Show HN: Lynen – A mobile app that tells you what clothes are made from

Lynen, a mobile app designed to scan and identify the fabric and chemical composition of clothing, is building a waitlist ahead of its launch in the coming days, per a Show HN post by creator Chinedu Oduokeke.

The app lets users scan or manually search a garment's barcode to retrieve lab-verified data on fabric materials, chemical composition, and durability results. Oduokeke built the tool after frustrations with apparel quality—seams failing after first wash, or garments labeled 100% cotton containing undisclosed polyester or toxic dyes. The app includes a personalized virtual assistant that analyzes results based on the user's skin notes to help inform shopping decisions.

Lynen is built on Next.js, React with TypeScript, TailwindCSS, and Supabase for its database. The founder is posting publicly now to build traction before the app launch, which he indicates is imminent.

The app enters a market where consumers increasingly scrutinize apparel sourcing and durability. Transparency in fabric composition has become a selling point for direct-to-consumer and premium brands, though most shoppers still rely on labels or manual research. Tools that automate composition checking via barcode scanning could appeal to consumers concerned about synthetic content, allergies, or textile quality—though the accuracy and coverage of Lynen's lab-verified database will be critical to its utility at launch.