Lee · Stain-Resistant Professional Workwear
Lee Women's Classic Pocketless Button Down Shirt
Lower concern. Standard cotton shirt with no reported PFAS treatments.
Lee's classic button-down is plain woven cotton with no water-repellent coating or stain-resistance mentioned, reducing PFAS risk. No brand disclosure on PFAS, typical for basic apparel.
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Material
cotton woven fabric
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
Category baseline
clothing is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This shirt is woven cotton fabric, a cellulose-based natural fiber with minimal inherent chemical risk compared to synthetic blends. Cotton production itself may involve pesticide residue or heavy metals in dyes, but finished woven fabric poses lower leaching risk than knits or treated coatings. The pocketless, button-down construction adds no specialty finishes or flame retardant coatings typical of performance wear, reducing the hazard surface.
The brand's record and disclosure
Lee (owned by Kontoor Brands) maintains basic compliance with apparel safety regulations but does not publish detailed material sourcing or chemical restriction transparency reports. No major recalls or documented chemical safety controversies are on record for Lee basics like this shirt. The brand's silence on PFAS is consistent with most mainstream US apparel manufacturers, though it is not a recognized barrier to purchase.
How it compares in its category
A plain cotton woven shirt represents one of the lowest-complexity garment types in apparel; it sits well below high-risk categories like performance fabrics with water-repellent finishes, heavily dyed textiles, or flame-retardant treatments. Compared to synthetic blends or structured shirts with stiffening agents, this product avoids many finish-related chemical hazards. Lee's positioning in the mid-market does not imply higher or lower chemical risk than organic or premium basics.
If you buy it
Wash in warm water before first wear to reduce loose dye residue. Standard machine washing poses no heat or chemical stability concerns for untreated cotton. Check seams and buttons for durability after 20-30 washes; replace if buttons weaken or stitching fails, as these are common failure points in mid-market basics. No special storage or heat precautions are necessary; cotton remains stable in normal domestic conditions.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Azo dyes and synthetic dye heavy metals
Woven cotton apparel is typically dyed with reactive or vat dyes; Lee does not disclose dye chemistry. Azo dyes are regulated in EU but not restricted in the US; residual heavy metals (lead, chromium) in dyes are a known concern in lower-cost cotton wovens. Pre-wash is a practical mitigation.
Formaldehyde resins (wrinkle-release finish)
No evidence suggests this basic shirt receives formaldehyde-based durable-press or easy-care finish. Plain woven cotton from mainstream US manufacturers typically avoids these treatments unless explicitly marked 'no iron' or 'wrinkle-free.'
Antimony in polyester (if present in blend)
Product is listed as cotton woven; no polyester content reported. This hazard is not applicable unless composition deviates from stated material.
Fragrance allergens or chemical finish odor
Minimal fresh-garment odor is typical of untreated cotton; strong chemical smell would suggest undisclosed finish or dye residue. This is a sensory indicator rather than a measured hazard; no specific fragrance allergen data is on record for Lee basics.
Button and hardware leaching
Buttons on basic apparel are typically plastic or coated metal; no recalls or hazard reports exist for Lee shirt hardware. Button materials are not disclosed but fall within standard industry tolerance for contact and laundering.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 72% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
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.