Gildan Softstyle 64000 Printed — the promo t-shirt bestseller in 56 colours

What is the Gildan Softstyle 64000? — the promo bestseller at a glance

The Gildan Softstyle 64000 was introduced in 2009 by Gildan Activewear as a direct answer to the Fruit of the Loom Valueweight — and has since become the best-selling ring-spun t-shirt in the North American promo market. After the 2024 rebrand the model also runs under the name "Hammer Adult T-Shirt", but the article code 64000 remains the industrial synonym in DACH print shops. The shell is a 150 gsm t-shirt of 100 % ring-spun cotton in side-seamed construction — so with a seam at the side rather than a continuous tube, which gives the cut a slimmer profile. Sizes S–5XL for men, women's cut 64000L in XS–3XL, kids variant 64000B from 104 to 164.

Compared to the Heavy Cotton 5000 (180 gsm, classic boxy cut), the 64000 looks distinctly more modern and is the typical pick for bachelor parties, streetwear labels and crew kits where the shirt should fit like a premium tee, but at a mass-market price. 56 colours — from black/white via the heather line to neon and pastels — cover any brand-manual wish. All colours are OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, which gives event organisers and school crews a direct compliance bridge to the skin-contact textile law.

Material and construction in detail

Reading "150 gsm ring-spun cotton" sounds like a lightweight fabric — and with the 64000 that is a feature, not a bug. The model is ordered for exactly those occasions where a light, soft shirt is wanted: summer bachelor parties, festival staff packs, concert merch, outdoor event promo. If the brief calls for something more rugged, switch to the Heavy Cotton 5000 or Ultra Cotton 2000.

Ring-spun cotton vs. open-end spun

Ring-spun means the cotton fibres are combed and aligned in parallel before spinning — the result is a smoother yarn that feels softer and pills less. Open-end spun is the industrial standard method and produces a coarser, cheaper yarn — as used on the classic Heavy Cotton 5000. So for the same price level, the 64000 gives you the premium spinning method without losing the mass-market advantage. Yarn density 4.5 oz/yd² (152 gsm), knit single-jersey.

Cut and sizing

The 64000 runs slim — at least one size narrower in the chest than a Heavy Cotton 5000. If you are kitting out a 25-person crew for a festival and want to make sure none of the XL wearers makes a "too tight" complaint call, recommend one size up for broader-built wearers and women's quantities, or switch directly to the 64000L women's cut. For women's quantities, expect a size smaller than the US tag — that is the most important rule of thumb for this model and belongs in the briefing email to your crew.

Colours, sizes and stock depth

We carry the Softstyle 64000 in all 56 colours for the top two size bands (M–XL) on direct access; the full S–5XL spectrum is available within 48 hours from the Gildan European central warehouse. Heather colours read slightly more washed-out than the solid colours — relevant for Pantone matching on club kits. For Pantone-accurate special colours we recommend plastisol screen print with custom mixing, which we run as standard in our German facility.

Seven print methods on the Softstyle 64000

One of the arguments for the 64000 as a standard promo shell is the universal print compatibility: all four main methods — screen print, DTG, DTF and embroidery — work cleanly on the material, plus flex/flock films and the speciality plastisol-glitter process for festival crews. Which method is most economical depends almost always on quantity and number of colours in the design.

Screen print — most economical from 100 pieces

Screen print is and remains the most economical finishing method for 100+ pieces with one- to four-colour designs. Per print position we charge from €0.80 net at 100 pieces and per print colour — at 500 pieces the per-position price drops to roughly €0.55. Up to eight spot colours per design plus Pantone matching for club colours are included in the standard setup. On the 150 gsm shell, for dark base colours with a light design we recommend a double-hit underbase so the white stays opaque — this is built into our pricing bands as standard.

DTG digital print — for photo-realistic designs

DTG digital print is the right choice for photo designs, photographic gradients and designs with more than eight colours. Resolution 1,200 × 1,200 dpi, applied directly to the cotton fibre, minimum quantity one piece. On the 64000 DTG works very well — on very dark base colours with light photo content the 150 gsm fabric can show through minimally, which we compensate with a double-layer DTG pretreatment. Price range €3.90 to €7.50 per A4 position with volume tiers.

