Z By Zella Perform High Waist Flare Leggings
Lower concern leggings, but brand offers no PFAS transparency.
Zella performance leggings use nylon and spandex without stated water-resistant or stain-resistant treatments, suggesting lower PFAS risk. Brand provides no PFAS disclosure or certifications, limiting confidence.
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Material
nylon, spandex blend
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Z By Zella Perform High Waist Flare is made of, ingredients and materials
Z By Zella Perform leggings are nylon and spandex (elastane), a durable synthetic blend standard for athletic wear. Nylon itself is chemically inert once manufactured and does not leach heavy metals or plasticizers under normal wear. Spandex provides stretch but is sometimes treated with heavy metals (antimony) as a catalyst during polymerization; however, residual antimony in finished garments is typically negligible and not absorbed through skin contact.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
Clothing is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Azo dyes and synthetic colorants
Black nylon leggings may use disperse azo dyes; however, well-manufactured nylon is dyed with colorfast methods and does not leach color into skin or sweat under normal conditions. No recalls or dermatological complaints specific to Zella leggings are documented.
Microplastics
All synthetic fiber garments shed microfibers, especially nylon, when washed or worn. This is a product-life issue, not a manufacturing defect. Shedding is minimized by cold-water washing, gentle cycles, and air-drying; the hazard is environmental rather than personal-health in nature.
Source, EPA ↗What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
Antimony in polyester/spandex synthesis
Antimony can be used as a polymerization catalyst in spandex production. Finished garment residues are considered negligible and not absorbed through intact skin; no reports of health effects from wearing spandex-blend athletic wear exist in public literature.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Nylon may undergo minimal formaldehyde-based resin finishing for wrinkle resistance or water repellency. Z By Zella Perform leggings show no evidence of heavy chemical finishing; they are marketed as basic performance wear without waterproof or stain-guard claims that would imply formaldehyde treatment.
Source, ATSDR ↗Flame retardants
Performance leggings are not typically treated with flame retardants unless explicitly marketed as flame-resistant. No evidence suggests Z By Zella Perform line carries such treatment or related hazards.
Source, EPA ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Zella is Nordstrom's house brand; no significant safety recalls or hazard controversies are on record for this line. The brand does not publish specific chemical disclosure statements, restricted substance lists, or third-party certifications (e.g., OEKO-TEX, GOTS). This silence on PFAS and other chemical management is typical for athletic basics but limits assurance beyond industry baseline standards.
How it compares in its category
Nylon-spandex blends are the industry standard for performance leggings and are generally lower-risk than cotton-synthetic blends (which can trap moisture and mildew) or polyester-dominant blends (which sometimes carry flame-retardant coatings). Z By Zella occupies the mid-market segment with no documented chemical hazards, placing it in the same safety tier as competitors like Athleta, Old Navy Active, and store-brand offerings from major retailers.
If you buy it
Wash in cold water with gentle detergent and air-dry to preserve elasticity and reduce any potential off-gassing. Avoid high heat (dryer, direct sunlight for extended periods) as synthetic blends can degrade and theoretically release microfibers, though this occurs at the end of garment life, not immediately. Replace when elastic waistband loses recovery, seams fray, or fabric pilling becomes excessive (typically 2-3 years of regular wear). No special precautions needed beyond standard athletic-wear care.
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
- Zella has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More activewear 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.