Thread Report — Comparison
Acne Studios vs Madewell: Fabric Composition Compared.
We pulled fabric composition data from 387 Acne Studios products and 456 Madewell products. Madewell comes out clearly ahead at 86.9% average natural fibre vs Acne Studios's 77.6% — a 9.3-point gap.
TL;DR
Madewell wins on both natural fibre content (86.9% vs 77.6%) and on having fewer polyester-heavy products (3.7% vs 9.8%). The headline gap is 9.3 percentage points of natural fibre per garment.
By the Numbers
| Metric | Acne Studios | Madewell | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Products in sample | 387 | 456 | Madewell (larger sample) |
| Avg natural fibre % | 77.6% | 86.9% | Madewell (over Acne Studios) |
| % items ≥95% natural | 57.4% | 67.5% | Madewell (over Acne Studios) |
| % items polyester-majority | 9.8% | 3.7% | Madewell (over Acne Studios) |
Average natural fibre % per garment
% of catalogue that's polyester-majority
% of catalogue that's nearly all-natural (≥95%)
Top Fibres, Side by Side
How often each fibre appears across each brand's catalogue. A higher number means more products in the sample list that fibre on the label.
| Fibre | Acne Studios (% of products) | Madewell (% of products) | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | 0% | 0% | +0 |
| Polyester | 0% | 0% | +0 |
| Viscose | 0% | 0% | +0 |
| Elastane | 0% | 0% | +0 |
| Wool | 0% | 0% | +0 |
| Linen | 0% | 0% | +0 |
| Tencel | 0% | 0% | +0 |
By Category
Average natural fibre % per garment, by category. Counts in parentheses show the number of products from each brand in the sample.
| Category | Acne Studios (count) | Madewell (count) | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skirt | 55.3% (19) | 93.9% (8) | -38.6 |
| Dress | 63.9% (29) | 91.7% (59) | -27.8 |
| Jacket | 72.8% (40) | 91.8% (8) | -19 |
| T-Shirt | 86.9% (42) | 94% (39) | -7.1 |
| Jeans | 94.8% (73) | 88.2% (63) | +6.6 |
| Shorts | 81.7% (19) | 87.3% (11) | -5.6 |
| Shirt | 88.5% (31) | 93.2% (33) | -4.7 |
| Pants | 92.8% (36) | 88.2% (11) | +4.6 |
| Sweater | 93.2% (10) | 93.2% (15) | +0 |
Where they're similar
Both brands lean on the same core fibres. cotton, polyester, elastane appear in the top five for both Acne Studios and Madewell.
Where they differ
Madewell runs 9.3 percentage points higher on average natural fibre than Acne Studios (86.9% vs 77.6%). Acne Studios is markedly more polyester-heavy: 9.8% of items are 50%+ polyester, vs 3.7% at Madewell. If you specifically want nearly-all-natural garments, Madewell has 67.5% of its catalogue at that level — Acne Studios sits at 57.4%. The biggest category divergence is skirts — Madewell at 93.9% natural fibre, Acne Studios at 55.3%.
Verdict
Madewell is the marginally better default for fabric content, but the gap is small. If you're choosing between Acne Studios and Madewell for a specific item, the category-level numbers above matter more than the catalogue average. Use Fibr to check the label on individual products either way.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Acne Studios or Madewell better quality fabric?
Based on average natural fibre content, Madewell edges ahead — 86.9% vs 77.6% per garment across the 843 products we analysed. Higher natural fibre content generally correlates with better breathability, fewer microplastics, and longer wear.
Does Acne Studios use more polyester than Madewell?
Yes. 9.8% of Acne Studios products are polyester-heavy (50%+ polyester), compared to 3.7% at Madewell.
How many products did you analyse for Acne Studios vs Madewell?
387 Acne Studios products and 456 Madewell products — every item with a parseable fabric composition label from each brand's site.
Which has more 100% natural pieces — Acne Studios or Madewell?
Madewell. 67.5% of Madewell products are nearly all-natural (95%+ natural fibre by composition) versus 57.4% at Acne Studios.
What's the most common fibre at Acne Studios and Madewell?
Cotton is the most common fibre at Acne Studios (in 61% of products), while Cotton leads at Madewell (65.8% of products).
Are Acne Studios skirts better than Madewell's?
For skirts specifically, Madewell averages 93.9% natural fibre vs Acne Studios's 55.3%. That's a meaningful gap — if you're shopping that category, Madewell is the safer default.
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