DTF transfer — for 1 to 50 pieces multi-colour

DTF transfer is the optimal choice for small runs of one to 50 pieces with multi-colour designs — the typical bachelor-party or birthday use case with personalised names. Per position we charge €4.90 to €8.90 in this quantity range. Advantage over screen print: no per-colour setup cost. Disadvantage above 100 pieces: arithmetically more expensive than plastisol.

Embroidery — for logos and subtle chest finishing

Embroidery on the 64000 is possible, but because of the 150 gsm fabric not recommended for large designs. Rule of thumb: up to 5,000 stitches and a maximum 7 × 7 cm per logo is fine — anything above shows through on the inside and can affect wearing comfort noticeably. If you want subtle chest embroidery for a club logo, this is a good fit. For larger embroidery designs, switch to the Heavy Blend Hoodie 18500 or the 180 gsm Heavy Cotton 5000 — both carry embroidery better.

Volume tiers and pricing for Softstyle 64000

The volume staircase for the 64000 follows five bands — 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1,000+. The strongest discount breaks sit at 100 pieces (–22 %) and 500 pieces (–38 %). The following prices are gross unit prices including one single-colour print position, excluding shipping and VAT — final pricing is calculated live by the configurator.

For multiple print positions (e.g. chest + back) the configurator adds position prices additively. For orders above 500 pieces we prepare a custom quote on request with framework-contract conditions and consolidated-shipping options.

Comparison with other Gildan models

The 64000 is not the only promo model from Gildan — and depending on the use case a sister shell can be the better pick. The following matrix helps with the model decision before you open the configurator.

For a wider cut on a club kit, switch to the Gildan 5000 Heavy Cotton. For a heavier premium promo shirt for a concert-merch line, the Gildan 2000 Ultra Cotton is the right call. For the matching crew hoodie, the Gildan 18500 Heavy Blend is the canonical pick. All models share identical volume-tier logic and the same logo setup, so you can order a consistent three-shell crew line without paying multiple setup fees.

Use cases for the Softstyle 64000

The 64000 dominates four use clusters in DACH: bachelor crew wear, promotional goods for large events, school and class shirts, and streetwear-label first lines. In all four worlds the slim cut and soft hand count as a premium advantage over the classic Heavy Cotton standard.

Bachelor parties and crew shirts

For bachelor parties and bachelor crews, the 64000 is the standard pick: slim cut, soft hand, low price threshold. Typical quantities eight to 30 pieces, usually finished with DTF transfer (multi-colour custom designs with names or dates). Women's variant 64000L available in the same setup. Lead time five to eight working days from order.

Promotional goods and event shirts

For event promo goods and promotional shirts in quantities 500–5,000, the 64000 with plastisol screen print is the classic. Pantone logo matching, in-house storage available, consolidated shipping to event venue as standard option. Complaint rate below 0.8 % per the customer-service log of the last 12 months.

School crews and class shirts

School hoodies and class shirts for graduation cohorts run through the same volume-tier setup. The 64000 is the typical pick here because of the low unit price and the broad S–3XL size range, when the class fund does not stretch to a Stanley/Stella premium setup. Quantities 30 to 150 pieces, mostly finished with screen print or DTF transfer.

About Gildan Activewear

Gildan Activewear Inc. is a Canadian-American apparel manufacturer headquartered in Montreal, founded in 1984 by Glenn Chamandy. The company owns the brands Gildan, American Apparel and Comfort Colors and is, with over a billion garments produced per year, the world's largest manufacturer of promotional t-shirts. Production runs in vertically integrated company-owned facilities in Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Bangladesh — all WRAP-certified. The Softstyle line was introduced in 2009 as a response to the Fruit of the Loom Valueweight and rebranded in 2024 under the "Hammer" label — the article code 64000 remains the industrial standard synonym in DACH print shops.

External sources for further research: Gildan Softstyle 64000 manufacturer spec, Gildan Activewear (Wikipedia), OEKO-TEX Standard 100.

