FabricIQ
Reading the label…
01Verdict
Well-made, but plastic on skin.
Best for Outerwear or layers — not for direct skin contact.
Material B · 71Health D · 47Eco · 64Label · moderate130 gsm
Why this material grade?
This product scored 71/100 on the material-quality rubric (durability, comfort, breathability, warmth, moisture-wicking, care-ease), based on its composition of 50% Alpaca, 50% Recycled Polyester. Sustainability is scored separately as the Eco Rating. Blended from 50% Alpaca, 50% Recycled 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. Follow the care guide to maximize lifespan.
Premium fabric, premium price
$399Better-than-typical fabric, but priced above the category median.
$5.62 per quality pointCategory median: $225 · grade C
Fabric value only — compares material quality to price vs other jackets. Construction, fit, and brand aren't measured.
02Breakdown
Composition
50% Alpaca, 50% Recycled Polyester
Blend — recycled synthetic + natural
Fabric details
eVent™✓ Certified B Corp✓ bluesign®4-Way StretchBonded
130 g/m²
Likely chemical finishes
⚠ Antimicrobial biocide · biocide
Stated on the product page — not lab-tested. Not medical advice.
Care (from the label)
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.
⚠️
Synthetic fabrics can contain BPA, which mimics estrogen. Studies have found BPA transferring to skin through sweat contact.
03Network
Performance
spec sheet- Fabric weight
- 130 g/m²
Mid-weight
Cost per wear
estimated$2.35/wear · 170 expected wears
Investment piece — wear it
How we got there
Base for Jackets: 200 expected wears.
× 0.85 for 130 g/m² (mid-weight).
× 1.00 for Alpaca (mid-durability fiber, durability 77).
= 170 expected wears. $399 ÷ 170 ≈ $2.35/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 (65) for office wear
🧥Winter Outerwear
GoodGood warmth (68) for cold weather
👕Everyday Casual
GoodGood comfort (65) and care ease (65) for casual wear
⛰️Outdoor/Hiking
GoodGood durability (77) and breathability (53) for outdoor activities
🌱Sustainable Fashion
GoodGood sustainability score (64)
Better Alternatives
Higher-rated jackets 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
D47/100
High health impact — significant synthetic content or likely chemical treatments. For frequent skin-contact wear, consider a natural-fiber alternative.
MicroplasticsMEDIUM
600,000 fibers/wash
Skin contactMODERATE
50% synthetic
ChemicalsHIGH
PFAS, Antimony, Biocide
- PFAS (likely): 50% synthetic outerwear is typically treated with PFAS-based DWR (durable water repellent) for water resistance.
- Antimony (trace): Recycled polyester carries reduced (but non-zero) antimony residue from upstream PET feedstock.
- Biocide (likely): "Antimicrobial biocide" stated on the product page — observed, not inferred.
Biodegradability
Not BiodegradableMaterials will persist in the environment for decades.
Label Confidence
MODERATELabel confidence moderate — one signal suggests the composition may be incomplete or under-verified.
- ⚠Recycled-fiber claim without explicit certification (GRS, RCS). Chain-of-custody for recycled materials is hard to verify without one.
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
