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Brand guide

Gildan

The volume standard

Last updated September 14, 2026

Shop all 79 Gildan blanks →

Gildan is the volume backbone of the US printwear trade: the largest blank-apparel manufacturer, and the benchmark other blanks get compared to. Every major distributor stocks it deep, in every size, in dozens of colors. It also owns Comfort Colors, so the two brands share a supply chain even though they serve different jobs.

Quick take

Best for
Giveaways, events, uniforms, fundraisers: orders where unit cost and availability decide and the shirt is a vehicle for the print.
Watch out
Open-end cotton fibrillates under DTG and needs a heavier ; push DTG and DTF jobs to the ring-spun 64000.
Anchor styles
5000 Heavy Cotton, 64000 Softstyle, 18500 Heavy Blend hoodie.

Featured Gildan blanks

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The styles that matter

The 5000 Heavy Cotton ( , open-end cotton, boxy tubular fit) is the default promo tee in America. The 2000 Ultra Cotton steps up to when a job calls for a heavier, more durable blank, and the 64000 Softstyle ( , ring-spun, semi-fitted) is Gildan's answer when the customer wants a softer, retail-leaning .

For fleece, the 18500 Heavy Blend hoodie ( , 50/50 cotton/poly, double-lined hood) is the standard pullover for teams, schools, and events.

Fabric & print behavior

The open-end carded cotton on the 5000 and 2000 is a coarser surface than ring-spun: it takes screen print fine, but DTG fibrillates more and needs a heavier , so push DTG and DTF jobs toward the ring-spun 64000. The heavier 2000 absorbs thick deposits without distortion, which is why old-school shops still default to it.

On the 18500, mind the polyester: solids are 50/50 but heathers run 40/60 cotton/poly, so use low-bleed inks and watch cure temps to avoid on darks.

When to choose Gildan

Reach for Gildan when unit cost and availability decide the job: giveaways, events, uniforms, fundraisers, any order where the shirt is a vehicle for the print. When the garment itself is the product (retail merch, brand drops), look at Bella+Canvas, Next Level, or Comfort Colors. The honest pitch: it prints predictably and restocks reliably.

Gildan in our catalog

Our 79 Gildan blanks look like a lot, but they're 8 collections. Each collection is one fabric, sold in companion cuts of the same garment.

Heavy Cotton 11

The 5000, the default promo tee, in unisex, youth, women's, V-neck, toddler, tank, pocket, long-sleeve, and raglan cuts. Same open-end cotton across the collection, so a mixed-size event order prints and reorders as one fabric.

Ultra Cotton 8

The 2000 collection, a heavier and more durable cotton in unisex, youth, women's, tall, tank, pocket, and long-sleeve cuts. Pick it over Heavy Cotton when the job calls for thicker fabric or heavy deposits.

Softstyle 27

The 64000's ring-spun, retail-leaning collection, and the biggest collection here. Softer , semi-fitted cut, plus CVC heathers, the midweight 65000, and the SF fleece extension. The Gildan to reach for on DTG and DTF jobs.

Heavy Blend 13

The 18500 hoodie's 50/50 cotton-poly fleece collection: hoodies, crews, full-zips, sweatpants, and joggers. The standard fleece for teams, schools, and events.

DryBlend 9

50/50 fleece with moisture-wicking, the uniform-friendly middle ground between Heavy Blend and true performance wear.

Performance 3

Moisture-wicking 100% polyester athletic tees, and the only Gildan collection sublimation accepts.

Light Cotton 2

Featherweight promo tees for the lowest unit cost on high-count giveaways.

Hammer 6

Gildan's heavyweight collection: thick ring-spun tees, fleece, and a piqué polo cut for the boxy streetwear look.

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T-Shirts 46 Sweatshirts 16 Pants 6 Polo Shirts 5 Tank Tops 5 Accessories 1 Shop all 79 →