Cuyana — Alpaca Wool Sweater Dress
Cuyana

Alpaca Wool Sweater Dress

SweatersSKU: 20021859-054-00L
B

71/100

Safe to wear, but rough on the environment.

Safe to wear; production isn't clean — donate when done.

Material B · 71Health B · 78Eco · 55Label · high

Why this material grade?

This product scored 71/100 on the material-quality rubric (durability, comfort, breathability, warmth, moisture-wicking, care-ease), based on its composition of 48% Alpaca, 20% Wool, 30% Polyamide, 2% Elastane. Sustainability is scored separately as the Eco Rating. Blended from 48% Alpaca, 20% Wool, 30% Nylon, 2% Spandex — 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. The natural-synthetic blend offers durability with comfort. Follow the care guide to maximize lifespan.

Premium fabric, premium price

$298

Better-than-typical fabric, but priced above the category median.

$4.20 per quality pointCategory median: $125 · grade C

Fabric value only — compares material quality to price vs other sweaters. Construction, fit, and brand aren't measured.

Breakdown

Composition

48% Alpaca, 20% Wool, 30% Polyamide, 2% Elastane

Mostly natural with stretch

Fabric details
eVent™GRS
Care (from the label)
Hand washDry flatIron low

Added Jun 4, 2026 · Data last updated Jun 4, 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.

🧺

Dryer heat destroys spandex/elastane over time. Your leggings and stretchy clothes will last 2x longer if you skip the dryer.

Network

Cost per wear

rough estimate
$2.98/wear · 100 expected wears

Investment piece — wear it

How we got there

Base for Sweaters: 100 expected wears.

× 1.00 for Alpaca (mid-durability fiber, durability 76).

= 100 expected wears. $298 ÷ 100$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.

30°

Wash

cold (30°C)

Bleach

Do not bleach

Dry

flat dry

Iron

low

P

Dry Clean

recommended

Cycle: delicateDetergent: mildSoftener: No

Best For

👔Formal/Office
Excellent

Excellent durability (76) and comfort (70) for office wear

🏃Athletic Wear
Good

Good breathability (62) and moisture wicking (57) for light activity

🧥Winter Outerwear
Good

Good warmth (74) for cold weather

👕Everyday Casual
Good

Good comfort (70) and care ease (55) for casual wear

😴Sleepwear
Good

Good comfort (70) and breathability (62) for sleeping

⛰️Outdoor/Hiking
Good

Good durability (76) and breathability (62) for outdoor activities

Tradeoffs

Health Impact

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

B78/100

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

MicroplasticsMEDIUM

500,000 fibers/wash

Skin contactMODERATE

32% synthetic

ChemicalsLOW

No flags

Eco Rating

55/100

Moderate impact — consider eco alternatives

Learn about eco ratings →

Biodegradability

Not Biodegradable

Materials will persist in the environment for decades.

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.

Action

Keep exploring