Kara

What Kara does

Kara is a UK-based e-commerce retailer of medical uniforms and premium scrubs, operating as the trading name of Interweave Textiles Ltd and headquartered in Huddersfield. Founded in 2016 with an employee base of 11-50, the company sells workwear directly to health and wellness professionals across seven verticals: dental, medical, veterinary, aesthetics, physiotherapy, beauticians, and dog grooming. It serves both individual practitioners and team/group buyers such as clinics, practices, and NHS hospitals.

The product offering is a multi-brand portfolio sold through a single direct-to-consumer storefront (karagroup.co.uk). It combines an in-house brand, Kara Edit, which features proprietary water- and pet-hair-resistant fabric and UK-designed boutique styling, with exclusively distributed US brands including Wink (Kara is the exclusive UK stockist), WonderWink and its sub-lines (WonderWORK, WonderFLEX, WonderTECH, WonderWink HP), Jaanuu, and the budget NHS Essentials range. The catalogue spans scrub tops, trousers, suits, maternity scrubs, jackets, lab coats, caps, and accessories, with over 110 product results in the scrub suits category. Differentiated commerce features include the Scrub Builder configuration tool (mix-and-match custom sets), Sample Packs for trial, and a dedicated Team Orders service. The parent entity holds ISO 9001 certification and LSAS Level 2 accreditation.

The business model is transactional retail: one-time product purchases with no recurring or subscription component, priced via unit pricing tiered from a budget range (scrub caps from ~£5.94) through mid-range brands (~£19-£37) to premium lines (~£27-£56), plus VAT. Go-to-market is digital direct-to-consumer, supported by organic social, email/newsletter marketing, content/blog, a refer-a-friend scheme (£20 credit), and a loyalty Reward Points program. Commercial mechanics include group/volume discounts for team orders, sample packs to drive trial, free delivery over £75 ex. VAT, and 48-hour dispatch on stocked items. Operations are confined to the UK domestic market with no physical retail or third-party distribution referenced.

Name

Kara

Legal name

Interweave Textiles Ltd

Website

https://karagroup.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kara is a UK direct-to-consumer e-commerce retailer of medical uniforms and premium scrubs, serving dental, medical, veterinary, aesthetics, physiotherapy, beauty, and dog-grooming professionals through an in-house brand and exclusively distributed US scrub brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Huddersfield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Revenue model

1. Retail Product Sales: Direct e-commerce sales of scrubs, uniforms, and workwear to individual professionals and teams. Revenue is generated through one-time product purchases with no recurring subscription component. Group discounts are offered for team orders.
2. Sample Pack Sales: Sale of sample packs (e.g., NHS Basics Sample Pack at £37.50) enabling professionals to try fabrics and styles before committing to bulk orders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kara is a UK-based direct-to-consumer e-commerce retailer of premium medical uniforms and scrubs, selling an exclusive multi-brand assortment to healthcare and wellness professionals. The company distributes its own in-house brand Kara Edit alongside US brands such as Wink, WonderWink, WonderWORK, WonderFLEX, WonderTECH, W123, and Jaanuu, plus an NHS Essentials budget range. Products include scrub tops, scrub trousers, maternity scrubs, scrub jackets, caps, and accessories, supported by a Scrub Builder customisation tool, Sample Packs for trial, and Team Orders with volume discounts.

Product overview

Kara is a UK-based retailer and exclusive supplier of medical uniforms and premium scrubs, operating a multi-brand portfolio across a unified e-commerce platform. The offering comprises in-house brand Kara Edit (water/hair resistant, UK-designed with boutique styling) alongside exclusively distributed brands including Wink (USA, widest colour range), WonderWink/WonderWORK/WonderFLEX/WonderTECH (performance scrub lines), W123 (4-way stretch, fade-proof), Jaanuu (USA fashion-forward), and NHS Essentials (budget range). Product portfolio spans scrub tops, scrub trousers, maternity scrubs, scrub jackets, scrub caps, and accessories. Services include Scrub Builder (customisation tool), Sample Packs (try before buy), and Team Orders (bulk discounts). Serving dental, medical, veterinary, beauty, aesthetics, physiotherapy, and dog grooming professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kara Edit: Premium women's scrubs collection designed for healthcare, beauty, and wellness professionals. Features water and hair resistant fabric with flattering cuts.

