Old Navy · Stain-Resistant Professional Workwear
Old Navy Women's High-Waisted Sleektech Trouser Pants
water-repellent coating finish likely contains PFAS because Old Navy won't disclose.
Sleektech is a water-repellent coating finish typically applied to synthetics. Old Navy makes no PFAS statements; water-repellent coating treatments routinely use legacy PFAS chemistry.
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Material
Polyester blend with Sleektech water-repellent coating 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.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
PFAS
Sleektech water-repellent coating finish is not disclosed as PFAS-free; fluorinated water-repellents remain industry standard for this performance class. Old Navy has not published PFAS testing or phase-out timeline for this product line.
Source, ATSDR ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
Some water-repellent coating and wrinkle-resistant finishes contain formaldehyde-based cross-linkers, though modern formulations often use lower-formaldehyde or formaldehyde-free alternatives. Old Navy has not disclosed finish chemistry for Sleektech.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microplastics
Degradation of water-repellent coating coatings during laundering can release polymer particles and associated chemicals. This is inherent to any applied finish and increases with washing cycles, though the magnitude for these trousers is not quantified in public data.
Source, EPA ↗What’s reassuring
Azo dyes (textile colorants)
No public recalls or safety alerts for azo dyes in Old Navy polyester trousers. Polyester textiles are generally subject to CPSIA and EU REACH restrictions, which limit high-risk azo dyes, but Old Navy does not disclose dye chemistry by product.
Antimony in polyester (catalyst residue)
Antimony is a standard polymerization catalyst in polyester manufacture; residual levels in finished apparel are typically below concern thresholds per CPSIA, but Old Navy does not publish antimony testing data.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
These pants are polyester blend (primary fiber) with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish branded as Sleektech. Polyester itself is chemically stable during wear, but water-repellent coating finishes historically rely on fluorinated compounds (PFAS) to achieve water and stain resistance. The polymer base poses no established leaching risk during normal wear, but the applied coating is the concern.
The brand's record and disclosure
Old Navy (Gap Inc. subsidiary) has not published specific PFAS phase-out commitments or disclosure of water-repellent coating chemistry for this line as of public record. The brand has faced scrutiny on chemical transparency but has not issued recalls or warnings specific to Sleektech products. Gap Inc. made limited PFAS commitments in 2021 but implementation timelines and product-level detail remain opaque.
How it compares in its category
Sleektech water-repellent coating-finished trousers sit in the mainstream performance-apparel segment. Competitors using PFC-free water-repellent coating finishes (wax-based, silicone, or newer polymer alternatives) exist at similar or slightly higher price points. Unfinished polyester trousers eliminate water-repellent coating chemical risk but sacrifice stain and water resistance. Old Navy's silence on water-repellent coating chemistry is typical of fast-fashion brands but less transparent than premium outdoor brands that disclose fluorine-free coatings.
If you buy it
Wash in cold water and avoid high heat to minimize any potential surface chemical shedding during laundering. Do not tumble dry on high heat; air dry or low heat only. Repeated washing will degrade the water-repellent coating finish over time (normal wear pattern), reducing both water repellence and any lingering chemical residue. If water-repellent coating toxicity concerns drive your decision, replacement with certified PFC-free or unfinished alternatives is the practical next step.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 42% 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.
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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.