Every day, millions of people reach for their favorite t-shirt. It is simple in design, but is manufactured in comfortable, eco-friendly fabrics in a variety of colors to help you create memories of life’s special moments. The t-shirt reached for is Gildan.
What is Gildan?
You know the name and have likely worn the brand. It is a name synonymous with comfort. Initially founded as a manufacturer of children’s apparel by Joseph Chamandy in 1946 in Montreal Canada, and now a global brand with $2.6 billion in sales in 2016, Gildan now manufactures a variety of high-quality apparel, including the Gildan Ultra Cotton line.
Gildan’s cotton is grown in the U.S. under EPA and OSHA regulations, and some of the cotton farms have been around for three or four generations. They also offer organic cotton t-shirts with environmental benefits, such as the reduction of chemicals and avoidance of genetically modified seeds.
Gildan is internationally recognized for product safety and human health. The company adheres to a strict code of conduct when it comes to their facilities and suppliers. They recycle products as much as possible. They even use recycled polyester made from recycled PET bottles in some of their products.
Gildan continues to research new blends for fabrics, which is how their ultra-cotton product was founded.
Gildan Ultra Cotton vs. Gildan Heavy Cotton
Both Ultra Cotton and Heavy Cotton lines feature trendy styles and have many similarities. They have a double-needle sleeve and bottom hems, quarter-turned to eliminate a center crease, and a taped neck and shoulders, allowing for a sleek and polished look.
These fitting details make the shirts more comfortable for everyday wear. They use pre-shrunk cotton and are easy to print on. The designs look fantastic, thanks to the cotton blended fibers.
Ultra Cotton is heavier at 6 oz. over heavy cotton’s 5.3 oz. Ultra Cotton is also a slightly softer material, because the cotton is thicker and heavier and spun tighter.
Even their labels are different! Ultra Cotton has a satin label, whereas Heavy Cotton (sometimes referred to as Gildan 100 cotton) has a tearable label. The heavy cotton sizing ranges from small to 3XL, while the ultra-cotton sizes are small to a 5XL.
Pre-Shrunk Cotton
Gildan uses a pre-shrinking process for the cotton, which prevents shrinking after the shirt is made. They wash the cotton fabrics in hot water before the shirt, or any other cotton-made article is sewn together.
The cotton t-shirts may still experience moderate shrinkage in the first wash. The best way to prevent shrinking is by washing the t-shirts in cold water and either hanging or laying them flat to air dry. The company uses ring spun cotton, which softens each fiber. This makes the fabric softer, more durable, and less prone to shrinkage.
50/50 Polyester and Cotton Fabrics
To give the shirts color, they use a blend of two fabrics. These shirts add black dyed polyester fibers with the cotton fibers.
A few examples of these colors for the ultra-cotton fabrics are Safety Orange, Safety Green, Dark Heather, Heather Navy, Heather Cardinal, Heather Indigo, Heather Sapphire and Safety Pink. The polyester fabrics help prevent shrinkage when washed. The fabrics are also eco-friendly because they use recycled materials.
Easy Printing
T-shirts and polos can offer many advantages when it comes to promoting your business. A t-shirt worn at your place of business or in a crowded environment, such as a community event, airport, sports event, or even a restaurant, can draw attention to your brand and bring in more business.
Look around, and if you don’t see a shirt, jacket or hat with your business’ logo on it, you’re overlooking an affordable and extremely effective marketing tool.
Successful t-shirt marketing requires using a quality, comfortable t-shirt. Gildan t shirts are the essence of the soft, promotional t-shirt.
It is also a great example of a pre-shrunk 100 percent cotton shirt, possessing all the best features of cotton making it perfect for screen printing.
Many businesses order the Gildan ultra-cotton t-shirt because they fit both males and females equally well due to its standard fit. It is an ideal moderate-heavy use t-shirt, which is easy to print on and holds up well when washed.
There are a plethora of colors to choose from, making it a great choice for casual wear, uniforms or promotional apparel. The Safety Orange and Safety Green options make them perfect for outdoor work shirts.
