Old Navy · Stain-Resistant Workwear
Old Navy Women's High-Waisted Sleektech Trouser Pants
water-repellent coating finish likely contains PFAS. Old Navy silent on PFAS disclosure.
Sleektech is a water-repellent coating finish typically applied to synthetic textiles. Old Navy makes no PFAS statements. water-repellent coating treatments commonly use legacy PFAS chemistry.
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Material
Polyester blend with Sleektech water-repellent coating finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
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
These pants are polyester blend (primary fiber) with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish branded as Sleektech. Polyester itself is chemically stable during wear, but water-repellent coating finishes historically rely on fluorinated compounds (PFAS) to achieve water and stain resistance. The polymer base poses no established leaching risk during normal wear, but the applied coating is the concern.
The brand's record and disclosure
Old Navy (Gap Inc. subsidiary) has not published specific PFAS phase-out commitments or disclosure of water-repellent coating chemistry for this line as of public record. The brand has faced scrutiny on chemical transparency but has not issued recalls or warnings specific to Sleektech products. Gap Inc. made limited PFAS commitments in 2021 but implementation timelines and product-level detail remain opaque.
How it compares in its category
Sleektech water-repellent coating-finished trousers sit in the mainstream performance-apparel segment. Competitors using PFC-free water-repellent coating finishes (wax-based, silicone, or newer polymer alternatives) exist at similar or slightly higher price points. Unfinished polyester trousers eliminate water-repellent coating chemical risk but sacrifice stain and water resistance. Old Navy's silence on water-repellent coating chemistry is typical of fast-fashion brands but less transparent than premium outdoor brands that disclose fluorine-free coatings.
If you buy it
Wash in cold water and avoid high heat to minimize any potential surface chemical shedding during laundering. Do not tumble dry on high heat; air dry or low heat only. Repeated washing will degrade the water-repellent coating finish over time (normal wear pattern), reducing both water repellence and any lingering chemical residue. If water-repellent coating toxicity concerns drive your decision, replacement with certified PFC-free or unfinished alternatives is the practical next step.
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.”
PFAS in water-repellent coating finish (reported separately)
Sleektech water-repellent coating finish is not disclosed as PFAS-free; fluorinated water-repellents remain industry standard for this performance class. Old Navy has not published PFAS testing or phase-out timeline for this product line.
Azo dyes (textile colorants)
No public recalls or safety alerts for azo dyes in Old Navy polyester trousers. Polyester textiles are generally subject to CPSIA and EU REACH restrictions, which limit high-risk azo dyes, but Old Navy does not disclose dye chemistry by product.
Formaldehyde resins (finish cross-linkers)
Some water-repellent coating and wrinkle-resistant finishes contain formaldehyde-based cross-linkers, though modern formulations often use lower-formaldehyde or formaldehyde-free alternatives. Old Navy has not disclosed finish chemistry for Sleektech.
Antimony in polyester (catalyst residue)
Antimony is a standard polymerization catalyst in polyester manufacture; residual levels in finished apparel are typically below concern thresholds per CPSIA, but Old Navy does not publish antimony testing data.
Microplastics shedding from coating
Degradation of water-repellent coating coatings during laundering can release polymer particles and associated chemicals. This is inherent to any applied finish and increases with washing cycles, though the magnitude for these trousers is not quantified in public data.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 42% 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.
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More stain-resistant 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.