Calvin Klein Review, Is Calvin Klein Non-Toxic?
Across 14 graded products, Calvin Klein averages Good (52/100). On disclosure, the brand says nothing publicly about PFAS. None of its products grade Good or better yet. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab results.
PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Grades are model-based, built from published ingredients, materials, certifications, brand disclosures and third-party lab results where they exist. See the rubric.
Does Calvin Klein have PFAS, by category
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
Calvin Klein
Men's Slim Move 5-Pocket Pants
cotton and polyester blend
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester-blend casual pants often receive formaldehyde-based durable-press or…
Microfiber shedding from polyester
Polyester garments shed microfibers during washing. While this is an environmental…
Lower concern; basic pants with no water-repellent coating treatment disclosed.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Calvin Klein
Men's Hi-Stretch Tech 5-Pocket Slim Pants
cotton/elastane blend, standard construction
Azo dyes (carcinogenic color additives)
Black, navy, and darker colorways may use azo dyes, which are permitted in most markets…
Microplastic shedding from elastane
Elastane fibers shed progressively with wear and washing, releasing microplastics into…
Lower concern; standard casual pants with no PFAS-risk treatments identified.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Calvin Klein
Men's Tech Stretch Cargo Pants
Cotton/polyester blend with elastane stretch
Heavy metals
Standard polyester dyeing uses reactive dyes; some cheaper formulations may contain heavy…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Cotton-polyester blends often use formaldehyde-based cross-linking resins for wrinkle…
Elastane/spandex degradation and microfiber shedding
Elastane fibers shed microplastics during washing and wear, especially with friction and…
Antimony in polyester
Polyester production may use antimony trioxide as a catalyst. Residual antimony in…
Base fabric lower concern; no waterproof/stain treatment disclosed.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Calvin Klein
Men's Move 365 Slim Fit Stretch Pants
cotton/polyester blend, stretch fabric
Azo dyes and colorfast stability
Polyester-cotton blends often use reactive or azo dyes; no specific testing is publicly…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Wrinkle-resistant and shape-holding finishes on cotton-poly blends may include…
Lower concern; basic stretch pants with no PFAS-typical treatments disclosed.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Calvin Klein
Men's Modern Stretch Chino Pants
cotton blend, stretch elastic (polyester/spandex)
Azo dyes and dye allergens
Cotton chinos are typically dyed with azo or direct dyes. While Calvin Klein operates…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Cotton garments often receive formaldehyde-based wrinkle-resist or sizing finishes.…
Spandex/elastane degradation under stress or heat
Polyester-spandex blends can break down or lose elasticity with repeated high-heat…
Antimony in polyester
Polyester used in the blend may contain antimony oxide as a catalyst; levels in finished…
Lower risk since cotton chinos typically lack water-repellent coating.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Calvin Klein
Women's Petite Classic Fit Lux Pant
Cotton/polyester blend woven fabric
Azo dyes and textile dye residue
Standard cotton-polyester blends are typically dyed with conventional azo or reactive…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Wrinkle-resistant and 'lux' soft finishes on polyester blends sometimes use…
Microplastic shedding
All polyester-blend garments shed microfibers during laundering; this pant will…
Heavy metals
Conventional textile dyes may contain trace heavy metals (lead, cadmium, chromium) as…
Lower risk since standard pants fabric unlikely to contain PFAS.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Calvin Klein
Men's Slim Fit Pant
cotton/polyester blend
Azo dyes
Colored trousers may contain azo dyes, which can break down into aromatic amines under…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Wrinkle-resistance and shrink-control finishes often employ formaldehyde. This product's…
Microplastics
Polyester blends shed microfibers during washing, contributing to aquatic microplastic…
Lower risk since standard trousers lack water or stain treatments.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Calvin Klein
Men's Intense Power Sport Tee
Cotton-blend knit jersey, uncoated
Azo dyes and synthetic colorants
Cotton-blend knits are typically dyed with commercial reactive or disperse dyes; while…
