An analysis of data from the EDITED platform has revealed significant differences in the fabric composition of men’s and women’s sweaters, even within the same price range. The analysis covered six brands in the US: Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle, COS, H&M, Uniqlo and Zara. Among sweaters priced under $100, only 17% of women’s styles are made entirely from natural fibres, such as wool, compared with 46% of men’s styles. Synthetic materials are also considerably more common in women’s sweaters, with 59% containing polyester, compared with 30% of men’s.
The largest disparities were recorded at H&M, where the proportion of men’s sweaters made entirely from natural fibres was 433% higher than that of women’s sweaters, followed by American Eagle at 407% and Zara at 188%. By contrast, at Uniqlo and COS, a higher proportion of women’s sweaters were made entirely from natural fibres than men’s. The gap in fabric composition narrows considerably among sweaters priced above $100.
Synthetic fibres, such as polyester and acrylic, are generally cheaper than natural fibres.
The issue had previously attracted attention through a viral social media video by @rsbrownfield, which criticised Abercrombie & Fitch over differences in the fabric composition of similarly priced men’s and women’s sweaters. The video highlighted that the brand sells men’s sweaters made from 100% merino wool, while comparable women’s styles contain high proportions of synthetic fibres, such as nylon. According to the analysis, the proportion of Abercrombie & Fitch men’s sweaters made entirely from natural fibres was 78% higher than that of women’s sweaters.
Fabric composition is an important factor in garment quality, as natural fibres such as wool generally provide better temperature regulation, breathability and odour resistance than synthetic materials such as polyester and acrylic. The difference also has a financial dimension, as synthetic fibres are typically cheaper than natural ones, highlighting a disparity in the cost of raw materials used in similarly priced products.
Source: Style Analytics
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