Gildan Hoodies: Best Styles, Printing Tips & POD Selling Guide

As a print-on-demand seller, choosing the right hoodie is essential for building a successful e-commerce business. When it comes to hoodies, Gildan is a popular option thanks to its accessible pricing, versatile styles, and suitability for a wide range of custom designs. However, each style has different features that can affect your printing options, product costs, and target customers. 

Therefore, in this blog post, we will cover the best styles, printing methods, and tips for selling custom hoodies efficiently. Let’s find out!

Key Takeaways

• Gildan hoodies are a practical choice for POD sellers, offering versatile styles for everyday apparel, personalized gifts, and niche collections.
• The Gildan 18500 Heavy Blend Hoodie is a popular starting point for custom graphic hoodies, while full-zip and youth styles offer more options for different audiences.
• Heavy Blend and DryBlend serve different needs: Heavy Blend suits everyday wear, while DryBlend focuses on moisture management.
• Check sizes, colors, fabric composition, and printing compatibility before creating product listings.
• Merchize simplifies POD fulfillment, letting you focus on design, listing optimization, and store growth without buying inventory in bulk.

Why Are Gildan Hoodies Popular for Print on Demand?

Gildan hoodies are a popular choice for POD sellers because they balance affordability, everyday comfort, and design flexibility. With multiple styles, colors, and sizes available, they can serve different customer groups and niches without requiring sellers to hold inventory upfront.

• Affordable Pricing: Gildan offers budget-friendly blank hoodies, giving sellers more flexibility when setting retail prices and calculating profit margins.
• Versatile Styles and Colors: From classic pullover hoodies to full-zip designs, sellers can choose options that suit different audiences and design concepts.
• Suitable for Various Printing Methods: Depending on the specific model and fulfillment provider, Gildan hoodies can support decoration methods such as direct-to-garment (DTG), direct-to-film (DTF), and embroidery.
• Broad Market Appeal: Hoodies work well for niche apparel, personalized gifts, team merchandise, brand merchandise, and seasonal collections.

However, not every Gildan hoodie offers the same fit, fabric composition, or printing compatibility. Before adding one to your store, check the product specifications, available decoration methods, and total fulfillment costs to ensure it fits your target market and pricing strategy.

Best Gildan Hoodies for Print on Demand

Gildan has several hoodie styles, from classic pullovers to full-zip designs and heavier fleece options. For POD sellers, the best choice depends on the type of products you want to sell, the designs you plan to print, and the customers you want to reach.

Instead of adding every style to your store, start with a few models that fit your niche, then expand your catalog as you learn what your customers prefer.

Best Gildan Hoodie Models for Adults

Adult Gildan hoodies come in a range of everyday styles, so you can build a collection without relying on just one type. These models are worth considering for a custom apparel store.

Gildan 18500 Heavy Blend Hoodie

The Gildan 18500 is a classic pullover with a double-lined hood, front pouch pocket, and a cotton-polyester blend. Its familiar shape and broad size range make it a practical starting point for POD sellers.

Good fit for: Graphic hoodies, niche designs, personalized gifts, and everyday casualwear.

Gildan 18600 Heavy Blend Full-Zip Hoodie

This style has a full-length zipper and a brushed interior, making it easy to wear over a T-shirt. The zipper also affects the front print area, so consider designs that work on one side of the chest, the sleeves, or the back.

Good fit for: Team apparel, company merchandise, club designs, and logo-based collections.

Gildan 19500 Premium Heavyweight Hoodie

If your customers prefer a heavier hoodie, the 19500 is another model to consider. Compare its fabric weight, fit, and base cost with the 18500 before deciding whether it suits your store.

Good fit for: Heavier-feel apparel, minimalist graphics, and streetwear-inspired collections.

Gildan SF600 Softstyle Full-Zip Fleece

This full-zip fleece gives sellers another option beyond the traditional Heavy Blend range. Check the fabric composition and fit against your target audience before adding it to your catalog.

Good fit for: Casual basics, branded apparel, and collections built around zip-up styles.

Best Gildan Hoodie Models for Youth

Youth hoodies give POD sellers another way to serve parents, families, schools, and youth organizations. Two useful options are the classic pullover and the full-zip style. Both have adult counterparts, which can be helpful if you want to offer coordinated family or team apparel.

Gildan 18500B Heavy Blend Youth Hoodie

This youth pullover features a front pouch pocket and a soft, brushed interior. It has no drawcord, making it a distinct option from the adult version.

Good fit for: Kids’ graphic apparel, school spirit designs, and matching family hoodies.

Gildan 18600B Heavy Blend Youth Full-Zip Hoodie

This youth version features a full-length zipper and no drawcord. It offers an alternative for customers who prefer a zip-up hoodie over a pullover.

