Understanding Our Ratings
Every material in FabricIQ is scored across 7 axes to give you a complete picture of quality, comfort, and sustainability.
Letter Grades
Each material gets an overall score from 0-100, which maps to a letter grade:
85-100
Excellent
70-84
Good
55-69
Average
40-54
Below Avg
0-39
Poor
The 7 Quality Axes
A single "quality" number doesn't tell you much. A winter jacket needs warmth, not breathability. Running gear needs moisture wicking, not warmth. That's why we rate every material across 7 independent axes:
How well does it hold up over time? Resistance to pilling, tearing, and wear. High-durability fabrics like nylon and polyester last years; delicate silks and cashmere need more care.
How does it feel against your skin? Softness, drape, and lack of irritation. Cotton and modal score high; raw wool and some synthetics can feel scratchy.
How well does air flow through? Critical for warm weather and active use. Linen and cotton breathe well; polyester and nylon trap heat.
How well does it insulate? Important for winter and layering. Wool, cashmere, and down excel; cotton and linen provide little warmth.
How well does it pull sweat away from your body? Essential for athletic wear. Merino wool and technical polyester lead; cotton absorbs and holds moisture.
Environmental impact across the lifecycle — production, use, and disposal. Organic cotton and linen score high; conventional polyester and acrylic score low.
How easy is it to wash and maintain? Machine-washable cotton is easy; dry-clean-only silk and cashmere are not.
How Blend Scoring Works
Most clothing isn't made from a single material. When you analyze a blend like "60% Cotton, 40% Polyester," we:
- 1. Score each material individually across all 7 axes
- 2. Calculate weighted averages based on percentage (60% cotton weight + 40% polyester weight)
- 3. Detect synergies — cotton + spandex = breathability + stretch
- 4. Flag conflicts — high synthetic + natural reduces biodegradability
- 5. Merge care instructions using the most restrictive settings across all materials
The result: a single scorecard that tells you exactly what your clothing is good at, what to watch out for, and how to care for it properly.
Other Indicators
Material will naturally decompose. Cotton, wool, linen, and silk are biodegradable. Polyester, nylon, and acrylic are not.
Commonly used in low-quality, disposable clothing. Not inherently bad, but often indicates lower quality construction and shorter lifespan.
Risk level from None to High. Cotton and wool shrink; polyester and nylon generally don't. Follow care instructions to minimize shrinkage.
Relative price indicator. $ = budget-friendly (polyester, basic cotton). $$$$$ = premium (cashmere, mulberry silk).
Try It Yourself
Enter your clothing tag composition and see how it scores.
Analyze a Tag