Frequently asked questions about the Gildan Softstyle 64000

What is the difference between Gildan 64000 and Gildan 5000?

The Gildan 64000 Softstyle is a 150 gsm ring-spun cotton t-shirt with a slim, modern cut — typical use case bachelor parties and promo. The Gildan 5000 Heavy Cotton is a 180 gsm t-shirt of open-end spun cotton with a classic boxy cut — the pick for club kits, workwear and any occasion where ruggedness matters more than premium hand. The 5000 sits 5–10 % below the 64000 in price; the 64000 feels softer and fits more modern.

Which print method is best on the Softstyle 64000?

Rule of thumb by quantity: one to 50 pieces multi-colour → DTF transfer; from 100 pieces one- to four-colour → plastisol screen print; photo-realistic designs in any quantity → DTG digital print; subtle chest logo → embroidery up to 5,000 stitches. All four methods work cleanly on the 150 gsm shell. For dark base colours with a light design we use a double-hit underbase in screen print so the white stays opaque.

How does the Gildan Softstyle 64000 fit?

The model runs slim — at least one size narrower in the chest than a Heavy Cotton 5000. For broader-built wearers or for women's quantities we recommend one size up from the US tag — or switching directly to the women's cut 64000L (XS–3XL). Size distribution in the configurator grid is freely selectable; total quantity counts for the volume tier.

What does ring-spun cotton mean at Gildan?

Ring-spun means the cotton fibres are combed and aligned in parallel before spinning — the result is a smoother, softer yarn that pills less. Open-end spun is the industrial standard process with a coarser yarn, used on the Heavy Cotton 5000. The 64000 therefore uses the more expensive spinning method without losing the mass-market advantage.

Is the Gildan Softstyle 64000 suitable for embroidery?

Within limits — up to 5,000 stitches and a maximum 7 × 7 cm per logo is fine. Larger embroidery shows through on the inside and affects wearing comfort. For larger logo designs we recommend switching to the Heavy Cotton 5000 (180 gsm) or the Heavy Blend Hoodie 18500 (280 gsm) — both carry the embroidery better.

How much does a Gildan 64000 printed cost from 500 pieces?

From 500 pieces the gross unit price is €4.30 net including one single-colour print position. From 1,000+ pieces the price drops to €3.80 net per piece. Additional print positions (e.g. back) add €0.55 to €1.90 per position in plastisol screen print. For bulk orders above 500 pieces with custom-shipping setup we prepare a framework-contract quote on request.

Where is the Gildan Softstyle 64000 manufactured?

The model is produced in Gildan's own vertically integrated facilities — primarily in Honduras (Choloma) and the Dominican Republic. All facilities are WRAP-certified (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production); Gildan is a member of the Fair Labor Association and the UN Global Compact. OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is documented per batch; certificate numbers are available on request as PDF.

Does the print on a Gildan 64000 hold up after 50 washes?

For plastisol screen print: yes, 50-plus wash cycles at 40 °C are standard, no notable loss of coverage. For DTG print: 30-plus washes at 40 °C without visible fading; expect light fading from 50 washes onward. For DTF transfer: 25–40 washes at 40 °C, recommended inside-out and no tumble drying. Embroidery: practically unlimited — outlasts the shirt itself.

What is the minimum order quantity (MOQ) for the Gildan 64000?

For DTF transfer and DTG digital print, MOQ is one piece. For plastisol screen print, the volume tier starts sensibly at 25 pieces (per-colour setup cost); screen print becomes economical from 100 pieces. For embroidery the MOQ is one piece, but a €25 setup fee per logo makes small runs under ten pieces priced worse than DTF.

Related topics

• All Gildan models at a glance
• Screen print — most economical method from 100 pieces
• DTG digital print for photo designs
• DTF transfer for small runs
• Embroidery on 150 gsm — what works, what doesn't
• Bachelor-party shirts with Softstyle 64000
• Event promo goods for concerts and trade shows
• Stanley/Stella vs Gildan — premium organic or mass promo?
• Request bulk quote from 500 pieces
• Configure the Gildan Softstyle 64000 now