Zella Live In High Waist 7/8 Leggings in Black at Nordstrom, Size Small
Lower PFAS risk. Untreated athletic leggings unlikely to contain PFAS.
Zella leggings are nylon-spandex performance wear with no disclosed water-resistant or stain-resistant coating. Standard untreated athletic textiles carry lower PFAS risk than treated or coated apparel.
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Material
Nylon/spandex blend, no stated treatment
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Zella Live In High Waist 7/8 Leggings is made of, ingredients and materials
Zella Live In leggings are a nylon-spandex blend, a common base for stretch athletic wear. Nylon itself is a durable synthetic polymer with established safety in apparel use; spandex (polyurethane elastomer) provides stretch without chemical treatment in most untreated formulations. No water-repellent or stain-resistant finish is stated for this style, which eliminates a major route for PFAS or fluorinated coatings in athletic wear. The black dye is a concern category for azo dyes, though modern athletic manufacturers typically use compliant disperse dyes.
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 in black textile
Black synthetic textiles use disperse dyes, which may include azo compounds. Modern regulatory compliance (ZDHC, Oeko-Tex) limits carcinogenic azo dyes in commercial athletic wear, but Zella does not disclose dye supplier or testing, so residual azo risk cannot be ruled out. Standard industrial practice suggests low likelihood, but no certification confirms absence.
Spandex polymer degradation under heat or UV
Spandex (polyurethane) degrades when exposed to sustained heat, chlorine, or UV light, causing loss of elasticity and potential micro-shedding of polymer fragments. Proper storage away from sunlight and careful washing (cool water, no dryer) mitigates this risk, but repeated exposure to high heat will shorten garment life and increase microfiber release.
Microfiber shedding during washing
All synthetic textiles, including nylon-spandex, shed microfibers during washing. Frequency increases with age, wear intensity, and wash temperature. Use a microfiber filter bag or washing machine filter to reduce shedding into wastewater; this is a use-phase concern rather than a manufacturing hazard specific to Zella.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No water-repellent, antimicrobial, or wrinkle-resistant finish is stated for this product. Untreated nylon-spandex blends do not typically require formaldehyde-releasing finishes, so formaldehyde risk is minimal for this specific style.
Source, ATSDR ↗Antimony in polyester or nylon
Antimony is occasionally used as a catalyst in polyester synthesis but is not documented in nylon production. This legging is nylon-dominant, so antimony residue risk is extremely low; however, no supplier certification is public.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Zella is a Nordstrom house brand; the parent company has made broad ESG commitments but Zella itself maintains no public chemical disclosure, restricted substance list, or third-party certifications (e.g., OEKO-TEX, GOTS). No product-specific recalls or chemical safety violations are documented for Zella leggings. The brand's silence on treatment chemicals is typical for mass-market athletic wear but means individual product transparency is limited.
How it compares in its category
Untreated nylon-spandex leggings are a baseline category in athletic wear. Zella sits in the mid-market; performance brands like Lululemon and On offer more detailed material sourcing and testing claims, while budget alternatives may use recycled or heavily finished nylons. For a Nordstrom house brand at typical price point, Zella's lack of added water-resistant or antimicrobial coatings actually reduces chemical risk compared to treated competitors.
If you buy it
Wash in cool water with mild detergent to preserve elastic fibers; avoid high heat or bleach, which can degrade spandex. Do not tumble dry on high heat; air dry to extend life and prevent polymer breakdown. Inspect seams and elastic cuffs every 6-12 months for pilling or degradation; replace when elastic loses recovery or fabric develops tears. No special precautions beyond standard athletic garment care are needed for this untreated material.
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.