Heavy metals
Dark dyes and prints may contain trace lead or cadmium depending on dye chemistry and…
Fragrance allergens or residual chemical odors
Some sport tees are treated with synthetic fragrance or antimicrobial finishes to appeal…
Lower concern, basic cotton-blend tee with no known water-repellent coating or stain treatment.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Calvin Klein
Women's Double Logo High Hip T-Shirt
cotton jersey, no applied finish
Azo dyes and colorant residues
Reactive or direct dyes used in the printing or dyeing process may leave trace unreacted…
Heavy metals
If the double logo involves colored plastisol or ink print, pigments may contain trace…
Lower concern, basic cotton tee with no applied treatments.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Calvin Klein
Women's High Rise Icon Sport Leggings
nylon/spandex blend
Azo dyes and synthetic dye residues
Nylon readily absorbs and retains synthetic dyes. Azo dyes used in dark or vibrant colors…
Spandex degradation and microfiber shedding
Spandex breaks down under heat, UV exposure, and repeated washing, shedding microscopic…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Some nylon athletic wear undergoes anti-wrinkle or shrink-resistant finishing with…
Standard athletic leggings, no known PFAS red flags identified.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Calvin Klein
TRIM FIT NON-IRON PANT, 40 x 30 / Charcoal
Cotton blend with non-iron/stain-resistant finish
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Some non-iron finishes still use formaldehyde-releasing resins, though this has become…
Finish coating degradation and microfiber shedding
Non-iron finishes degrade with age and repeated hot washing, creating flaking or shedding…
Residual chemicals from non-iron finish manufacturing
Manufacturing and finishing processes may leave trace amounts of uncrosslinked resins or…
Non-iron finishes often contain PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Calvin Klein
Men's Dress Shirt Slim Fit Non Iron
cotton blend with durable press/non-iron finish
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Traditional non-iron finishes may contain formaldehyde-releasing compounds to cross-link…
Coating degradation and microfiber shedding
As the non-iron finish degrades with repeated washing and wear, the coating may flake or…
Chlorine bleach sensitivity in treated fabric
The PFAS-based finish may react unpredictably with chlorine bleach, causing discoloration…
Non-iron finish likely contains PFAS, brand silent on sourcing.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Calvin Klein
Men's Light Weight Quick Dry Moisture Wicking Top with 40+ UPF Protection
Synthetic blend with moisture-wicking and UPF treatment
PFAS
Moisture-wicking apparel routinely uses fluorinated durable water repellents; Calvin…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Synthetic blends may use formaldehyde-based resins for wrinkle resistance or dimensional…
Volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing from synthetic blend and treatments
New synthetic moisture-wicking garments can emit low levels of VOCs (solvents from…
Moisture-wicking apparel often uses water-repellent coating coatings, treatment chemicals undisclosed.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Calvin Klein
Plus Womens Moisture Wicking Workout Pullover Top
polyester blend with moisture-wicking treatment
PFAS
water-repellent coating finishes on activewear commonly use fluorochemicals; Calvin Klein…
Azo dyes in polyester
Polyester fabrics often use azo dyes for color, which can release aromatic amines under…
Microplastic shedding
Polyester synthetic fibers naturally shed microplastics during washing and wear…
Moisture-wicking apparel often uses water-repellent coating treatment, Calvin Klein provides no PFAS disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Calvin Klein and PFAS, common questions
- Does Calvin Klein have PFAS?
- We graded 14 Calvin Klein products, averaging Good (52/100). None grade Good or better. Grades are model-based estimates built from published materials, ingredients and disclosures, not lab tests.
- Is Calvin Klein non-toxic?
- No Calvin Klein product we graded reaches Good. The best of them is Calvin Klein Men's Slim Move 5-Pocket Pants at 65/100.
- Which Calvin Klein products should I avoid?
- The lowest-graded Calvin Klein products we have scored are Calvin Klein Plus Womens Moisture Wicking Workout Pullover Top, Calvin Klein Men's Light Weight Quick Dry Moisture Wicking Top with 40+ UPF Protection, Calvin Klein Men's Dress Shirt Slim Fit Non Iron. Each one links to the evidence behind its grade.
Every grade uses the same public rubric. How grades work →