FabricIQ
Reading the label…
01Verdict
Well-made, but rough on the environment.
Best for Buy once, keep for years to amortize the production hit.
Material B · 70Health C · 69Eco · 62Label · high
Why this material grade?
This product scored 70/100 on the material-quality rubric (durability, comfort, breathability, warmth, moisture-wicking, care-ease), based on its composition of 62% Cotton, 34% Tencel, 3% Elastane, 1% Elastane. Sustainability is scored separately as the Eco Rating. Blended from 62% Cotton, 34% Tencel, 3% Spandex, 1% Spandex — 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.
Great fabric value
$79Better-than-typical fabric for this category, at a below-median price.
$1.13 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
62% Cotton, 34% Tencel, 3% Elastane, 1% Elastane
Mostly natural with stretch
Fabric details
eVent™
Likely chemical finishes
⚠ Antimicrobial biocide · biocide
Stated on the product page — not lab-tested. Not medical advice.
Care (from the label)
Machine wash coldTumble dry low
Sustainability is scored separately — see the Eco Rating below.
🌍
This fabric will take 200+ years to decompose. That means a shirt you buy today will still exist in the year 2226.
🧺
Dryer heat destroys spandex/elastane over time. Your leggings and stretchy clothes will last 2x longer if you skip the dryer.
⚖️
Tencel (score 82) is carrying this blend. Spandex (score 55) is pulling it down.
03Network
Cost per wear
rough estimate94¢/wear · 84 expected wears
Reasonable cost-per-wear
How we got there
Base for Shorts: 120 expected wears.
× 0.70 for Cotton (low-durability fiber, durability 63).
= 84 expected wears. $79 ÷ 84 ≈ 94¢/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 symbolsWash
cold (30°C)
Bleach
Do not bleach
Dry
line dry
Iron
Best For
👕Everyday Casual
ExcellentExcellent comfort (83) and easy care (70) for daily wear
🏃Athletic Wear
GoodGood breathability (82) and moisture wicking (51) for light activity
👔Formal/Office
GoodGood durability (63) and comfort (83) for office wear
😴Sleepwear
GoodGood comfort (83) and breathability (82) for sleeping
🩲Underwear
GoodGood breathability (82) and comfort (83) for undergarments
🌱Sustainable Fashion
GoodGood sustainability score (62)
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
C69/100
Moderate health impact — some synthetic content or possible chemical treatments. Rotate with natural-fiber alternatives where you can.
MicroplasticsLOW
Very low
Skin contactLOW
4% synthetic
ChemicalsHIGH
Biocide
- Biocide (likely): "Antimicrobial biocide" 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
