Dickies · Stain-Resistant Professional Workwear
Dickies Men's Pants Dickies 874 Work Pants Flex Original Fit
Lower concern because this basic work pant has no water-resistant finish.
Dickies 874 pants are a basic cotton-poly twill blend with no water or stain-resistant treatments advertised. Standard work clothing without special finishes poses lower PFAS risk.
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Material
cotton blend twill, no water-repellent coating finish noted
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What Dickies Men's Pants Dickies 874 Work is made of, ingredients and materials
Dickies 874 pants are constructed from a cotton-polyester blend twill (typically 65% polyester, 35% cotton). The blend offers durability and wrinkle resistance for work environments. No water-resistant (water-repellent coating) chemical finish is noted on this model, which eliminates a major source of PFAS exposure common in treated workwear. The twill weave itself is chemically inert once manufactured.
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.
Heavy metals
Cotton-polyester blends require industrial dyeing processes. Williamson-Dickie does not publicly certify compliance with restricted azo dye standards (OEKO-TEX, GOTS). No recalls for heavy metals in Dickies 874 exist, but dyehouse practices are not disclosed.
Source, FDA ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester-cotton blends often receive formaldehyde-based finishing to reduce wrinkles and improve dimensional stability. Dickies does not specify finish-free or low-formaldehyde treatment. Standard industrial twill finishes typically contain formaldehyde; one wash cycle reduces residual levels significantly.
Source, ATSDR ↗Antimony in polyester fiber
Polyester component (approx 65%) may contain antimony trioxide as a catalyst used during polyester manufacturing. Antimony leaching from fabric is minimal but not zero. Williamson-Dickie does not certify antimony-free polyester.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Flame retardants
No evidence of brominated or chlorinated flame retardant treatment on Dickies 874 work pants; these are not marketed as flame-resistant and workwear of this type does not typically receive such coatings unless specifically labeled FR.
Source, EPA ↗Phthalates
Phthalate risk is primarily in PVC coatings, prints, or elasticized waistbands with vinyl. Dickies 874 uses standard elasticated waistband without noted vinyl; no phthalate concerns are documented for this product line.
Source, ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Williamson-Dickie maintains minimal public disclosure on chemical processing, flame retardants, or restricted substance policies. No major recalls for formaldehyde, azo dyes, or heavy metal contamination have been documented for Dickies 874 pants in regulatory databases. The brand does not advertise certifications like GOTS or bluesign, but absence of recalls does not guarantee zero risk in dyeing or finishing processes.
How it compares in its category
Dickies 874 occupies the mid-market workwear segment. Compared to budget overseas brands, Williamson-Dickie has longer establishment and fewer documented safety incidents. Compared to premium certified organic or bluesign workwear, these pants lack third-party chemical auditing. The lack of water-repellent coating treatment actually positions these as lower-risk than branded water-resistant work pants that often rely on PFAS.
If you buy it
Wash new pants once in cool water before wearing to reduce excess dyes and residual finishes. Use standard laundry detergent; high heat is not required for cotton blends and can degrade polyester. Inspect seams and stitching annually for wear in high-friction areas. These pants are designed for repeated industrial washing and should last 2-3 years with normal work use.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 78% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Dickies 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.