Z By Zella Perform High Waist Pocket 2.0 7/8 Leggings
Lower concern leggings; no known water-repellent coating finish applied.
Zella makes no PFAS claims. Polyester-blend athletic leggings typically lack water-repellent coatings unless marketed as waterproof, which this product does not claim.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
polyester blend with stretch nylon
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Z By Zella Perform High Waist Pocket 2.0 is made of, ingredients and materials
These leggings are a polyester-nylon stretch blend, a common athletic wear construction that offers durability and shape retention. Polyester itself is chemically stable in normal wear, but the manufacturing process and any applied finishes are where chemical exposure risk concentrates. The absence of a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish, which often contains PFAS, is a positive marker for this product line. Nylon stretch components add elasticity but require careful heat management to avoid degradation.
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 colorfast stability
Polyester-nylon blends require synthetic dyes; Zella does not disclose dye sources or heavy metal testing. Risk of color bleeding or residual dye transfer is low in modern apparel but increases with cold-water washing or with sensitive skin contact.
Microplastic shedding during wear and wash
All polyester garments shed microfibers, especially with friction and machine washing. Zella does not employ microfiber-reduction treatments; shedding is typical for the category and contributes to aquatic microplastic load over the garment's lifetime.
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
Antimony is occasionally used as a catalyst in polyester synthesis. No recalls or specific evidence of elevated antimony in Zella products; industry standard manufacturing typically results in minimal residual content, but no independent testing is available for this product.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Wrinkle-resistant or shape-retention finishes sometimes use formaldehyde-releasing resins. Zella's stretch nylon likely uses physical elastomers rather than chemical resins, but no finish disclosure is published; off-gassing risk is considered low for athletic wear in this price segment.
Source, ATSDR ↗Flame retardants
Athletic leggings are not subject to flammability standards in the US and typically do not contain added flame retardants. No evidence of flame retardant application in Zella sportswear.
Source, EPA ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Zella is a Nordstrom house brand with limited public transparency on chemical sourcing or sustainability certifications. No major recalls or documented safety controversies are on record for Zella apparel. The brand maintains silence on PFAS policy, which is typical for mid-tier athletic wear brands but indicates no proactive commitment to phasing out fluorinated chemicals in future products. No third-party certifications (like OEKO-TEX or GOTS) have been published for this specific line.
How it compares in its category
Polyester-nylon blends are industry standard for affordable athletic leggings; Zella sits in the mid-market segment alongside brands like Fabletics and Champion. Products in this price and quality tier rarely undergo independent chemical testing or pursue third-party certifications, so Zella's profile is typical rather than exceptional. Higher-end competitors (Nike, Lululemon) and eco-focused brands (Girlfriend Collective, Patagonia) publish more detailed chemical and labor transparency, offering more documented reassurance if that matters to you.
If you buy it
Wash in cool to warm water (not hot) to preserve nylon elasticity and prevent microfiber shedding; hot water can degrade stretch fibers and trigger leaching of residual dyes. Avoid fabric softeners, which can coat and degrade the material. Machine dry on low heat or air dry; high heat can damage nylon permanently. Replace when elastic waistband loses recovery or seams show stress, typically after 40-60 washes with normal 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.