Whether or not they know it, almost everyone owns at least one screen-printed t-shirt. Heaps of brands have been making them for years now as a way of getting their name out there, and it's proven to be incredibly successful as a form of marketing. What's slightly less common to see, however, are screen-printed hoodies and sweatshirts. That's not because they don't look good or function well - it's more to do with higher costs and it being harder to get good quality items that people will wear. To help you find the perfect brand for your next batch of branded items, whether you're a business or a punk bank, we decided to compile some of our top options.
Fruit of the Loom is a well-known producer of high-quality hoodies and t-shirts. Their Classic Hooded Sweatshirt is a great option for those looking for something to screen print onto, made using a blend of 80% cotton and 20% polyester. The cotton helps create an impressive softness, while the polyester aids durability and long-term structural rigidity. It's twin needle stitched throughout the whole garment, meaning that you shouldn't get any of that annoying fraying you sometimes see on cheaper garments happening anytime soon.
That being said, it's not expensive, especially when bought in bulk! It comes in 25 different colours and five different sizes, from small to 2XL, meaning you can come up with a range of different contrasting designs on whichever colour you choose. Plus sizes (3XL-5XL) are on certain popular colour options like Black, Heather Grey and White. In terms of thickness, it comes in at between 260-280gsm, depending on the colour you choose, making it a great option for year-round use. With a double-thickness hood and a great kangaroo pocket, this would be a wonderful option for those who want to screen print quality items without breaking the bank, an excellent mid-range solution suitable for a wide variety of uses.
Gildan are another well-known brand in the hoodie and t-shirt world and have been making high-quality options since they started out in Montreal in 1984. Their Heavy Blend Hoodie is a staple in their collection, and it's popular for a reason. It's made from a blend of 50% cotton and 50% polyester and at between 257 and 271gsm. It comes in only slightly lighter than the SOL'S option. The fabric is high quality and tends to handle screen printing very well. It also comes in at a far lower price than the Champion option, making it more well-suited to bulk purchases, especially if you can find a supplier that'll offer a bulk buy discount.
One thing that a lot of people have found is that the Gildan Heavy Blend Hoodie stands the test of time exceptionally well. Even after multiple washes, it remains very comfortable without shrinking too much. It's important to note that it does come in on the small side already, meaning it's best to go one or two sizes up if you want something that fits well. Overall, we reckon it's a great solution for a wide range of uses, especially if the wearer will need to wash it quite regularly.
SOL'S are an awesome quality brand, and their Slam Hooded Sweatshirt is a great heavyweight option. It's made from a 50% cotton, 50% polyester brushed-back fleece blend, making it super soft and comfortable. It does only come in 12 different colour options, making it harder in many cases to get a perfect match with the overall colour scheme you're going for. That being said, it's by far the heaviest fabric on this list, at 320gsm, making it a great option and highly suitable for use in labour-intensive settings.
It comes in six different sizes, from XS to XXL, and given the price you'd normally expect to pay for hoodies this thick, it's not actually that expensive at all. The drop shoulder style means that it will always look a little on the casual side of things, but it isn't excessively baggy, more just very comfortable. The elastane ribbed cuffs and hem help keep it out of the way when you're moving, and the front pouch pocket is decently sized as well.
While you might not have heard of Just Hoods, their AWDis College Hoodie is one of the most popular options on the market for screen printing, and not just with college students. Made from a blend of 80% ringspun cotton and 20% polyester, it's exceptionally soft, especially so because the inside is brushed back fleece. If you're looking for a wider range of colours than those offered by Fruit of the Loom, then you're in luck - this model comes in a massive 86 different colours in nine different sizes from XS to 5XL in certain colourways.
That wider range of colours means that if you're trying to match it to your brand colours, it's more likely that you'll find a precise match compared to some of the other brands on this list. In terms of thickness, the fabric comes in at a nice 280gsm, making it another good all-season option. It has a nice big front pouch pocket, and an easy-to-tear-out label, meaning you don't have to keep any off-brand stuff on it after you've received your order. You can find more colours of the popular AWDis College Hoodie, here.
We'd recommend all of the hoodies listed above, and each is perfectly suited for different uses. If you need high-quality hoodies that will hold their screen-printed design for years to come in a slightly more sporty aesthetic, then we recommend going with SOL'S if you have the budget or with Gildan if you want something that's nearly as good but a little bit cheaper. If you need to carry out a bulk purchase, and the hoodies won't be worn quite so much, then you'll probably be very pleased with the options from Just Hoods or Fruit of the Loom.
