Thread Report · 48 products analyzed · Updated June 13, 2026
What is River Island made of?
Short answer: mostly plastic. River Island relies heavily on synthetic fibres — 72.9% of their products are majority polyester. Here's the full breakdown.
Prefer the plain-English version? Read our River Islandbuyer's guide →
According to Fibr's Thread Report (June 2026), 72.9% of River Island's 48 analysed products are majority-synthetic, with an average natural-fibre content of 25.1%.
River Island's pantss are 40.7% natural fibre, but their blazers are just 12.4%. That's a 28-point gap — where you shop within River Island matters as much as whether you shop there at all.
The full picture on River Island.
River Island leans heavily synthetic. Across 48 products, only 25.1% of fibre content on average is natural. 72.9% of their products are polyester-heavy (50%+ polyester) — that means nearly half or more of what they sell is mostly plastic. Just 8.3% of products hit the 95%+ natural fibre mark — most items contain significant synthetic content. The most common fibre across River Island products is Polyester, appearing in 83.3% of items.
How Products Break Down
- 64.6%
Synthetic
<30% natural fibre · 31 products
- 27.1%
Blend
30–85% natural fibre · 13 products
- 8.3%
Natural
85–100% natural fibre · 4 products
Most Common Fibres (% of products containing)
Where to buy (and avoid).
Not all categories at River Islandare equal. Here's where the natural fibres are.
Mixed Bag · 40–70% natural
Caution · under 40% natural
What we found.
Across 48 products analyzed, River Island averages 25.1% natural fibre content.
72.9% of River Island products are majority polyester — that's 35 items made mostly from plastic.
River Island pantss are their strongest category at 40.7% natural fibre (5 products).
Their weakest category: blazers at just 12.4% natural (6 products).
Only 8.3% of products (4 items) are 95%+ natural fibre.
| Category | Products | Avg Natural % |
|---|---|---|
| Pants | 5 | 40.7% |
| Jacket | 17 | 18.1% |
| Coat | 12 | 16.9% |
| Blazer | 6 | 12.4% |
Sample Products
A selection of River Island products from our database — from most natural to most synthetic. Click to view on the retailer's site.
The verdict.
River Island is a tough sell if you care about natural fabrics. With 72.9% of products being polyester-heavy, most of what they sell is effectively plastic clothing. If you do shop here, be very selective and always check the composition.
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Frequently asked questions.
What is River Island clothing made of?
Based on our analysis of 48 River Island products, the average garment is 25.1% natural fibre. The most common single fibre is Polyester (in 83.3% of products). The remaining material is typically synthetic — polyester, polyamide, or acrylic.
Is River Island cotton?
Sometimes — cotton appears in 27.1% of the 48 River Island products we analyzed, but it's usually blended with synthetics. Only 8.3% of items are nearly all-natural (95%+ natural fibre), so check the composition before assuming a piece is pure cotton.
Is River Island 100% cotton?
Some pieces are. Of the 48 River Island products we analyzed, 4 are 100% cotton (or near-pure, 95%+) — that's 8.3% of the catalog. The rest are blends.
How much polyester does River Island use?
72.9% of River Island products are polyester-heavy, meaning polyester makes up 50% or more of the garment. This is above average for fast fashion retailers.
Is River Island mostly synthetic?
72.9% of River Island products are polyester-heavy (50%+ polyester). Average natural fibre content is 25.1%, so the rest of the catalog is still leaning synthetic in most cases.
Does River Island use natural fabrics?
8.3% of River Island products are nearly all-natural (95%+ natural fibre). Only a small fraction of their range avoids synthetic fibres entirely.
Is River Island sustainable in terms of fabric?
Fabric composition is one factor in sustainability. With an average of 25.1% natural fibre, River Island is below average on this measure. Natural fibres generally biodegrade and shed fewer microplastics than synthetics.
Use this data.
The Thread Report is openly licensed. Cite it, download it, query it directly — just link back to the source page.
- Last updated
- Raw dataset (JSON)
- info.tryfibr.app/riverisland.json ↓
- Computed stats (JSON)
- /api/thread-report/riverisland
Suggested citation
Fibr Thread Report — River Island, 2026-06-13. tryfibr.app/thread-report/riverisland
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