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 B · 72Health B · 70Eco · 75Label · high
Why this material grade?
This product scored 72/100 on the material-quality rubric (durability, comfort, breathability, warmth, moisture-wicking, care-ease), based on its composition of 55% Hemp, 45% Cotton. Sustainability is scored separately as the Eco Rating. Blended from 55% Hemp, 45% Cotton — 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. Hemp (55%) is doing the heavy lifting. This is a smart buy.
Premium fabric, premium price
$110Better-than-typical fabric, but priced above the category median.
$1.53 per quality point Category median: $89 · grade C
Fabric value only — compares material quality to price vs other shorts. Construction, fit, and brand aren't measured.
02Breakdown
Composition
55% Hemp, 45% Cotton
All-natural fiber
Fabric details
Twill construction
Likely chemical finishes
⚠ Antimicrobial biocide · biocide
Stated on the product page — not lab-tested. Not medical advice.
Added Apr 7, 2026 · Data last updated Jun 7, 2026
Sustainability is scored separately — see the Eco Rating below.
🌱
Cotton biodegrades in 1-5 months. When you're done with this, it returns to the earth — not the ocean.
🌿
Hemp requires 50% less water than cotton and needs no pesticides. It's one of the most sustainable fibers on the planet.
03Network
Performance
spec sheet- Construction
- Twill
Diagonal weave — durable, drapey
Cost per wear
rough estimate92¢/wear · 120 expected wears
Reasonable cost-per-wear
How we got there
Base for Shorts: 120 expected wears.
× 1.00 for Hemp (mid-durability fiber, durability 77).
= 120 expected wears. $110 ÷ 120 ≈ 92¢/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
Oxygen only
Dry
line dry
Best For
👔Formal/Office
ExcellentExcellent durability (77) and comfort (69) for office wear
👕Everyday Casual
GoodGood comfort (69) and care ease (64) for casual wear
⛰️Outdoor/Hiking
GoodGood durability (77) and breathability (82) for outdoor activities
🌱Sustainable Fashion
GoodGood sustainability score (75)
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
B70/100
Moderate health impact — some synthetic content or possible chemical treatments. Rotate with natural-fiber alternatives where you can.
Microplastics LOW
Minimal
Skin contact LOW
0% synthetic
Chemicals HIGH
Biocide
- Biocide (likely): "Antimicrobial biocide" stated on the product page — observed, not inferred.
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
