9 Blank T-Shirts and Sweatshirts to Personalize

When you're browsing online for good-quality blank apparel to personalize, it's easy to feel lost.

Apparel suppliers carry such a huge range of styles that it's hard to know which T-shirt or sweatshirt to choose for personalizing. 👕🤔

Before I introduce 9 styles from the biggest brands of blank apparel to personalize, I'd like to give you a few pointers to help you spot good-quality garments online:

1 - Fabric Weight

Fabric weight is a key factor to consider when you want to assess the quality of a garment.

Fabric weight reflects how thick the fabric is. 💪

a. T-Shirt Fabric Weight

T-shirts generally range from 130g/m2 to 220g/m2 (grams per square meter).

130g/m2 T-shirts are mostly used by textile printers to make promotional T-shirts* (low-end T-shirts worn for a one-time event.)

For a brand that specializes in clothing, I recommend choosing a T-shirt that's at least 160g/m2 (even if that's still a little thin, thickness isn't the only sign of a quality T-shirt.)

If you prefer thick T-shirts, I highly recommend going with a 200g/m2 weight.

Skate/Surf/Streetwear brands usually go for this kind of weight for their T-shirts. 🛹🏄

b. Sweatshirt Fabric Weight

A sweatshirt's weight ranges from 260g/m2 to 420g/m2 (not counting the fleece lining, which makes a sweatshirt feel thicker)

A good-quality sweatshirt weighs between 300g/m2 and 420g/m2. I'd recommend avoiding sweatshirts under 280g/m2

Just for reference, hoodies from Nike weigh roughly 300g/m2 to 330g/m2.

2 - Fabric Materials

I'm not going to cover ALL the different fabric materials, since plenty of videos online have already done that:

Watch the video on fabric materials

Instead, I'll point you toward the materials you need for your T-shirts and sweatshirts to personalize.

a. T-Shirt Materials

100% Polyester T-Shirts:

You probably already know this: T-shirts and sweatshirts made of 100% polyester have that synthetic feel typical of athletic wear that clings to your skin 🏃‍♀️

100% Cotton T-Shirts:

100% cotton T-shirts are a favorite of clothing brands. They're breathable and don't cling to your skin.

Combed Cotton:

Some garments are made of 100% combed cotton, which is a higher-quality cotton (more durable and softer, but more expensive.)

T-Shirts to Personalize with 95% Cotton and 5% Spandex:

If you want a stretchier cotton T-shirt that hugs the body, go for cotton T-shirts with a little viscose or spandex, such as 95% cotton and 5% spandex.

b. Sweatshirt Materials for Personalizing

100% Cotton Sweatshirts and 50% Cotton, 50% Polyester Sweatshirts:

It's worth mentioning that polyester is cheaper than cotton, so it's not unusual to see sweatshirts that are 50% cotton and 50% polyester, or 80% cotton and 20% polyester.

Sweatshirts with more cotton are usually softer, but these blends don't make a big difference.

Fleece-Lined vs. Unlined Sweatshirts:

Most sweatshirts are fleece-lined on the inside. That means they have a thin layer of wool that keeps you warm and makes them soft to the touch. If you don't like wool, there are sweatshirts without fleece lining.

Organic Cotton

Organic cotton garments aren't fundamentally different in quality from regular cotton garments.

However, organic cotton is better for the environment. 🍃

Now that we've covered the main differences between garments based on their characteristics, here are:

The 9 Must-Have T-Shirts and Sweatshirts to Personalize:

1 - Gildan T-Shirts and Sweatshirts to Personalize

Hoodie - Gildan 18500:

The Gildan 18500 is the go-to sweatshirt for clothing brands that are just starting out.

Its slightly oversized fit and great price make it very popular.

It also has a fleece lining on the inside that keeps you warm.

That said, I can't only sing the Gildan 18500's praises. Its weight is 280g/m2*,* which is light for a sweatshirt.

Hoodie - Gildan 12500:

The Gildan 12500 hoodie or GN925 is identical to the Gildan 18500 in every way, except it has a higher weight (300g/m2)

It's a little more expensive, but it's a sweatshirt to personalize that I highly recommend.

T-Shirt - Gildan 2000:

The Gildan 2000 is a crew-neck T-shirt to personalize with a 200g/m2 weight

Slightly oversized and thick, it's very popular with streetwear brands.

2 - The JUST HOODS Brand

Hoodie - JH001:

The JH001 is an alternative to the Gildan 18500. This sweatshirt isn't often used by clothing brands.

But custom apparel businesses love it, because it offers excellent value for money.

Weight: 280g/m2

Fit: Straight

3 - New Wave

Organic Cotton T-Shirt for Women and Men

The New Wave organic cotton T-shirt is a great everyday companion. At 160g/m2, this T-shirt is neither too light nor too thick.

It's perfect for every season, with excellent softness and quality, and on top of that, it's made from organically grown cotton! 🤩🍃

4 - FRUIT OF THE LOOM

T-Shirt - Fruit Of The Loom Super Premium:

The Super Premium T-shirt from Fruit of the Loom is an excellent 100% cotton T-shirt with a straight fit.

Be careful, though: after a few washes, the T-shirt gets stiff and less soft.

Weight: 205g/m2

Quarter-Zip Sweatshirt - SC276:

I've had the chance to test a large number of quarter-zips from the textile suppliers on the market.

Most of them had poor fabric quality.

The SC276 quarter-zip is the only one with a good thickness and a perfect fit (despite its high price).

Crew-Neck Sweatshirt - Fruit of the Loom 62-216-0:

The Fruit of the Loom 62-216-0 is a basic mid-range crew-neck sweatshirt with excellent value for money.

5 - B&C:

Crew-Neck Sweatshirt - B&C CGSET

A high-end crew-neck sweatshirt that costs 20% more than the previous one, but its fabric quality and softness are amazing.

The collar on this sweatshirt to personalize is very wide and snug.

Its 280g/m2 weight is its only weak point.

Now that you know the best T-shirts and sweatshirts to personalize, all that's left is to find the right printing technique to bring your best creations to life!

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