Safe to wear, but rough on the environment.
↳ Safe to wear; production isn't clean — donate when done.
Why this material grade?
This product scored 60/100 on the 7-axis material rubric, based on its composition of 62% Cotton, 38% Polyester. Blended from 62% Cotton, 38% Polyester — the score is a weighted average based on each material's proportion.
C (55-69): Average material composition — typical blend, reasonable for everyday wear.
Average quality, high synthetic content
Decent for everyday wear, but the synthetic content means microplastic shedding and it won't biodegrade. Consider natural alternatives for your next purchase.
Breakdown
Composition
62% Cotton, 38% Polyester
Mixed blend — natural + synthetic
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.
Network
Performance
spec sheet- Construction
- Fleece
- Fit
- Relaxed
Brushed knit — warm, soft
Cost per wear
rough estimateReasonable cost-per-wear
How we got there
Base for T-Shirts: 80 expected wears.
× 1.00 for Cotton (mid-durability fiber, durability 70).
= 80 expected wears. $120 ÷ 80 ≈ $1.50/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 symbols →Wash
warm (40°C)
Bleach
Do not bleach
Dry
tumble low
Iron
low
Dry Clean
avoid
Best For
Excellent durability (70) and comfort (67) for office wear
Good comfort (67) and care ease (81) for casual wear
Good durability (70) and breathability (64) for outdoor activities
Better Alternatives
Higher-rated t-shirts products — each card shows how much better this alt scores vs your current product.
Banana Republic
Merino Waffle-Knit Sweater Polo
100% Merino Wool
Mate the Label
Tencel Sleep Oversized Tee
70% Tencel, 30% Organic Cotton
Mate the Label
Tencel Sleep Oversized Tee
70% Tencel, 30% Organic Cotton
Lululemon
Love Tank Top
94% Pima Cotton, 6% Elastane
Tradeoffs
Health Impact
Microplastic shedding · skin-contact synthetic load · likely chemical treatments
Moderate health impact — some synthetic content or possible chemical treatments. Rotate with natural-fiber alternatives where you can.
700,000 fibers/wash
38% synthetic
Antimony
- Antimony (trace): Virgin polyester contains trace antimony from PET production. Recycled polyester reduces but does not eliminate it.
Biodegradability
Not BiodegradableMaterials will persist in the environment for decades.
Health & environmental impact →Label Confidence
MODERATELabel confidence moderate — one signal suggests the composition may be incomplete or under-verified.
- ⚠A 60/40 cotton/polyester t-shirt is often "Chief Value Cotton" — a cost-engineering blend using lower-grade upland cotton, chosen to land just above the cotton-majority US import-duty threshold (16.5% vs 32%). Marketing-as-performance frequently masks budget construction.
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.
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