We all love t-shirts for their simplicity, versatility, affordability, and evergreen style. However, the huge number of available t-shirt brands can make picking the perfect tee quite a chore. Among the many available brands, two contenders that lead the pack are Hanes and Gildan.
Both are excellent t-shirt makers, and if you need help picking between one of the two, you are in the right place. Our Hanes vs. Gildan comparison will reveal everything you want to know about each brand, including their pros and cons and top products. By the end, you should have no trouble deciding if Hanes or Gildan is your best choice for custom embroidered tees.
Top T-Shirt Brands
As we’ve mentioned, Hanes and Gildan are among the top of the food chain in the t-shirt industry. Some of the features that set them apart from competitors include:
- High-Quality Fabrics: Hanes and Gildan offer shirts made from quality fabrics that offer durability and comfort. You can pick shirts from either brand based on your skin needs or comfort preferences.
- Affordable: Even though Hanes and Gildan make t-shirts from high-quality fabrics, their products are reasonably priced. Their affordability makes shirts from both brands suitable for all budgets.
- Customizable: You can get blank tees from Hanes and Gildan and customize them with embroidery, screen printing, and other methods. Also, since both brands offer shirts in several colors, you can easily find one that fits your customization goals.
- Stylish: Both brands offer tees in various styles and colors to fit different preferences.
- Comfortable: Besides offering shirts made from comfortable fabrics, Hanes and Gildan offer tees in various sizes for different body types. Since shirts from both brands are true to size, you can look forward to a comfortable fit.
About Hanes
Hanes is an American brand that launched in 1900. The brand makes several clothing styles and types for men, women, and children, but t-shirts are its top seller.
Hanes tees are the go-to choice for many consumers looking for blank tees to customize. Even though the brand is American, Hanes makes most of its tees overseas, especially in South America and Asia.
Advantages to Hanes Tees
Below are some of the reasons shoppers prefer Hanes tees:
- Color Options: Hanes t-shirts are available in various exciting colors.
- Excellent Fabric Options: Hanes is famous for its 100% cotton tees, which are hypoallergenic and highly breathable. However, if you want something more durable and athletic, you can opt for one of Hanes cotton/polyester blend t-shirts.
- Price: Hanes tees are affordable, allowing you to save money without compromising on quality.
- Comfortable Fit: All Hanes shirts are true to size and offer a comfy and roomy fit.
- Tag-Free: Unlike most t-shirt brands, Hanes does not attach label tags to its shirts. Tags around the neck can make a t-shirt itchy and uncomfortable. Customizing and reselling tag-free tees is also easier.
Disadvantages to Hanes Tees
While Hanes tees are impressive, they do have a few shortcomings, such as:
- Made Abroad: Hanes keeps its clothing affordable by making them abroad. Even though the brand adheres to strict quality standards, many customers believe products made in Asia and South America are of lower quality.
- Cheaper Alternatives: Some t-shirt brands offer similar quality tees at slightly lower prices than Hanes.
About Gildan
Gildan is a Canadian brand that sells t-shirts in the U.S. and several other countries. Since its launch in 1984, the brand has grown, becoming one of the most popular t-shirt makers. While much of the cotton the brand uses to make its shirts come from the U.S., the brand does its actual shirt manufacturing in Honduras, Nicaragua, Bangladesh, and the Dominican Republic.
Advantages to Gildan Tees
Gildan tees are famous for these benefits:
- High-Quality Materials: Gildan offers 100% cotton t-shirts and high-quality cotton/polyester blend shirts.
- Lightweight: Most shirts from the brand are lightweight to offer superior comfort on hot days.
- Color Options: Gildan offers t-shirts in more colors than most brands.
- Pre-Shrunk Fabric: Gildan t-shirts feature pre-shrunk fabrics that are less likely to shrink in the dryer.
- Various Sizes and Styles: The brand offers various t-shirt sizes and styles to fit different body types.
- Affordable: Despite featuring quality materials, Gildan tees are among the most affordable you can find.
Disadvantages to Gildan Tees
Some of the shortcomings of Gildan tees include:
- Tags: The shirts have tags at the collar that some wearers find uncomfortable.
- Thin Feel: Most Gildan shirts feel thin and light, which is not an issue if you prefer soft, lightweight shirts.
Which Tee-Shirt Is Better?
The winner of the Hanes vs. Gildan contest will depend on who you ask. Some prefer Gildan shirts because they are available in more colors and are slightly more affordable. Others prefer Hanes because it is an older brand with a longer-spanning reputation. Also, individuals who believe a higher price implies better quality gravitate towards Hanes t-shirts.
Hanes vs. Gildan | Different Shirt Models
Hanes and Gildan offer more than one type of t-shirt. You can find options suitable for summerwear, layering in winter, and more. Below are some of the most popular t-shirt variations each brand offers.
Hanes
- Hanes 100% Cotton Originals Men’s T-Shirt: This shirt’s 100% U.S.-grown cotton fabric is highly breathable to keep you comfortable on warm days. The soft, lightweight fabric feels pleasant on the skin, allowing you to wear the shirt all day without experiencing discomfort. You can get the shirt in several colors, and the double-needle stitched armholes prevent the sleeves from losing elasticity and shape.
