Old Navy · Stain-Resistant Professional Workwear
Old Navy Women's High-Waisted Boot-Cut Pants
Lower concern because this standard pant has no water or stain treatment.
Old Navy doesn't disclose PFAS treatments for this pant. Standard cotton or polyester blends lacking water or stain-resistant finishes typically carry lower PFAS risk than treated outerwear.
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Material
cotton blend or polyester, no stated coating
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 and colorant allergies
Cotton-polyester blends in mass-market apparel may use azo dyes, which can cause contact dermatitis or allergic sensitization in a small proportion of wearers. No specific testing of this product line is publicly available; risk is not elevated relative to standard apparel. Prewashing can help leach excess dye.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Cotton-blend garments may retain trace formaldehyde from durable-press or crease-resistant finishes applied during manufacturing. Old Navy does not disclose whether this product line is treated with such finishes. Prewashing typically removes most residual formaldehyde before wear.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microfiber shedding from polyester content
Polyester-cotton blends release microfibers with each wash, a well-documented phenomenon. While this affects the environment and is released into waterways, it poses no direct health risk to the wearer during normal wear or laundering.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Heavy metals
No recalls or reports of lead, cadmium, or other heavy metal contamination in Old Navy apparel have been documented. Standard garment dyes are regulated in most jurisdictions for metal content, and a basic cotton-blend pant with standard coloring carries minimal concern.
Source, FDA ↗Antimony in polyester
Antimony trioxide is occasionally used as a catalyst in polyester production but is typically locked into the polymer matrix and does not leach during normal wear. No specific concerns or reports exist for Old Navy polyester apparel in this regard.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Old Navy's high-waisted boot-cut pants are typically a cotton-polyester blend (often 65-77% cotton, 23-35% polyester). Cotton is a natural fiber with minimal inherent chemical risk, but polyester introduces synthetic polymer content that can shed microfibers with washing and wear. The blend itself is not treated with water-repellent or stain-resistant coatings (which would introduce PFAS), making this a relatively straightforward textile product without specialty chemical finishes.
The brand's record and disclosure
Old Navy, owned by Gap Inc., does not publicly disclose detailed chemical testing results or restricted substance lists for individual garments. Gap Inc. has committed to reducing hazardous chemicals in manufacturing but does not provide item-level transparency. No major recalls or chemical contamination incidents have been documented for Old Navy apparel in recent years. The brand's silence on PFAS and other chemical hazards reflects typical industry practice for mass-market casual wear, not an exceptional gap.
How it compares in its category
Basic cotton-blend pants sit in the middle of the risk spectrum, lower concern than heavily treated performance wear (which often contains fluorinated water repellents or antimicrobial finishes), but offering fewer transparency commitments than certified organic or fair-trade brands. Mass-market retailers like Old Navy generally do not pursue independent chemical certifications (GOTS, OEKO-TEX) as standard practice. For the price point and category, this product's hazard profile is typical and not distinctive.
If you buy it
Wash before first wear to reduce potential residual dyes or finishes from manufacturing and storage. Use warm water and standard detergent; no special care is needed. Inspect the seams and waistband regularly for fraying or degradation, particularly after 20-30 washes, as the blend's durability depends on construction quality. Microfiber shedding is normal for any polyester garment and not a health hazard in normal use, though washing in a microfiber catch bag can reduce environmental impact.
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.