Products and services

• Kara Edit Kara's premium in-house brand of UK-designed scrubs featuring water and hair resistant fabric, boutique fashion styling with panelling and tapering to flatter body shapes, and styles such as the Amor Zip Top and Novus Asymmetric Top. Targeted at healthcare, beauty, and wellness professionals seeking premium workwear.
• Wink

Quantifiable outcome

• 48-hour dispatch available for stocked items
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WinkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWink is an established USA-based scrub brand. Kara is the exclusive UK stockist of Wink, distributing its full range of modern professional scrubs to the UK market. Wink is known for its wide colour range and is popular among healthcare and beauty professionals.
• WonderWinkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWonderWink is a US-based scrub brand carried by Kara. Products include the WonderWORK, WonderFLEX, WonderTECH, and WonderWink HP ranges, offering performance fabrics and professional styles.
• JaanuuminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJaanuu is a US fashion-forward medical apparel brand distributed by Kara in the UK. Known for modern styling and premium fabrics.
• Interweave Textiles LtdcoreOthersInterweave Textiles Ltd is the parent company of Kara, trading as Kara Group. It is the operating entity behind the Kara brand and holds ISO 9001 certification.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• FIGS: FIGS is the leading direct-to-consumer medical scrubs and apparel brand globally, selling premium, fashion-forward scrubs to healthcare professionals via its own e-commerce platform. Highly comparable to Kara's DTC scrubs model, target customer (medical professionals), and emphasis on style/premium positioning.
• Uniform Advantage: Uniform Advantage is a multi-brand online retailer of medical scrubs, uniforms, and healthcare apparel serving individual professionals and group practices. Closely comparable to Kara in product breadth, multi-brand portfolio strategy, team-order programs, and DTC e-commerce model.
• Pulse Uniform: Pulse Uniform is a UK-based online retailer of medical scrubs, tunics, and healthcare uniforms for the NHS and private healthcare. Direct geographic and channel competitor to Kara in the UK DTC healthcare apparel market.
• Blue Sky Scrubs: Blue Sky Scrubs is a DTC online retailer of premium medical scrubs and scrub caps, with a focus on comfort, style, and customisation. Comparable to Kara's DTC-first approach, premium positioning, and emphasis on scrub caps and women's styling.

Emerging players

• WonderWink: WonderWink is a US-based scrub brand whose WonderWORK/WonderFLEX/WonderTECH/HP lines Kara distributes exclusively in the UK. Comparable as a scrub brand competing for the same end customer; also a strategic supplier relationship.
• Healing Hands Scrubs: Healing Hands Scrubs is a US-based scrub brand carried through uniform retailers. Comparable to Kara Edit and other Kara-stocked brands on premium fabrics, women's fit, and fashion styling for healthcare professionals.
• Jaanuu: Jaanuu is a US fashion-forward medical apparel brand (founded by a physician) and a Kara distribution partner in the UK. Directly comparable as a premium scrubs brand targeting the same style-conscious healthcare professional, and operates its own DTC channel.
• Med Couture: Med Couture is a US scrub brand focused on fashion-forward medical apparel for women, distributed through specialty uniform retailers. Comparable to Kara's premium and women's-styling positioning in the scrub category.

Broad incumbents

• Cherokee Uniforms (Strategic Partners): Cherokee is one of the largest medical apparel brands globally, distributed across hospital systems, group purchasing organisations, and retailers. A broad incumbent with significant UK presence via hospital procurement channels, competing with Kara for institutional buyers.
• Dickies Medical Workwear: Dickies is a major industrial workwear brand with a substantial medical apparel line sold globally. Competes with Kara on durability and price in healthcare uniforms and serves many of the same group-practice and hospital buyers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/karagroupuk
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@kara-scrubs
• Facebookfacebook.com/karagroupuk
• Instagraminstagram.com/karauk_official
• Pinterestpinterest.co.uk/karagroupuk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kara-uk

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kara