Duluth Trading Company Makers Apron
Hold off until Duluth clarifies water-repellent coating chemistry; PFAS treatment is likely.
Duluth Trading's Makers Apron is heavy canvas marketed as durable and stain-resistant, traits suggesting water-repellent coating treatment. The brand won't say if PFAS is involved.
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Material
cotton canvas with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent treatments have historically contained PFAS chemicals.
Category baseline
PFAS exposure happens more often with clothing products.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
PFAS
Cotton canvas aprons with water-repellent coating coatings are commonly treated with fluorinated PFAS compounds for water and oil repellency. Duluth Trading has not disclosed whether their finish is PFAS-based, legacy PFAS, or fluorine-free, making this the primary chemical unknown for this product.
Source: ATSDR ↗Coating degradation and fiber shedding
As the water-repellent coating finish wears with use and washing, the coating may degrade and fragment into micro-particles. This is a normal wear pattern for treated canvas, but accelerated degradation (e.g., from abrasion or heat) could release particulates; no data on shedding rates for this specific product exists.
Leaching from water-repellent coating finish during washing
Water-repellent finishes on fabric can release compounds into wash water, particularly on first laundering or after physical wear. If the water-repellent coating is PFAS-based, repeated washing could contribute to PFAS in wastewater. Duluth Trading provides no guidance on wash protocols to minimize leaching.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No specific reports of formaldehyde-based resins in Duluth Trading aprons. Cotton canvas with water-repellent treatment may undergo various finishing processes, but the brand provides no chemical inventory. Standard cotton textiles typically contain minimal formaldehyde unless heavily treated for wrinkle resistance, which is not a feature marketed on work aprons.
Source: ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
The Makers Apron is commonly available in neutral colors (khaki, tan, grey). No independent testing or brand disclosure documents the use of restricted azo dyes or heavy metal pigments in this product. Cotton canvas from major suppliers generally meets basic textile safety standards, but third-party certification is absent.
Source: FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The Makers Apron is constructed from cotton canvas, a natural cellulose fiber that is inherently low-risk for leaching or off-gassing. The critical unknown is the water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish applied to the fabric. water-repellent coating coatings on work aprons are typically fluorinated compounds (PFAS-based) or occasionally non-fluorinated wax or silicone alternatives, but Duluth Trading does not publicly disclose which chemistry they use on this product.
The brand's record and disclosure
Duluth Trading is a long-established outdoor and workwear brand with a reputation for durability but has maintained silence on PFAS use and water-repellent coating chemistry across its product line. The company has no published certifications (such as BLUESIGN, OEKO-TEX, or GOTS) that would indicate third-party chemical screening or restrictions. No recalls or safety controversies specific to this apron are on record, but the lack of transparency on water-repellent treatments is a material gap in consumer information.
How it compares in its category
Work aprons typically rely on either plastic-based materials (vinyl, polyurethane) or treated cotton canvas for water resistance. This apron's canvas-plus-water-repellent coating approach is common in mid-to-premium workwear. Competitors vary widely: some brands (Carhartt, Dickies) also remain silent on water-repellent coating chemistry, while specialty brands (such as those carrying OEKO-TEX certification) explicitly avoid long-chain PFAS. Cotton canvas aprons without water-repellent coating finish are available but offer reduced water resistance.
If you buy it
Wash separately from other fabrics in cool water to minimize any potential leaching of finish chemicals into the wash cycle, and avoid high heat drying. The water-repellent coating finish will degrade with laundering and eventually require reapplication; use commercial textile water-repellent coating sprays or washes rather than newer formulations to maintain control over chemistry. Before purchase, contact Duluth Trading directly to request the specific water-repellent coating chemistry (PFAS-free or which PFAS class); silence after inquiry is a signal to reconsider.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Duluth Trading has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Work Aprons
Dickies
2-Pocket Canvas Apron 57078
100% canvas cotton, uncoated
Lower risk from plain canvas apron with no performance finishes.
⚠Risky category by default
Dickies
Toolmaker's Apron
Cotton duck fabric
Lower risk from traditional cotton apron, though no lab confirmation exists.
⚠Risky category by default
Duluth Trading
Company Plus Heirloom Gardening Apron Smock
Cotton canvas apron, no waterproof or stain-resistant coating disclosed
Lower risk from plain canvas apron with no water or stain treatment.
⚠Risky category by default
More work aprons 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.