FabricIQ
Reading the label…
B
75/100
01Verdict
Safe to wear, but rough on the environment.
Best for Safe to wear; production isn't clean — donate when done.
Material B · 75Health B · 77Eco · 69Label · high
Why this material grade?
This product scored 75/100 on the material-quality rubric (durability, comfort, breathability, warmth, moisture-wicking, care-ease), based on its composition of 72% Tencel, 28% Nylon. Sustainability is scored separately as the Eco Rating. Blended from 72% Tencel, 28% Nylon — 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.
Great fabric value
$163Better-than-typical fabric for this category, at a below-median price.
$2.17 per quality point Category median: $198 · grade C
Fabric value only — compares material quality to price vs other dresses. Construction, fit, and brand aren't measured.
02Breakdown
Composition
72% Tencel, 28% Nylon
Plastic-based — sheds microplastics in wash
Added Apr 6, 2026 · Data last updated Apr 6, 2026
Sustainability is scored separately — see the Eco Rating below.
⚠️
Synthetic fabrics can contain BPA, which mimics estrogen. Studies have found BPA transferring to skin through sweat contact.
🌍
This fabric will take 200+ years to decompose. That means a shirt you buy today will still exist in the year 2226.
⚖️
Tencel (score 82) is carrying this blend. Nylon (score 58) is pulling it down.
03Network
Cost per wear
rough estimate$3.25/wear · 50 expected wears
Investment piece — wear it
How we got there
Base for Dresses: 50 expected wears.
× 1.00 for Tencel (mid-durability fiber, durability 74).
= 50 expected wears. $163 ÷ 50 ≈ $3.25/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
👔Formal/Office
ExcellentExcellent durability (74) and comfort (79) for office wear
🏃Athletic Wear
GoodGood breathability (70) and moisture wicking (66) for light activity
👕Everyday Casual
GoodGood comfort (79) and care ease (67) for casual wear
😴Sleepwear
GoodGood comfort (79) and breathability (70) for sleeping
🩲Underwear
GoodGood breathability (70) and comfort (79) for undergarments
🌧️Rain/Weather
GoodGood moisture wicking (66) and durability (74) for weather protection
Better Alternatives
Higher-rated dresses 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
B77/100
Low health impact — predominantly natural fibers with no major treatment flags.
Microplastics MEDIUM
500,000 fibers/wash
Skin contact MODERATE
28% synthetic
Chemicals LOW
No flags
28% synthetic content (nylon). 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
