Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlotte Lowery.
Hi Charlotte, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up, I was always drawn to creativity. Art, colour, and self-expression were things I naturally gravitated towards, although I never imagined they would eventually become part of my career path. I moved from Bath in the UK to Australia around six years ago, and during that time I experienced significant life changes and challenges that shaped my perspective and ultimately influenced the direction of my future.
Alongside working in healthcare as a Patient Care Assistant in Perth, I developed a strong interest in colour psychology and completed studies in art therapy. Through healthcare work, I began seeing the emotional side of patient care in a way I had not fully understood before. I witnessed the stress healthcare workers carried, the emotions experienced by patients and families, and how small things could shift the atmosphere around people. I also noticed how colour could affect mood and energy within healthcare environments.
Around the same time, during COVID, I unexpectedly found myself on a very different path. Like many people, I experienced uncertainty and periods of isolation, and creativity became something that helped me mentally reset. I began creating artwork and surface pattern designs as a way of processing emotions and reconnecting with myself. What started as a personal outlet slowly evolved into something much larger.
One day I saw someone wearing colourful scrubs at work and had the thought: what if I created my own? I designed a print and placed it onto scrubs, combining my love of art with my healthcare experiences. I quickly realised there was an opportunity to create something that felt different from traditional uniforms. Rather than simply making scrubs, I wanted to create products that brought colour, positivity, and self-expression into healthcare spaces.
That idea became Soulful Scrubs.
Over the past three years, I have built Soulful Scrubs while continuing to work part-time in healthcare. As a sole founder, I have independently managed design, manufacturing coordination, marketing, inventory, customer relationships, and business growth. The business has now grown into a recognised Australian brand with customers across Australia and internationally, alongside growing wholesale opportunities.
At the same time, my design journey also evolved into Charlotte Designs, where I create surface pattern artwork and designs for products and licensing opportunities.
Today, both businesses are connected by a shared purpose: using colour, creativity, and thoughtful design to positively impact people. What began as artwork created from feeling eventually became a business journey focused on wellbeing, self-expression, and helping bring small moments of positivity into people’s lives.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the biggest challenges I faced was starting a business during a period of significant uncertainty in my own life. After moving from the UK to Australia, I experienced the challenges that come with living far from home and adapting to a completely new chapter. At the same time, I was working in healthcare while navigating personal stresses and periods where my mental health was not at its strongest.
COVID added another layer of uncertainty. Like many people, I experienced moments of isolation and questioning what direction my life was heading in. Healthcare itself can also be emotionally demanding, and working closely with patients and families exposed me to experiences that stay with you long after shifts end. Balancing those emotional demands alongside personal challenges sometimes felt overwhelming.
During this time, creativity unexpectedly became something that helped me reset. Art and design gave me an outlet to process emotions and reconnect with myself. What began as creating artwork from feeling slowly turned into something much bigger.
Another major challenge was building a business completely from scratch without experience in manufacturing, production, or entrepreneurship. I had to independently learn every stage through trial and error: design, supplier communication, inventory management, marketing, photography, social media, and business strategy. There were setbacks, financial pressures, mistakes, and periods of self-doubt along the way.
Building Soulful Scrubs while continuing to work in healthcare required resilience and balance. Over time, I realised that challenges were not something separate from the business journey; many of them became the reason it exists. The experiences that once felt difficult eventually shaped the purpose behind both Soulful Scrubs and Charlotte Designs: creating positivity, encouraging self-expression, and helping bring moments of light into people’s lives.
I think one of the biggest lessons I learned was that purpose does not always appear in a straight line. Sometimes difficult experiences shape strengths you never expected to develop.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I work as a healthcare worker and founder of Soulful Scrubs and Charlotte Designs, combining creativity with healthcare experiences to create positive impact through colour and design. I specialise in vibrant surface pattern design and developing products that promote self-expression, wellbeing, and positivity within healthcare environments.
I’m known for bringing a different perspective to healthcare by looking at uniforms and environments through a creative and psychological lens. Rather than seeing scrubs as just a uniform, I see them as part of a person’s experience and emotional environment.
What I’m most proud of is building a brand with purpose while continuing to work in healthcare. Soulful Scrubs has become more than a product business; it has become a platform that encourages conversations around wellbeing, boundaries, and supporting healthcare workers.
What sets me apart is the combination of lived healthcare experience and creative thinking. I create from both experience and feeling, using colour and design not only for aesthetics, but as a way to bring positivity into people’s lives.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Bringing colour and positivity to the people around me genuinely makes me happy. Seeing people smile, especially within difficult environments, reminds me how powerful small moments can be. Whether it’s a patient lighting up after feeling down, a healthcare worker messaging me to say thank you for brightening their workplace, or hearing that my designs made someone’s day a little better, those moments stay with me.
I also love seeing people reconnect with or continue using their own creativity. Creativity helped me through difficult periods in my own life, so seeing others make space for art, music, dance, self-expression, or things that bring them joy is incredibly meaningful to me.
One of the most rewarding parts has been seeing my artwork and ideas reach people across the world. Something that started from creativity and personal experiences has grown into something that connects with others. Knowing that colour, design, and self-expression can create moments of comfort, positivity, and connection is something I’m incredibly proud of.
That’s what makes me happy — seeing people feel a little lighter, a little brighter, and a little more seen.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.soulfulscrubs.com.au
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulfulscrubs_/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-lowery-9b8009179/
