FabricIQ
Reading the label…
D
51/100
01Verdict
Safe to wear, but rough on the environment.
Best for Safe to wear; production isn't clean — donate when done.
Material D · 51Health B · 73Eco · 32Label · high
Why this material grade?
This product scored 51/100 on the material-quality rubric (durability, comfort, breathability, warmth, moisture-wicking, care-ease), based on its composition of 45% Cotton, 43% Acrylic, 8% Viscose. Sustainability is scored separately as the Eco Rating. Blended from 45% Cotton, 43% Acrylic, 8% Rayon — the score is a weighted average based on each material's proportion.
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.
Overpriced for the fabric
$123Below-typical fabric quality at an above-median price — you may be paying for the label, not the material.
$2.40 per quality point Category median: $89 · grade C
Fabric value only — compares material quality to price vs other shorts. Construction, fit, and brand aren't measured.
02Breakdown
Composition
45% Cotton, 43% Acrylic, 8% Viscose
Mixed blend — natural + synthetic
Added Apr 6, 2026 · Data last updated Apr 6, 2026
Sustainability is scored separately — see the Eco Rating below.
🚨
Acrylic sheds more microfibers than any other fabric — up to 730,000 per wash. It's the worst offender for microplastic pollution.
🌍
This fabric will take 200+ years to decompose. That means a shirt you buy today will still exist in the year 2226.
⚖️
Cotton (score 65) is carrying this blend. Acrylic (score 40) is pulling it down.
03Network
Cost per wear
rough estimate$1.46/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 49).
= 84 expected wears. $123 ÷ 84 ≈ $1.46/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
flat dry
Iron
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
B73/100
Moderate health impact — some synthetic content or possible chemical treatments. Rotate with natural-fiber alternatives where you can.
Microplastics MEDIUM
730,000 fibers/wash
Skin contact MODERATE
43% synthetic
Chemicals LOW
No flags
43% synthetic content (acrylic). Moderate microplastic shedding — a washing bag catches 86% of fibers.
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
