Selection Criteria

bycomposition starts with a simple question: what is this product actually made of?

We look at the materials declared by the retailer and select products according to their composition, fabric type and construction. Natural fibres are at the centre of our selection, while regenerated cellulosic fibres are treated separately as semi-synthetic materials.

Synthetic fibres are generally excluded when they form the main or defining material of a product. Polyester, polyamide, acrylic, polyurethane, nylon and elastane are not what we want to see making up the fabric of a garment.

There are exceptions where a synthetic material serves a limited, non-structural purpose. Elastane, for example, may be included when used in lace, embroidery, decorative trims or functional details such as an elasticated waistband. Synthetic sewing thread does not make an otherwise natural-fibre garment ineligible.

The rules also depend on the type of product. Synthetic linings are excluded from clothing, while synthetic linings in bags and wallets do not automatically exclude the product. Synthetic coatings are treated differently: a polyurethane coating or a plastic finish can fundamentally change the material and is therefore excluded. Patent leather is treated in the same way.

We do not guess when the information is unclear. If a retailer does not provide enough information to establish what a product is made from, we would rather leave it out than make an assumption.

Certifications are treated as additional information rather than as a substitute for composition. GOTS, RWS, The Good Cashmere Standard, OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 and other relevant product certifications can provide useful information about how a material was produced or processed, but they do not change what the material itself is.

The result is a selection built around a simple principle: know what it is made of first.