Good fit for: Kids’ casualwear, team clothing, and personalized outer layers.

Gildan SF500B Softstyle Midweight Fleece Youth Hoodie

This is another youth fleece option listed in Printify’s Gildan hoodie guide. Check the current catalog for its available sizes, colors, and decoration options before planning a collection around it.

Good fit for: Youth casualwear and coordinated apparel collections.

For youth products, make sure your listing uses the correct youth size chart rather than the adult chart. Also confirm that the specific model is available through your POD provider, as not every supplier carries every Gildan style.

Gildan Heavy Blend vs. DryBlend Hoodies

Heavy Blend and DryBlend serve different needs. Heavy Blend is positioned around everyday comfort, while DryBlend uses moisture-wicking fabric for customers who want a more performance-oriented garment.

Which one should you choose?

If your store focuses on everyday graphic hoodies, personalized gifts, or niche apparel, Heavy Blend is a sensible place to start. If you’re targeting customers who prioritize moisture management, explore DryBlend products where a suitable hoodie model is available.

One important detail: don’t assume every Gildan hoodie is available in both fabric ranges. Check the exact style number and your POD provider’s current catalog before publishing a listing. Product availability, color choices, and supported printing methods can vary by supplier.

Gildan Hoodie Sizes, Colors, and Materials

Before adding Gildan hoodies to your POD store, check three things: available sizes, color options, and fabric composition. These details affect how customers choose a hoodie, how your designs look on it, and which product variations you can offer.

Gildan Hoodie Sizes

Gildan offers adult and youth hoodies in different size ranges, depending on the model. For example, the adult Gildan 18500 Heavy Blend Hoodie is listed in sizes from S to 5XL on Gildan’s official US product page, while the youth version uses a separate size chart.

For POD sellers, offering a broad size range can help you reach more customers. However, don’t assume every color is available in every size.

Keep these points in mind when creating your listings:

• Use the correct size chart: Adult and youth hoodies have different measurements. Link the relevant chart on each product page.
• Include garment measurements: Chest width, body length, and sleeve length help customers choose a suitable fit.
• Avoid promising a specific fit without checking: If you describe a hoodie as oversized, relaxed, or true to size, make sure the actual measurements support that claim.
• Check extended sizes: Confirm which colors are available in larger sizes before publishing all your product variations.

Gildan Hoodie Colors

Color selection can make a difference in how well a design works. Black, white, navy, and gray are useful starting options for many graphic hoodie collections, while brighter colors can suit seasonal designs, school spirit apparel, or niche-specific products.

The Gildan 18500, for example, comes in a range of colors, including Black, White, Navy, Sport Grey, Red, Royal, and Military Green. The exact selection depends on the current product range and supplier availability.

When choosing colors for your store, consider the following:

• Match colors to your design: Light-colored artwork may stand out better on dark hoodies, while dark artwork often works well on lighter backgrounds.
• Check print contrast: Review how the design looks against each hoodie color instead of relying on the mockup alone.
• Start with a manageable selection: Test a few colors that complement your niche before adding every available option.
• Verify color and size availability: Some colors may not be offered in all sizes, so confirm the available combinations with your POD provider.

Gildan Hoodie Materials

Many popular Gildan hoodies use cotton-polyester blends, but the exact composition varies by product and color. Understanding the fabric helps you choose suitable products and set realistic expectations for customers.

For example, the Gildan 18500 is listed as an 8 oz/yd² hoodie made from 50% cotton and 50% polyester in solid colors, while certain heather colors use a 60% polyester and 40% cotton blend. It also features a brushed interior.

Before publishing a listing, confirm the specifications for the exact model you plan to sell. Fabric composition, color availability, measurements, and supported printing methods can vary across styles and suppliers.

Sell Gildan Hoodies With Merchize

Ready to turn your hoodie designs into products you can sell? Merchize helps POD sellers manage product fulfillment without buying inventory upfront, so you can focus on growing your store.

Choose Your Products

Start with hoodie styles that fit your niche and target audience. Check the Merchize catalog for available products, sizes, colors, and customization options.

Create Designs That Stand Out

Explore niche graphics, personalized gifts, seasonal artwork, or branded apparel. Choose designs that appeal to your target customers and work well with the selected hoodie’s printable areas.

Optimize Your Listings

Use clear mockups, accurate product details, and relevant keywords. When setting prices, account for product costs, shipping, marketplace fees, and advertising expenses.

Focus on Growing Your Store

With Merchize supporting your fulfillment workflow, you can spend more time testing designs, optimizing listings, and expanding your product range.

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