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 B · 70Health B · 78Eco · 67Label · moderate
Why this material grade?
This product scored 70/100 on the material-quality rubric (durability, comfort, breathability, warmth, moisture-wicking, care-ease), based on its composition of 75% Organic Cotton, 25% Polyamide. Sustainability is scored separately as the Eco Rating. Blended from 75% Organic Cotton, 25% Nylon — 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.
Great fabric value
$59Better-than-typical fabric for this category, at a below-median price.
$0.84 per quality point Category median: $88 · grade C
Fabric value only — compares material quality to price vs other shorts. Construction, fit, and brand aren't measured.
02Breakdown
Composition
75% Organic Cotton, 25% Polyamide
Mixed blend — natural + synthetic
Care (from the label)
Machine wash coldTumble dry lowIron mediumDo not bleach
Added Jun 10, 2026 · Data last updated Jun 10, 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.
03Network
Cost per wear
rough estimate49¢/wear · 120 expected wears
Strong cost-per-wear
How we got there
Base for Shorts: 120 expected wears.
× 1.00 for Organic Cotton (mid-durability fiber, durability 68).
= 120 expected wears. $59 ÷ 120 ≈ 49¢/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
warm (40°C)
Bleach
Do not bleach
Dry
tumble low
Best For
👕Everyday Casual
GoodGood comfort (73) and care ease (78) for casual wear
👔Formal/Office
GoodGood durability (68) and comfort (73) for office wear
😴Sleepwear
GoodGood comfort (73) and breathability (73) for sleeping
🩲Underwear
GoodGood breathability (73) and comfort (73) for undergarments
⛰️Outdoor/Hiking
GoodGood durability (68) and breathability (73) for outdoor activities
🌱Sustainable Fashion
GoodGood sustainability score (67)
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
B78/100
Low health impact — predominantly natural fibers with no major treatment flags.
Microplastics MEDIUM
500,000 fibers/wash
Skin contact MODERATE
25% synthetic
Chemicals LOW
No flags
Biodegradability
Not BiodegradableMaterials will persist in the environment for decades.
Label Confidence
MODERATELabel confidence moderate — one signal suggests the composition may be incomplete or under-verified.
- ⚠Organic cotton claim without explicit certification (GOTS, OCS). Check brand's certification disclosures separately.
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
