Thread Report — Comparison
Acne Studios vs Urban Outfitters: Fabric Composition Compared.
We pulled fabric composition data from 355 Acne Studios products and 608 Urban Outfitters products. Acne Studios comes out clearly ahead at 80.1% average natural fibre vs Urban Outfitters's 50.6% — a 29.5-point gap.
TL;DR
Acne Studios wins on both natural fibre content (80.1% vs 50.6%) and on having fewer polyester-heavy products (8.2% vs 24.7%). The headline gap is 29.5 percentage points of natural fibre per garment.
By the Numbers
| Metric | Acne Studios | Urban Outfitters | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Products in sample | 355 | 608 | Urban Outfitters (larger sample) |
| Avg natural fibre % | 80.1% | 50.6% | Acne Studios (over Urban Outfitters) |
| % items ≥95% natural | 59.2% | 35.9% | Acne Studios (over Urban Outfitters) |
| % items polyester-majority | 8.2% | 24.7% | Acne Studios (over Urban Outfitters) |
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) | Urban Outfitters (% of products) | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | 0% | 0% | +0 |
| Polyester | 0% | 0% | +0 |
| Wool | 0% | 0% | +0 |
| Elastane | 0% | 0% | +0 |
| Viscose | 0% | 0% | +0 |
| Nylon | 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) | Urban Outfitters (count) | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweater | 93.2% (10) | 10% (6) | +83.2 |
| Coat | 82.3% (12) | 42% (5) | +40.3 |
| Pants | 92.6% (35) | 67.1% (73) | +25.5 |
| Hoodie | 95.2% (16) | 72.1% (8) | +23.1 |
| Jacket | 72.1% (39) | 52.6% (78) | +19.5 |
| Skirt | 55.3% (19) | 36.4% (14) | +18.9 |
| Shorts | 81.8% (18) | 64.2% (61) | +17.6 |
| Shirt | 87.3% (28) | 73.8% (13) | +13.5 |
| T-Shirt | 87.5% (40) | 75.4% (72) | +12.1 |
| Dress | 63.9% (29) | 53.7% (19) | +10.2 |
| Jeans | 95.1% (69) | 94.7% (70) | +0.4 |
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 Urban Outfitters.
Where they differ
Acne Studios runs 29.5 percentage points higher on average natural fibre than Urban Outfitters (80.1% vs 50.6%). Urban Outfitters is markedly more polyester-heavy: 24.7% of items are 50%+ polyester, vs 8.2% at Acne Studios. If you specifically want nearly-all-natural garments, Acne Studios has 59.2% of its catalogue at that level — Urban Outfitters sits at 35.9%. The biggest category divergence is sweaters — Acne Studios at 93.2% natural fibre, Urban Outfitters at 10%.
Verdict
Acne Studios is the clearer pick on fabric composition — 29.5 percentage points more natural fibre on average than Urban Outfitters, with 59.2% of items at the nearly-all-natural mark vs 35.9%. That said, neither brand is "natural-only" — even at Acne Studios, the majority of items contain some synthetic fibre. Always check the label.
Monthly Thread Reports
Get reports like this in your inbox.
We analyze thousands of products every month. Be the first to see new Thread Reports — fabric data nobody else publishes.
No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Acne Studios or Urban Outfitters better quality fabric?
Based on average natural fibre content, Acne Studios edges ahead — 80.1% vs 50.6% per garment across the 963 products we analysed. Higher natural fibre content generally correlates with better breathability, fewer microplastics, and longer wear.
Does Urban Outfitters use more polyester than Acne Studios?
Yes. 24.7% of Urban Outfitters products are polyester-heavy (50%+ polyester), compared to 8.2% at Acne Studios.
How many products did you analyse for Acne Studios vs Urban Outfitters?
355 Acne Studios products and 608 Urban Outfitters products — every item with a parseable fabric composition label from each brand's site.
Which has more 100% natural pieces — Acne Studios or Urban Outfitters?
Acne Studios. 59.2% of Acne Studios products are nearly all-natural (95%+ natural fibre by composition) versus 35.9% at Urban Outfitters.
What's the most common fibre at Acne Studios and Urban Outfitters?
Cotton is the most common fibre at Acne Studios (in 63.1% of products), while Cotton leads at Urban Outfitters (51.6% of products).
Are Acne Studios sweaters better than Urban Outfitters's?
For sweaters specifically, Acne Studios averages 93.2% natural fibre vs Urban Outfitters's 10%. That's a meaningful gap — if you're shopping that category, Acne Studios is the safer default.
Related reports.
Stop buying plastic by accident.
Fibr shows you what every garment is actually made of before you buy it. Green means natural fibre. Red means plastic.
Add to Chrome — It's freeFree forever. No account, no data collected, nothing to lose.