Women's High-Rise Straight Stretch Linen-Viscose Utility Pants vs Men's Pleated Cotton Chino Pants: which is safer?
Brooks Brothers Men's Pleated Cotton Chino Pants is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Banana Republic
Women's High-Rise Straight Stretch Linen-Viscose Utility Pants
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleFormaldehyde resins (wrinkle resistance, shape retention)
PossibleAzo dyes and heavy metal pigments
PossibleAntimony in polyester (if present in trim/elastic)
Our pick
Brooks Brothers
Men's Pleated Cotton Chino Pants
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleResidual azo dyes and synthetic dye intermediates
PossibleFormaldehyde-based finishing resins (wrinkle resistance, sizing)
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Formaldehyde resins (wrinkle resistance, shape retention), Azo dyes and heavy metal pigments and Antimony in polyester (if present in trim/elastic) on the Banana Republic and not on the Brooks Brothers.
- We flag Residual azo dyes and synthetic dye intermediates and Formaldehyde-based finishing resins (wrinkle resistance, sizing) on the Brooks Brothers and not on the Banana Republic.
- The Banana Republic is linen-viscose blend, no water-resistant finish where the Brooks Brothers is 100% cotton, pleated, no stated treatment, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- These two are level, close enough that price and fit should decide it rather than our grade.
Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →
More stain-resistant professional workwear: see the full ranking