trial in California.

  Aftermath

  A California jury rejected the claims in November 2022, finding them not valid.

  Source

• 2021

  Complete initial public offeringOther

  Background

  After several rounds of private financing and rapid growth, FIGS sought access to public-market capital.

  Action taken

  FIGS filed for an IPO and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on May 27, 2021, under the symbol FIGS.

  Aftermath

  The company became a publicly traded apparel business while retaining its co-founder-led executive structure.

  Source

• 2020

  Add masks and protective equipmentProduct launch

  Background

  The COVID-19 pandemic created urgent demand for masks and protective supplies among healthcare workers.

  Action taken

  FIGS added face masks and arranged production of more than one million N95 masks for donation to hospitals and medical professionals.

  Aftermath

  The move extended the company's healthcare-focused product and charitable response during the pandemic.

  Source

• 2020

  Expand sales to Australia and the United KingdomStrategy

  Background

  FIGS used the pandemic period to expand its international customer reach while maintaining an online-led distribution model.

  Action taken

  The company added sales coverage in Australia and the United Kingdom.

  Aftermath

  The brand broadened its market footprint beyond the United States.

  Source

• 2023

  FIGS expands its product range beyond traditional scrubs[1]FIGS (company)en.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  Non-scrub categories such as lab coats, activewear, loungewear, footwear, and compression socks were reported to account for approximately 20 percent of company revenue.

• 2022

  California jury rejects competitor's claims against FIGS[1]FIGS (company)en.wikipedia.org

  Lawsuit

  A California jury rejected claims alleging false advertising and misleading business practices after nearly four years of litigation.

• 2021

  FIGS completes New York Stock Exchange initial public offering[1]FIGS (company)en.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Other

  FIGS began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on May 27, 2021, after filing for an initial public offering.

• 2020

  FIGS adds masks and expands international sales during the pandemic[1]FIGS (company)en.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  FIGS added face masks to its assortment during the COVID-19 pandemic and expanded sales into Australia and the United Kingdom.

1. 1FIGS (company)en.wikipedia.org