Williamson-Dickie · Stain-Resistant Workwear
Dickies Men's Pants Dickies 874 Work Pants Flex Original Fit
Lower concern. Basic work pants without water-resistant treatment.
Dickies 874 work pants are primarily cotton-poly blend twill without advertised water-repellent coating or stain-resistant treatments. No known PFAS-linked finishes; standard work clothing poses lower PFAS risk than treated outerwear.
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Material
cotton blend twill, no water-repellent coating finish noted
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
Dickies 874 pants are constructed from a cotton-polyester blend twill (typically 65% polyester, 35% cotton). The blend offers durability and wrinkle resistance for work environments. No water-resistant (water-repellent coating) chemical finish is noted on this model, which eliminates a major source of PFAS exposure common in treated workwear. The twill weave itself is chemically inert once manufactured.
The brand's record and disclosure
Williamson-Dickie maintains minimal public disclosure on chemical processing, flame retardants, or restricted substance policies. No major recalls for formaldehyde, azo dyes, or heavy metal contamination have been documented for Dickies 874 pants in regulatory databases. The brand does not advertise certifications like GOTS or bluesign, but absence of recalls does not guarantee zero risk in dyeing or finishing processes.
How it compares in its category
Dickies 874 occupies the mid-market workwear segment. Compared to budget overseas brands, Williamson-Dickie has longer establishment and fewer documented safety incidents. Compared to premium certified organic or bluesign workwear, these pants lack third-party chemical auditing. The lack of water-repellent coating treatment actually positions these as lower-risk than branded water-resistant work pants that often rely on PFAS.
If you buy it
Wash new pants once in cool water before wearing to reduce excess dyes and residual finishes. Use standard laundry detergent; high heat is not required for cotton blends and can degrade polyester. Inspect seams and stitching annually for wear in high-friction areas. These pants are designed for repeated industrial washing and should last 2-3 years with normal work use.
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 heavy metal mordants in fabric dyeing
Cotton-polyester blends require industrial dyeing processes. Williamson-Dickie does not publicly certify compliance with restricted azo dye standards (OEKO-TEX, GOTS). No recalls for heavy metals in Dickies 874 exist, but dyehouse practices are not disclosed.
Formaldehyde resins in wrinkle-resistance or sizing finishes
Polyester-cotton blends often receive formaldehyde-based finishing to reduce wrinkles and improve dimensional stability. Dickies does not specify finish-free or low-formaldehyde treatment. Standard industrial twill finishes typically contain formaldehyde; one wash cycle reduces residual levels significantly.
Antimony in polyester fiber
Polyester component (approx 65%) may contain antimony trioxide as a catalyst used during polyester manufacturing. Antimony leaching from fabric is minimal but not zero. Williamson-Dickie does not certify antimony-free polyester.
Flame retardants in fabric treatment
No evidence of brominated or chlorinated flame retardant treatment on Dickies 874 work pants; these are not marketed as flame-resistant and workwear of this type does not typically receive such coatings unless specifically labeled FR.
Phthalates or plasticizers in synthetic components
Phthalate risk is primarily in PVC coatings, prints, or elasticized waistbands with vinyl. Dickies 874 uses standard elasticated waistband without noted vinyl; no phthalate concerns are documented for this product line.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 78% 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 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.