Old Navy · Stain-Resistant Professional Workwear
Old Navy Men's Straight Rotation Chino Pants
Lower concern because this bare cotton chino has no reported treatments.
Standard cotton chino with no disclosed water or stain-resistant treatment. Cotton chino without special finishes naturally carries lower PFAS risk than treated alternatives.
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Material
cotton/cotton blend twill, no stated finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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.
Azo dyes (aromatic amines)
Standard dyeing of cotton twill typically uses azo colorants, some of which can cleave into regulated aromatic amines (benzidine, aniline) under conditions of abrasion, sweat, or chlorine exposure. Old Navy does not disclose dye chemistry; compliance with ZDHC standards would typically exclude the highest-risk azo classes, but verification is not public.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Even untreated twill may contain trace formaldehyde from dye carriers, mordants, or sizing removers used in finishing. No performance finish is advertised, lowering risk, but low-level residuals are common in conventionally finished cotton. Not documented as a recall or known issue for this product.
Source, ATSDR ↗Pesticide residue
Conventional cotton is often grown with synthetic pesticides; residues may persist in finished fabric at negligible levels. Risk is low in contact with skin but non-zero without organic certification. Old Navy does not certify organic cotton for this line.
Source, EPA ↗Antimony in polyester (if blended)
If the blend includes polyester (common for wrinkle resistance and durability in chinos), antimony trioxide may be used as a polymerization catalyst. Leaching is minimal in contact garments, but not disclosed for this specific product.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Heavy metals
Some azo and reactive dyes require metal-based auxiliaries (chromium, copper) for color development. Old Navy chinos have not been reported to contain elevated heavy metals, and mainstream cotton dyeing typically avoids the highest-risk metal chemistry, but ingredient-level data is not public.
Source, FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Old Navy's Straight Rotation Chino is a cotton or cotton-blend twill with no stated water-resistant, stain-resistant, or wrinkle-resistant finish. Twill is a densely woven fabric that requires standard dyeing and finishing but typically avoids heavy chemical coatings. The absence of marketed performance treatments (water-repellent coating, antimicrobial, or flame retardant) means fewer synthetic chemical additives than specialty performance apparel. Bare cotton or cotton-poly blends rely on conventional azo dyes and minimal auxiliary chemicals in their manufacture.
The brand's record and disclosure
Old Navy (owned by Gap Inc.) has not published a detailed restricted substances list or hazardous chemical policy specific to individual products, and remains silent on PFAS use in textiles. Gap Inc. signed the Restricted Substances Protocol (ZDHC) in 2012 but does not disclose product-level compliance data publicly. No significant chemical safety recalls or formal violations have been documented for this specific product line. The brand's transparency on textile chemistry is below best-in-class but consistent with mainstream fast-fashion industry norms.
How it compares in its category
Standard cotton-blend chinos from department and specialty brands (J.Crew, Banana Republic, L.L.Bean) typically use identical plain twill construction and conventional dyeing without major chemical differentiators. Old Navy's lack of performance finishes actually positions it below risk relative to marketed 'stain-resistant' or 'easy-care' chinos, which may contain PFAS or antimicrobial additives. This product occupies the middle ground, no specialized coatings but also no third-party chemical certification or transparency advantage over comparable mass-market options.
If you buy it
Wash in cool to warm water; hot water is unnecessary and can accelerate dye bleeding on darker shades. Dry at low to medium heat or hang-dry to extend fiber life and minimize any residual chemical volatilization. Inspect seams and stitching after 5-10 washes; cheap twill can pill or fray in high-friction areas (crotch, inseam). No special precautions needed beyond standard garment care; this is a durable basic with no known finish maintenance requirements.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Old Navy has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More stain-resistant professional workwear 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.