FabricIQ
Reading the label…
B
72/100
01Verdict
Well-made, but plastic on skin.
Best for Outerwear or layers — not for direct skin contact.
Material B · 72Health D · 44Eco · 53Label · high165 gsm
Why this material grade?
This product scored 72/100 on the material-quality rubric (durability, comfort, breathability, warmth, moisture-wicking, care-ease), based on its composition of 60% Merino Wool, 40% Polyester. Sustainability is scored separately as the Eco Rating. Blended from 60% Merino Wool, 40% Polyester — the score is a weighted average based on each material's proportion.
B (70-84): Good material composition — above average across most axes.
Good quality
Well-balanced fabric that should serve you well. The natural-synthetic blend offers durability with comfort. Follow the care guide to maximize lifespan.
Premium fabric, premium price
$158Better-than-typical fabric, but priced above the category median.
$2.19 per quality pointCategory median: $88 · grade C
Fabric value only — compares material quality to price vs other shorts. Construction, fit, and brand aren't measured.
02Breakdown
Composition
60% Merino Wool, 40% Polyester
Mixed blend — natural + synthetic
Fabric details
eVent™✓ OEKO-TEX®✓ RWS
Pique construction · 165 g/m²
Likely chemical finishes
⚠ Easy-care resin · formaldehyde
Stated on the product page — not lab-tested. Not medical advice.
Care (from the label)
Machine wash coldDry flat
Sustainability is scored separately — see the Eco Rating below.
🔬
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.
🐑
Wool is naturally antibacterial and self-cleaning. You can air it out between wears instead of washing — it'll stay fresh.
03Network
Performance
spec sheet- Fabric weight
- 165 g/m²
- Construction
- Pique
Mid-weight
Textured knit — polo shirts
Cost per wear
estimated$1.55/wear · 102 expected wears
Reasonable cost-per-wear
How we got there
Base for Shorts: 120 expected wears.
× 0.85 for 165 g/m² (mid-weight).
× 1.00 for Merino Wool (mid-durability fiber, durability 77).
= 102 expected wears. $158 ÷ 102 ≈ $1.55/wear.
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 symbolsWash
cold (30°C)
Bleach
Do not bleach
Dry
flat dry
Iron
Best For
👔Formal/Office
ExcellentExcellent durability (77) and comfort (71) for office wear
🏃Athletic Wear
GoodGood breathability (63) and moisture wicking (76) for light activity
🧥Winter Outerwear
GoodGood warmth (70) for cold weather
👕Everyday Casual
GoodGood comfort (71) and care ease (66) for casual wear
😴Sleepwear
GoodGood comfort (71) and breathability (63) for sleeping
🌧️Rain/Weather
GoodGood moisture wicking (76) and durability (77) for weather protection
Better Alternatives
Higher-rated shorts products — each card shows how much better this alt scores vs your current product.
04Tradeoffs
Health Impact
Microplastic shedding · skin-contact synthetic load · likely chemical treatments
D44/100
High health impact — significant synthetic content or likely chemical treatments. For frequent skin-contact wear, consider a natural-fiber alternative.
MicroplasticsMEDIUM
700,000 fibers/wash
Skin contactMODERATE
40% synthetic
ChemicalsHIGH
Antimony, Formaldehyde
- Antimony (trace): Virgin polyester contains trace antimony from PET production. Recycled polyester reduces but does not eliminate it.
- Formaldehyde (likely): "Easy-care resin" stated on the product page — observed, not inferred.
Biodegradability
Not BiodegradableMaterials will persist in the environment for decades.
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.
05Action
