Thread Report — Comparison
Acne Studios vs Zara: Fabric Composition Compared.
We pulled fabric composition data from 355 Acne Studios products and 14,530 Zara products. Acne Studios comes out clearly ahead at 80.1% average natural fibre vs Zara's 51.9% — a 28.2-point gap.
TL;DR
Acne Studios wins on both natural fibre content (80.1% vs 51.9%) and on having fewer polyester-heavy products (8.2% vs 26.8%). The headline gap is 28.2 percentage points of natural fibre per garment.
By the Numbers
| Metric | Acne Studios | Zara | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Products in sample | 355 | 14,530 | Zara (larger sample) |
| Avg natural fibre % | 80.1% | 51.9% | Acne Studios (over Zara) |
| % items ≥95% natural | 59.2% | 31.9% | Acne Studios (over Zara) |
| % items polyester-majority | 8.2% | 26.8% | Acne Studios (over Zara) |
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) | Zara (% of products) | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | 0% | 0% | +0 |
| Polyester | 0% | 0% | +0 |
| Wool | 0% | 0% | +0 |
| Elastane | 0% | 0% | +0 |
| Viscose | 0% | 0% | +0 |
| Polyamide | 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) | Zara (count) | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoodie | 95.2% (16) | 21.9% (43) | +73.3 |
| Sweater | 93.2% (10) | 48.7% (36) | +44.5 |
| Pants | 92.6% (35) | 50.3% (1917) | +42.3 |
| Coat | 82.3% (12) | 48.6% (251) | +33.7 |
| Dress | 63.9% (29) | 40.6% (2205) | +23.3 |
| Jacket | 72.1% (39) | 53.1% (893) | +19 |
| Shirt | 87.3% (28) | 71.4% (1193) | +15.9 |
| Shorts | 81.8% (18) | 73.5% (144) | +8.3 |
| Skirt | 55.3% (19) | 48.2% (917) | +7.1 |
| Jeans | 95.1% (69) | 97.7% (1133) | -2.6 |
| T-Shirt | 87.5% (40) | 85.3% (993) | +2.2 |
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 Zara.
Where they differ
Acne Studios runs 28.2 percentage points higher on average natural fibre than Zara (80.1% vs 51.9%). Zara is markedly more polyester-heavy: 26.8% 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 — Zara sits at 31.9%. The biggest category divergence is hoodies — Acne Studios at 95.2% natural fibre, Zara at 21.9%.
Verdict
Acne Studios is the clearer pick on fabric composition — 28.2 percentage points more natural fibre on average than Zara, with 59.2% of items at the nearly-all-natural mark vs 31.9%. That said, neither brand is "natural-only" — even at Acne Studios, the majority of items contain some synthetic fibre. Always check the label.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Acne Studios or Zara better quality fabric?
Based on average natural fibre content, Acne Studios edges ahead — 80.1% vs 51.9% per garment across the 14,885 products we analysed. Higher natural fibre content generally correlates with better breathability, fewer microplastics, and longer wear.
Does Zara use more polyester than Acne Studios?
Yes. 26.8% of Zara products are polyester-heavy (50%+ polyester), compared to 8.2% at Acne Studios.
How many products did you analyse for Acne Studios vs Zara?
355 Acne Studios products and 14,530 Zara products — every item with a parseable fabric composition label from each brand's site.
Which has more 100% natural pieces — Acne Studios or Zara?
Acne Studios. 59.2% of Acne Studios products are nearly all-natural (95%+ natural fibre by composition) versus 31.9% at Zara.
What's the most common fibre at Acne Studios and Zara?
Cotton is the most common fibre at Acne Studios (in 63.1% of products), while Cotton leads at Zara (43.2% of products).
Are Acne Studios hoodies better than Zara's?
For hoodies specifically, Acne Studios averages 95.2% natural fibre vs Zara's 21.9%. That's a meaningful gap — if you're shopping that category, Acne Studios is the safer default.
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