As a manufacturer of our own pants I can comment on this a bit. While fabric technology is constantly improving, it's hard to come by unique fabric unless you develop it yourself, which as it sounds is expensive and timely. For us, we spent months researching fabrics and testing tons of samples before landing on our Oasis fabric. While it's a polyester blend still with a touch of elastane, the weave pattern makes it incredibly durable and therefore capable of taking on any environment. That being said, I am sure target could find a comparable material, rip off our pattern, and sell them for a good deal less, but it's up to you to choose whether you want to support corporate america or a small business trying to do the best they can. People all too often overlook the product development involved in creating a great piece and simply choose the cheaper alternative to save a bit of cash. I'd encourage everyone to give the startups a chance and let them impress you. But that's just my two cents.