- Hanes Sport™ Men's Cool DRI® Performance T-Shirt: The super lightweight shirt features a 100% polyester fabric that wicks sweat to keep you dry and comfortable. The shirt also offers UV protection to keep you safe while having fun outdoors. Several colors are available, and you don’t have to worry about the material losing its color or shape after washing.
- Hanes Unisex ComfortWash® Garment Dyed Short Sleeve Tee: The Hanes ComfortWash® shirt has a pleasantly soft 100% ringspun cotton fabric. Since the material is pre-shrunk, it won’t shrink in the dryer. It has a sewn label and ribbed set-in collar to prevent irritation around the neck. The double-needle, cover-seamed collar, sleeve, and hem also help the shirt retain its shape and classic fit after several washes and wears.
- Hanes Beefy-T Adult Pocket T-Shirt: The Beefy-T has been a top Hanes seller for over four decades. The heavy shirt is highly durable, thanks to its premium fabric, which can be 100% cotton jersey or a cotton/polyester blend, depending on the color you buy. The shirt has a roomy fit for extra breathability, and the heavy fabric keeps the shirt cozy.
- Hanes Originals Men's T-Shirt with Pocket, Tri-Blend: You can wear this shirt on its own on warm days or layer it on cold days. The fabric is a blend of polyester, cotton, and rayon to offer superior breathability, moisture-wicking, and range of motion. Even though the shirt feels soft and pleasant, it is highly durable, making it ideal for people with active lifestyles. Its patch breast pocket is also stylish and functional.
Gildan
- Gildan Ultra Cotton T-Shirt: The heavyweight shirt features a thick cotton material that pleasantly caresses the skin. Several colors and sizes are available, and the unisex t-shirt is one of the most affordable you can get for custom tees for teams.
- Gildan DryBlend T-Shirt: A lightweight t-shirt made from a 50/50 cotton/polyester blend fabric that wicks moisture and dries quickly. Despite its excellent quality, the shirt is super affordable, and you can get it in several attractive colors.
- Gildan Softstyle V-Neck T-Shirt: If you prefer V-neck tees to round neck tees, the Gildan Softstyle V-Neck T-Shirt is for you. The casual t-shirt is perfect for summer, thanks to its 100% ringspun fabric, and its semi-fitted design makes it suitable for various body types.
- Gildan Heavy Cotton 100% Cotton T-Shirt: The Gildan Heavy Cotton tee is another lovely summer shirt for folks who like looking casual yet sharp. The 100% cotton fabric keeps the shirt pleasant to wear on hot and cool days, and the shirt does not lose color in the washer.
- Gildan Performance T-Shirt: The Gildan Performance Tee is for athletes and other individuals who are always on the move. The 100% polyester jersey knit fabric absorbs sweat and dries quickly to keep you comfortable throughout the day. Other things to love about the shirt are its anti-odor properties and stretchiness for unrestricted movement.
Looking for a corporate gift? Check out our corporate gifts that highlight Hanes and Gildan.
Hanes vs. Gildan | Differences
While Hanes and Gildan tees have many similarities, they also have some noteworthy differences. Understanding the impact of these differences can help you select the perfect product for your clothing or customization needs. The biggest of these differences are:
- Build: Most Gildan t-shirts are lighter than Hanes t-shirts. The lightness of the shirts makes them a comfortable choice for summer clothing. However, not all Gildan tees are lightweight. For instance, the Gildan Ultra Cotton T-Shirt is as heavy as the Hanes Beefy-T. On the other hand, Hanes t-shirts feel more durable because they typically have a denser fabric and thicker collars, hems, and sleeves.
- Material: Most Hanes tees feature 100% ringspun cotton, which is more durable than the regular cotton used in Gildan tees.
- Color Choices: Gildan and Hanes offer t-shirts in a wide variety of colors. However, Gildan has more color options than Hanes.
- Affordability: Hanes and Gildan offer tees at affordable prices, but Gildan’s prices are slightly lower, making it the budget-friendlier brand.
- Tags: Most Gildan shirts have collar tags, while most Hanes tees do not.
Which Tee-Shirt Is Best For You?
The correct answer to this question will depend on what you want. You should go for Gildan tees if you want the most affordable t-shirt made from quality materials. However, if you are willing to spend a little more and want a shirt with a more premium look and feel, Hanes may be your best choice.
Since each brand has different shirt types, don’t pick a shirt solely because of the brand name. Instead, look through each brand's offerings to find shirts that best fit your needs.
Looking for polos instead? Check out this post.
Both Tee-Shirts Are Fan Favorites! Check Out Our Selection of Both Brands!
In the Hanes vs. Gildan contest, both brands are winners that have been going strong for decades. Shoppers gravitate to both brands because they offer quality clothing at attractive prices. Also, both brands offer different quality tees that are excellent choices for making embroidered apparel.
At ThreadLogic, you can get custom embroidered shirts made with your preferred Gildan or Hanes tees. Visit our store today to view our selection of Gildan Custom Logo Embroidered Apparel or Hanes Custom Logo Embroidered Apparel and place an order.