FabricIQ
Reading the label…
01Verdict
Safe to wear, but rough on the environment.
Best for Safe to wear; production isn't clean — donate when done.
Material D · 53Health C · 56Eco · 27Label · high
Why this material grade?
This product scored 53/100 on the material-quality rubric (durability, comfort, breathability, warmth, moisture-wicking, care-ease), based on its composition of 52% Polyester, 48% Rayon. Sustainability is scored separately as the Eco Rating. Blended from 52% Polyester, 48% 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
$250Below-typical fabric quality at an above-median price — you may be paying for the label, not the material.
$4.72 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
52% Polyester, 48% Rayon
Plastic-based — sheds microplastics in wash
Added Apr 7, 2026 · Data last updated Apr 7, 2026
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
Cost per wear
rough estimate$2.98/wear · 84 expected wears
Investment piece — wear it
How we got there
Base for Shorts: 120 expected wears.
× 0.70 for Polyester (low-durability fiber, durability 61).
= 84 expected wears. $250 ÷ 84 ≈ $2.98/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
GoodGood comfort (61) and care ease (64) for casual wear
👔Formal/Office
GoodGood durability (61) and comfort (61) for office wear
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
C56/100
Moderate health impact — some synthetic content or possible chemical treatments. Rotate with natural-fiber alternatives where you can.
Microplastics HIGH
700,000 fibers/wash
Skin contact MODERATE
52% synthetic
Chemicals LOW
Antimony
- Antimony (trace): Virgin polyester contains trace antimony from PET production. Recycled polyester reduces but does not eliminate it.
52% synthetic (primarily polyester). High microplastic shedding risk. Every wash releases hundreds of thousands of plastic fibers into waterways.
$250 for a fabric that's 52% synthetic (plastic-based).
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
