Old Navy · Stain-Resistant Professional Workwear
Old Navy Women's High-Waisted Pixie Pants
Lower concern because this bare cotton-blend pant has no stain treatment.
Old Navy won't address PFAS use in this product. Cotton-blend pixie pants lack water or stain-resistant finishes, which reduces typical PFAS treatment risk significantly.
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Material
cotton-blend woven twill
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.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Cotton-blend twill may receive wrinkle-resistant or sizing finishes during manufacturing that could contain formaldehyde-releasing resins. Old Navy does not disclose finish specifications; however, such treatments are standard industry practice and off-gas minimally after initial wash and brief airing. No specific testing of Old Navy products has been published.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microplastic shedding
The 12% polyester component will shed some synthetic fibers during washing, as all polyester garments do. The impact is incremental; a cotton-dominant blend sheds considerably less than 100% polyester alternatives. Washing in a microfiber capture bag reduces shed slightly but does not eliminate it.
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 test reports of azo dye violations or heavy metal (lead, cadmium, chromium) contamination in Old Navy apparel have been published. Mass-market dyers typically comply with legal azo restrictions in major markets, though third-party audits are not publicly available for this brand.
Source, FDA ↗Antimony in polyester fiber
The 12% polyester content uses antimony trioxide as a catalyst in polymerization; however, antimony is chemically bound into the polymer chain and does not leach during wearing or washing under normal conditions. No health hazard from antimony migration in standard polyester apparel is documented.
Flame retardants
Pixie Pants are standard everyday trousers without flame-resistant labeling and are not subject to flammability standards requiring additive flame retardants. No flame retardant chemical additives are expected in this product.
Source, EPA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Old Navy Pixie Pants are a cotton-polyester blend woven twill, typically 88% cotton and 12% polyester or similar ratios. Cotton dominates the fiber content, which reduces synthetic chemical exposure compared to fully synthetic pants. The polyester component is a stable thermoplastic polymer that does not leach significantly under normal wearing conditions, though the dye system and any finishing treatments applied during manufacture are the main chemical concern in this product category.
The brand's record and disclosure
Old Navy (Gap Inc. subsidiary) has not published formal chemical disclosure statements or restricted substance lists specific to apparel lines, and maintains a general sustainability statement rather than granular transparency on hazardous finishes. The brand has faced no major recalls or public hazard allegations related to apparel formaldehyde, azo dyes, or heavy metals in recent years. Gap Inc. does participate in industry water and chemical stewardship initiatives, but Old Navy does not independently certify products to third-party textile standards such as OEKO-TEX or GOTS.
How it compares in its category
Standard cotton-blend pants occupy the middle of the safety spectrum, they avoid the VOC off-gassing risks of heavily treated synthetics or water-repellent coatings, but lack the independent verification of certified organic or OEKO-TEX labeled alternatives. Old Navy's price point and material choice are typical for mass-market apparel, with safety profiles broadly equivalent to competitors like Target, H&M basic lines, and Uniqlo; no data suggests Old Navy has worse chemical controls than these peers.
If you buy it
Wash these pants in cool water before first wear to reduce any residual dyes or finishes. Standard machine washing and drying present no heat risk; twill fabrics are robust and do not shed microplastics significantly under normal laundry. No special care is needed beyond routine garment maintenance. Replace when seams fail or fabric pilling becomes severe, not due to chemical degradation concerns.
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.