Falls short on every axis — flimsy, synthetic-heavy, and rough on the environment.
↳ Skip if you have other options.
Why this material grade?
This product scored 48/100 on the 7-axis material rubric, based on its composition of 92% Polyester.
D (40-54): Below-average material composition — weak on durability or comfort.
Below average — consider alternatives
This fabric scores low on quality. It may pill, wear out quickly, or not feel great against skin. And when it does wear out, it'll sit in a landfill for decades. Look for higher-rated options.
Breakdown
Every wash of synthetic fabric releases up to 700,000 microplastic fibers into waterways. Use a Guppyfriend bag to catch them.
This fabric will take 200+ years to decompose. That means a shirt you buy today will still exist in the year 2226.
Synthetic fabrics can contain BPA, which mimics estrogen. Studies have found BPA transferring to skin through sweat contact.
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Cost per wear
rough estimateReasonable cost-per-wear
How we got there
Base for Jackets: 200 expected wears.
× 1.00 for Polyester (mid-durability fiber, durability 78).
= 200 expected wears. $199 ÷ 200 ≈ 100¢/wear.
Missing GSM — this is a category-level estimate, not garment-specific. Expect ±30% variance.
Real life is messier than a formula: how often you wash, how you wash, whether you wear it inside-out, dry on low — all of it shifts the number. This is the ceiling under reasonable care.
Care Guide
Decode symbols →Wash
warm (40°C)
Bleach
Do not bleach
Dry
tumble low
Iron
low
Dry Clean
avoid
Better Alternatives
Higher-rated jackets products — each card shows how much better this alt scores vs your current product.
The North Face
Men’s Apex Bionic 3 Hoodie
100% Recycled Polyester
Icebreaker
Men's Merino 260 Quantum Long Sleeve Zip Jacket
100% Merino Wool
Icebreaker
Men's Merino 260 Quantum Long Sleeve Zip Hoodie
100% Merino Wool
Icebreaker
Women's Merino 260 Quantum Long Sleeve Zip Hoodie
100% Merino Wool
Tradeoffs
Health Impact
Microplastic shedding · skin-contact synthetic load · likely chemical treatments
High health impact — significant synthetic content or likely chemical treatments. For frequent skin-contact wear, consider a natural-fiber alternative.
700,000 fibers/wash
92% synthetic
PFAS, Antimony
- PFAS (likely): 92% synthetic outerwear is typically treated with PFAS-based DWR (durable water repellent) for water resistance.
- Antimony (trace): Virgin polyester contains trace antimony from PET production. Recycled polyester reduces but does not eliminate it.
Biodegradability
Not BiodegradableMaterials will persist in the environment for decades.
Health & environmental impact →What this score doesn't measure
- ×Fiber grade. Staple length, micronaire, strength. "100% cotton" could be short-staple upland or long-staple Pima — same label, very different fabric.
- ×Yarn processing. Singles count, ply (single vs two-ply), spinning method (open-end vs ring-spun vs compact), mercerization. Invisible from any label.
- ×Knit / weave structure. Single jersey vs interlock, knit tightness. A loose knit pills; a tight knit lasts.
- ×Fabric weight (GSM). One construction signal among several — and high GSM can come from loose cheap yarn just as easily as from fine tight yarn. We have it for blank manufacturers, rarely for retail.
- ×Pre-shrink processing. Sanforized cotton shrinks ~1%; non-sanforized can shrink up to 10%. Not visible from the composition tag.
- ×Construction quality. Stitch density (SPI), seam types, collar geometry, manufacturing tolerances (AQL). These often matter more than the fiber itself.
- ×Specific chemical loads. Health Impact flags "likely PFAS / possible formaldehyde" from composition × category — we don't lab-test individual SKUs.
We rate the fabric, not the garment. Composition is the floor of what you're guaranteed to be getting — most shoppers don't have that.
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