Icebreaker — Unisex Merino Blend 125 Cool-Lite™ Long Sleeve Shirt

Icebreaker

Unisex Merino Blend 125 Cool-Lite™ Long Sleeve Shirt

ShirtsSKU: IB:0A579A:051:L::1:
B

82/100

Strong across the board — well-made, safe to wear, and low planet cost.

Daily wear, no caveats.

Material B · 82Health A · 100Eco · 81Label · high

Why this material grade?

This product scored 82/100 on the 7-axis material rubric, based on its composition of 60% Lyocell, 40% Merino Wool. Blended from 60% Lyocell, 40% Merino Wool — 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, eco-friendly

Solid fabric with strong environmental credentials. Lyocell (60%) is doing the heavy lifting. This is a smart buy.

Breakdown

Composition

60% Lyocell, 40% Merino Wool

All-natural fiber

Fabric details
eVent™
Care (from the label)
Machine wash coldDo not tumble dryIron lowDo not bleachDo not dry clean
🐑

Wool is naturally antibacterial and self-cleaning. You can air it out between wears instead of washing — it'll stay fresh.

🦄

This is a unicorn — high quality, eco-friendly, AND biodegradable. If it fits, keep it forever.

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Cost per wear

rough estimate
$2.15/wear · 100 expected wears

Investment piece — wear it

How we got there

Base for Shirts: 100 expected wears.

× 1.00 for Lyocell (mid-durability fiber, durability 68).

= 100 expected wears. $215 ÷ 100$2.15/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.

30°

Wash

cold (30°C)

Bleach

Do not bleach

Dry

flat dry

Iron

low

P

Dry Clean

recommended

Cycle: delicateDetergent: mildSoftener: No

Best For

🏃Athletic Wear
Excellent

Excellent breathability (83) and moisture wicking (77) for active sports

😴Sleepwear
Excellent

Excellent comfort (88) and breathability (83) for sleeping

🌱Sustainable Fashion
Excellent

Excellent sustainability (81) and biodegradable — great eco choice

🧥Winter Outerwear
Good

Good warmth (61) for cold weather

👕Everyday Casual
Good

Good comfort (88) and care ease (57) for casual wear

👔Formal/Office
Good

Good durability (68) and comfort (88) for office wear

🩲Underwear
Good

Good breathability (83) and comfort (88) for undergarments

🌧️Rain/Weather
Good

Good moisture wicking (77) and durability (68) for weather protection

⛰️Outdoor/Hiking
Good

Good durability (68) and breathability (83) for outdoor activities

Tradeoffs

Health Impact

Microplastic shedding · skin-contact synthetic load · likely chemical treatments

A100/100

Low health impact — predominantly natural fibers with no major treatment flags.

MicroplasticsLOW

Minimal

Skin contactLOW

0% synthetic

ChemicalsLOW

No flags

Eco Rating

81/100

Strong environmental credentials

Learn about eco ratings →

Biodegradability

Biodegradable

Materials will naturally decompose.

Health & environmental impact →

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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