FabricIQ
Reading the label…
01Verdict
Strong across the board — well-made, safe to wear, and low planet cost.
Best for Daily wear, no caveats.
Material A · 86Health A · 100Eco · 75Label · high
Why this material grade?
This product scored 86/100 on the material-quality rubric (durability, comfort, breathability, warmth, moisture-wicking, care-ease), based on its composition of 100% Merino. Sustainability is scored separately as the Eco Rating.
A (85+): Premium material composition — strong across durability, comfort, and the other quality axes.
Premium quality
This is top-tier fabric — durable, comfortable, and well-suited for long-term wear. Even better: it's biodegradable.
Great fabric value
$72Better-than-typical fabric for this category, at a below-median price.
$0.84 per quality pointCategory median: $100 · grade C
Fabric value only — compares material quality to price vs other shirts. Construction, fit, and brand aren't measured.
02Breakdown
Composition
100% Merino
All-natural fiber
Added Jun 7, 2026 · Data last updated Jun 7, 2026
Sustainability is scored separately — see the Eco Rating below.
🐑
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.
03Network
Cost per wear
rough estimate72¢/wear · 100 expected wears
Reasonable cost-per-wear
How we got there
Base for Shirts: 100 expected wears.
× 1.00 for Merino Wool (mid-durability fiber, durability 72).
= 100 expected wears. $72 ÷ 100 ≈ 72¢/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
flat dry
Iron
Best For
🏃Athletic Wear
ExcellentExcellent breathability (85) and moisture wicking (90) for active sports
🧥Winter Outerwear
ExcellentExcellent warmth (90) and durability (72) for cold weather
👔Formal/Office
ExcellentExcellent durability (72) and comfort (88) for office wear
😴Sleepwear
ExcellentExcellent comfort (88) and breathability (85) for sleeping
🩲Underwear
ExcellentExcellent breathability (85) and comfort (88) for undergarments
👕Everyday Casual
GoodGood comfort (88) and care ease (50) for casual wear
04Tradeoffs
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
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