Some clothing items come and go, but the Gildan G185 hoodie refuses to just fade away, becoming a legend of sorts in the wholesale apparel market. It’s conquered the hearts of apparel decorators, earned its place in quite a lot of Americans’ wardrobes, and even among people who prefer straight, casual basics.
The magic of G185 is in how the garment balances affordability, quality and customizability, making it popular across a broad demographic – from college students to entrepreneurs. Almost every startup clothing brand knows the style code. But not many know that the G185 also goes by Gildan 18500.
If you are curious how this single style of hoodie from Gildan became one of the brand’s most iconic pieces, keep reading.
Gildan G185 & Its Unbeatable Value Proposition
It might look like every other heavyweight hoodie but the G185 is extremely budget-friendly for that kind of quality. The brand prices it significantly lower than most of its competitors, and the quality delivered punches well above its weight class. This makes the G185 particularly appealing to small clothing brands and print-on-demand businesses. It’s just hard to beat this kind of cost to quality.
But there’s more. The hoodie is typically around 30-40% cheaper than premium hoodie styles, yet comes very close to the latter in terms of quality. Really. What’s more praiseworthy is how Gildan manages to keep the consistency across their production. No matter the batch, the style just keeps that level of quality and comfort. Also worth mentioning is Gildan’s decision to keep the hoodie at this price point despite its huge demand, making it an even more attractive option to buy in bulk.
Customizability
You can count this as a value proposition but it’s worth mentioning separately as the customizability is a major reason behind the hoodie’s unshakeable popularity.
Custom printing businesses worship the Gildan G185. Its smooth, tight-knit fabric creates a dream surface for screen printing, embroidery, HTV, and DTF. It stands among almost all blank hoodies for its crisp backdrop that delivers remarkably clear prints.
How? Fabric composition.
Made of 50% great quality cotton and 50% polyester, the G185 is known for the pill-resistant air jet yarn that gives it its smooth feel and excellent resistance to pilling. The hoodie surprisingly is also resistant to shrinkage. The print quality stays fresh even after a lot of washes and holds the color notably well. But still doesn’t compare to the color and shape retention of the more premium styles of the same category from Gildan itself as well as other leading brands. But the G185 comes in 48 colors. Now that isn’t easy to overshadow. For this price point, all of these aspects make the G185 a worthy investment.
Comfort & Durability
Not a lot of people would disagree when I say the G185’s comfort is also one of the reasons why people keep coming back to it. Despite the heavyweight make, the hoodie feels great and cozy. It offers a classic fit and typically fits true to size. The spandex material in the waistband helps it stretch comfortably, adding to the garment’s overall appeal. Pretty much everyone wearing it will find something to love about it.
Durability is another matter. Though the G185 does show good shrinkage resistance, the cotton material in the fabric is bound to shrink a little after many washes. However, it is by no means fragile. Not even when you consider that cheap garments are typically not very durable. The G185 is double-needle stitched throughout. So there is potential for impressive longevity if it’s cared for properly. It’s just built different.
Colors
48 Colors. Yes, the color variety is just wow. Due to the popularity of the hoodie, Gildan even added Safety Orange and Safety Green variants compliant with ANSI – ISEA 107 high visibility standards. It also has a couple of heathered variants to appeal to buyers who prefer custom heathered hoodies. The color variety and price make it a favorite for marketing teams. The G185 is a popular promo item as well, and can be spotted in the merch lineup in many events across America.
Gildan G185 Trivia
Here are some interesting facts you might not know.
- Gildan has stepped up to sustainability with responsible production, reduced usage of natural resources, and ethical labor practices.
- G185 ranks in the top 3 among the most requested hoodies by print-on-demand platforms.
- G185 is one of those rare styles that delivers excellent results in embroidery, sublimation, HTV, DTF, and screen printing.
- G185’s Heather Sport colors have more polyester than cotton (60/40).
- The one thing that wholesale buyers wish to change in the G185 is to replace the double-lined hood with a three piece hood.
- G185 has shown decent results when tie-dyed.
- Being a unisex hoodie, women should size down 1-2 sizes for a great fit.
- G185 can’t beat the New York winter but makes a fantastic layering piece.
- You can buy the G185 for a per-unit price that goes as low as $10 (maybe even lower) give or take a few cents when ordered in bulk.
- G185 matches perfectly with Gildan’s 18200 sweatpants.
- G185 comes in 5XL size also
- G185 is made with OEKO-TEX certified low-impact dyes
In a market obsessed with the next big thing, the Gildan G185 proves that consistent quality can trump flashy trends. It’s been “the big thing” for a while. And as long as it meets the needs of a huge market that looks at pricing, quality, and printability, the G185 hooded sweatshirt will thrive and not just survive.
And honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way.