The label inside your clothes is one of the most underread pieces of information in your wardrobe. Fabric composition affects how a garment feels, how long it lasts, and what happens to it at the end of its life.
Much of what defines fast fashion starts with poor material choices, which is why having a reliable fabric quality guide matters. Knowing which materials to avoid in clothing and which to look for instead is worth getting right, whether you’re building a personal wardrobe or sourcing the highest-quality blank clothing for a brand.
What Makes a Clothing Material ‘Good’? The Things to Look For
Understanding what good (and bad) materials for clothes are comes down to two things:
1. How it feels and performs
A good fabric is comfortable against the skin, breathable, shape-retaining, and suited for its intended use. Itchy fabrics and non-breathable materials are a reliable sign of low-grade construction.
2. How long does it last
Quality fabrics resist pilling, fading, and distortion. Fabrics that tear easily, shrink unpredictably, or lose their structure after a few washes rarely last long enough to justify the cost. Durability is one of the clearest markers of a well-made garment.
A Guide to the Best Materials for Your Clothes
Knowing which materials are good for clothes starts with understanding how each fibre is produced.
Ringspun Cotton
Produced by continuously twisting and thinning the cotton fibres, ringspun cotton creates a softer, stronger yarn than standard carded cotton. It holds colour more consistently, lasts longer, and remains the preferred choice for comfort-focused everyday garments.
Recycled Polyester (rPET)
Recycled polyester is made from post-consumer plastic waste, most commonly PET bottles, diverted from landfills. It delivers the same moisture-wicking, quick-dry performance as virgin polyester with a fraction of the environmental footprint.
Organic Cotton & Regenerative Cotton
Organic cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers, using significantly less water than conventional farming. Look for OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification, which verifies every component has been tested for harmful substances.
For those looking to go further still, there’s also regenerative cotton, which builds on organic practices by actively restoring soil health, increasing biodiversity, and sequestering carbon. Where organic farming avoids harm, regenerative farming actively reverses it, making it the most environmentally positive way to grow cotton currently available. Curious about whether cotton is as sustainable as it’s made out to be?
We explore this in more detail in our guide on the sustainability of cotton as a material.
Lyocell and Tencel
Lyocell, also known by its premium-branded form, Tencel, is a wood-based fibre produced in a closed-loop process and a genuine product of textile science. Naturally biodegradable, breathable, and exceptionally soft, it ticks more boxes than most conventional fibres in both performance and environmental impact.
Linen and Hemp
Linen and hemp require minimal water and few pesticides to grow, are naturally biodegradable, and improve with age, making them a sound investment for anyone serious about fabric quality.
What Materials to Avoid in Clothing (And Why)
Understanding what materials to avoid in clothing isn’t just about comfort. The problems with clothing materials like cheap polyester and acrylic carry a real environmental and performance cost. Here’s a breakdown of what qualifies as bad materials for clothes and why each one is worth steering clear of.
Low-Grade Polyester
Cheap, virgin polyester sits near the top of the list of bad materials for clothes. It’s non-breathable, traps heat, and sheds microplastics with every wash, contributing to water pollution. It’s also prone to pilling and tends to feel synthetic and uncomfortable over time.
Fabrics that don’t hold ink well cause real headaches for decorators, and low-grade polyester is among the worst offenders. Dye migration on polyester fabrics and poor ink adhesion make consistent results difficult, and, as a material that is too thin for embroidery, it also falls short for professional decoration.
Acrylic
Acrylic sheds microplastics heavily with every wash, pills quickly, and breaks down fast with regular use. Low breathability and poor durability make it one of the lowest-quality fabrics used in clothing today.
Conventional Viscose and Rayon
Viscose and rayon from unsustainable sources are chemically intensive to produce, often involving toxic solvents that can cause significant environmental damage when not properly managed. The fibres can feel soft initially, but lack durability and quickly lose their shape.
If you’re looking to prevent your garments from experiencing fabric shrinkage and distortion over time, poorly processed viscose is one of the first things to cut from your sourcing list.
Conventional Cotton
Standard, non-organic cotton is one of the most water and pesticide-intensive crops in the world. Low-grade cotton, poorly processed and inconsistently weighted, is a particular problem in budget garments where cost-cutting starts at the fibre. Choosing organic cotton or cotton certified under OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is the more responsible route.
How to Read a Clothing Label Like an Expert
The fabric composition label is the most overlooked detail on any garment, and often the most revealing. Here’s what to look for:
Country of origin: Not a definitive quality indicator, but manufacturing in a certified facility with transparent supply chain practices is a positive signal.
Fabric composition: Look for natural or responsibly-sourced fibres first. A high percentage of organic cotton, rPET, or Tencel is a positive sign.
Certification logos: OEKO-TEX Standard 100, WRAP, SEDEX SMETA, and amfori BSCI are independent certifications that verify responsible production and safety standards. Each one carries real weight as a guarantee of standards.
Blend ratios: A 50/50 cotton-polyester blend isn’t inherently bad, but the type of polyester matters. Recycled polyester in a blend is a significantly more responsible choice over virgin polyester.
Choosing Better Starts Here
The white t-shirt is the most powerful wardrobe essential there is. With the right fit and a handful of simple techniques, it can become the go-to piece for almost any occasion, for anyone.
Every great look starts with the perfect canvas. Our Just T’s by AWDis collection is globally renowned for its superior quality, modern fit, and the perfect shade of white. For the ultimate layering piece, explore the iconic range of hoodies and sweatshirts from ourJust Hoods by AWDis collection.
Got questions about choosing the right white tee for your needs? Get in touch, and our team will point you in the right direction!
