FabricIQ
Reading the label…
Cotton
C
The most widely used natural fiber, grown from the cotton plant. Soft, breathable, and versatile but requires significant water to produce.
Material Score Breakdown
Material-quality rubric (6 axes), not a garment verdict — see disclosure below. Sustainability is a separate Eco score, shown apart.
65/100
DurabilityTypical60
How long the fabric lasts with regular use
ComfortAbove-average80
Softness, feel against skin, wearability
BreathabilityStrong85
Air flow and ventilation
WarmthWeak45
Heat retention and insulation
Moisture WickingWeak40
Ability to pull sweat away from skin
Care EaseAbove-average75
How easy it is to wash, dry, and maintain
Sustainability (separate Eco score)
SustainabilityWeak50
Environmental impact of production and disposal
Brands using cotton
8 brands have products in our catalog whose composition contains cotton. Sorted by how many garments they offer with this fiber.
Old Navy
180 products
Uniqlo
93 products
Banana Republic
85 products
Zara
82 products
J.Crew
42 products
Nike
33 products
Pact
29 products
Filson
29 products
Brand grade = average overall score across all of their products containing cotton.
Products with cotton
See all →Top-scored garments in our catalog whose composition contains cotton. Click through for the full quality + health + eco breakdown.
Mate the LabelB
Luxe Alpaca Half-Zip Sweater
50% Organic Cotton, 8% Merino, 50% Organic Cotton
$107
Mate the LabelB
Luxe Alpaca Ribbed Cardigan
50% Organic Cotton, 8% Merino, 50% Organic Cotton
$107
Mate the LabelB
Tencel Sleep Wide Leg Pant
70% Tencel, 30% Organic Cotton
$98
Universal WorksB
Blue Woolcot Bio Loose Cardigan II
53% Merino Wool, 47% Organic Cotton
$200
Mate the LabelB
Tencel Sleep Scoop Tank
70% Tencel, 30% Organic Cotton
$48
Mate the LabelB
Tencel Sleep Oversized Tee
70% Tencel, 30% Organic Cotton
$68
Mate the LabelB
Tencel Sleep Striped Oversized Tee
70% Tencel, 30% Organic Cotton
$68
Mate the LabelB
Tencel Sleep Button Down
70% Tencel, 30% Organic Cotton
$98
Taylor StitchB
The Hawthorne Shirt in Surf Green
59% Tencel, 22% Linen, 19% Organic Cotton
$95
Taylor StitchB
The Hawthorne Shirt in Asphalt
59% Tencel, 22% Linen, 19% Organic Cotton
$95
Banana RepublicB
The Everyday Wide-Leg Pant in Tencel™-Cotton
60% Tencel, 40% Organic Cotton
$80
RoarkB
Made To Fade Short Sleeve Button Up Shirt - Washed Slate
55% Organic Cotton, 45% Tencel
$69
What this score doesn't measure
This is a material rating, not a verdict on any specific garment made from cotton. The axes above are research-backed averages for the fiber itself.
- ×Construction. Yarn staple length, weave / knit structure, stitch count, finishing. Identical fiber, very different garments.
- ×Fabric weight (GSM). A 140 GSM tee and a 220 GSM tee made of the same cotton feel and last very differently.
- ×Dye + finishing chemicals. Beyond the three we flag (PFAS, formaldehyde, antimony), dozens of textile finishes aren't modelled.
Best For
👕Everyday Casual
ExcellentExcellent comfort (80) and easy care (75) for daily wear
👔Formal/Office
GoodGood durability (60) and comfort (80) for office wear
😴Sleepwear
GoodGood comfort (80) and breathability (85) for sleeping
🩲Underwear
GoodGood breathability (85) and comfort (80) for undergarments
Detailed Use Case Scores
everyday85
sleepwear85
underwear80
formal60
activewear40
Pros
- ✓ Very soft and comfortable
- ✓ Highly breathable
- ✓ Hypoallergenic
- ✓ Easy to dye and print
Cons
- ✗ Absorbs and retains moisture
- ✗ Wrinkles easily
- ✗ Can shrink in wash
- ✗ High water usage in production
Better alternatives
Higher-scored natural materials. Same category — what to consider instead.
VicuñaA
+27 vs Cotton · 92/100
BiodegradableThe rarest and most expensive animal fiber in the world, from the vicuña of the Andes. Finer than cashmere, incredibly soft, warm, and lightweight. A single coat yields only 250g of usable fiber every 2-3 years.
Merino WoolA
+21 vs Cotton · 86/100
BiodegradableUltra-fine wool from Merino sheep. Softer and less itchy than regular wool, with excellent temperature regulation and moisture management.
Sea Island CottonB
+17 vs Cotton · 82/100
BiodegradableExtra-long-staple cotton historically grown in the West Indies (Barbados, Jamaica) and Sea Islands of Georgia/South Carolina. Among the rarest commercial fibers on earth — staple length up to 2.5", silky hand feel, intense color saturation when dyed. Used in heritage luxury shirting and bespoke menswear.
Care Guide
Washwarm (40°C)
Cyclenormal
Detergentregular
BleachOxygen only
Drytumble medium
Ironmedium
Dry Cleanavoid
SoftenerOK
Special Notes
• Pre-wash to reduce shrinkage
Additional Care Tips
- • Machine wash warm (40°C/105°F) on normal cycle
- • Tumble dry on medium heat — remove promptly to reduce wrinkles
- • Iron on medium-high heat with steam
- • Whites can be bleached; wash colors separately
- • Pre-wash before first wear to reduce shrinkage
- • Store folded in drawers or on hangers — cotton is low-maintenance
Cost
$$$$$
Budget-friendly
Shrinkage
May shrink 2-5% — wash cold
Eco Rating
Moderate impact — consider eco alternatives