Brooks Brothers · Wrinkle-Free Dress Shirts
Brooks Brothers Men's Stretch Supima Cotton Non-Iron Dress Shirt
Moderate concern; non-iron cotton likely treated with finish chemicals without disclosure.
Brooks Brothers does not disclose PFAS use or absence in this non-iron shirt. The non-iron finish typically involves resin treatments that may include PFAS-based water or stain repellents.
The better-graded swap
Patagonia
Patagonia Men's Farrier's Work Shirt
90/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Supima cotton with non-iron finish (likely resin-based)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Brooks Brothers Men's Stretch Dress Shirt is made of, ingredients and materials
This shirt is Supima cotton (a high-grade, long-staple variety) treated with a non-iron or wrinkle-resistant chemical finish, almost certainly a formaldehyde-releasing resin or similar durable-press chemistry. The finish bonds to fibers to reduce wrinkles and improve shape retention, but also creates a persistent chemical coating that contacts skin during wear. Supima cotton itself is a low-risk fiber; the hazard is entirely in the finish applied post-weave.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Non-iron cotton finishes almost universally use formaldehyde-based resins or similar cross-linkers. Residual formaldehyde can off-gas during wear and wash cycles, particularly with heat. New garments typically have the highest off-gas load; washing reduces but does not eliminate it.
Source, ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
Brooks Brothers does not disclose dye chemistry or test results for restricted azo dyes or heavy metal content. Standard textile dyes can occasionally contain lead, cadmium, or other heavy metals; no specific issues are documented for this brand, but the risk exists in any untested garment.
Source, FDA ↗Finish degradation and fiber shedding over time
Non-iron finishes degrade with repeated laundering and can flake or shed microfiber particles, especially if worn and washed at high heat. This creates secondary exposure to finish residues and environmental microfiber accumulation.
Skin irritation from finish residues (contact dermatitis)
Individuals with sensitive skin or formaldehyde sensitivity may experience itching, redness, or rash from residual finish chemicals, particularly around neck and cuff seams where finish concentration is highest and contact is prolonged.
What’s reassuring
Antimony in polyester content (if present in blend)
This shirt is listed as Supima cotton; if any polyester is blended in (check label carefully), antimony can be used as a catalyst. No polyester is evident in the product description, so this hazard is not applicable here.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Brooks Brothers publishes no public statements on PFAS use, flame retardants, or non-iron finish chemistry. The brand has not adopted certifications like OEKO-TEX or Cradle to Cradle that would signal testing for formaldehyde, heavy metals, or dyes. No major recalls or safety violations specific to this product line are on record, but the lack of transparency on finish compounds is notable for a heritage brand at this price point.
How it compares in its category
Most non-iron dress shirts rely on similar resin-based finishes and carry comparable chemical exposure. Organic or low-chemical alternatives (e.g., certified cotton with enzyme-based or mechanical finishes) exist but are rare and typically cost 30-50% more. Brooks Brothers' Supima quality is above mass-market non-iron shirts, but the finish chemistry itself is not differentiated or disclosed as lower-risk than competitors.
If you buy it
Wash 3-5 times before first wear to reduce residual finish chemicals and formaldehyde off-gassing. Use warm water, not hot, to minimize chemical leaching and fiber stress. Dry on low heat or air-dry; high heat can degrade the finish and release more volatiles. Replace when the non-iron performance noticeably declines (typically 50-100 wears), as degraded finishes may shed microfiber particles more readily and lose their protective function.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 62% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Brooks Brothers has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Brooks Brothers Men's Stretch Supima Cotton Non-Iron Dress Shirt?
- Organic cotton, standard construction
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Formaldehyde / VOCs
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Cotton/cotton-blend woven fabric
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Formaldehyde / VOCs
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
- cotton/polyester blend dress shirt
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Formaldehyde / VOCs
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on AmazonMore wrinkle-free dress shirts grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.