In This Guide
- The short answer: what the Softstyle is and who it’s for
- What exactly is the Gildan Softstyle? (64000, 640L, 65000)
- Full fabric and construction specs
- How it actually feels to wear
- Sizing and fit: how it runs
- Softstyle vs Gildan 5000 vs Bella+Canvas 3001
- Printing and customizing the Softstyle
- Who should buy it — and who shouldn’t
- Care instructions
- Frequently asked questions
- Conclusion
Walk into any custom print shop in the country and you’ll find three or four blank t-shirts they reach for constantly. The T-shirt Gildan Softstyle — officially the Gildan 64000 — is almost always one of them. It’s the shirt shops recommend when a customer says “I want something nicer than the cheapest one, but I don’t want to pay boutique prices.” It’s also the shirt buyers Google endlessly before ordering: is it actually soft? How does it fit? Does it shrink?
The short answer: the Gildan Softstyle is a 4.5-ounce, 100% ring-spun cotton t-shirt (model 64000 for the unisex cut, 640L for the ladies’ cut) with a modern classic fit, a smooth print surface, and a tear-away label for easy rebranding. It sits in the sweet spot between budget blanks like the Gildan 5000 and premium shirts like the Bella+Canvas 3001 — genuinely softer and better-fitting than the budget tier, noticeably cheaper than the premium tier. It earns its reputation, with one caveat: it’s a mid-range shirt, and it doesn’t pretend to be anything else.
What Exactly Is the T-Shirt Gildan Softstyle?
“Softstyle” is Gildan’s line of softer-feeling cotton shirts, and the flagship is the Gildan 64000 — the unisex/men’s crew neck. The line includes a few siblings worth knowing about:
- Gildan 64000 — the standard unisex Softstyle tee, sizes S through 5XL, the one most shops stock.
- Gildan 640L — the ladies’ Softstyle, with a more fitted cut, sizes S through 3XL.
- Gildan 65000 — a newer midweight Softstyle (5.3 oz) with side-seamed construction for buyers who want a bit more substance.
When people say “the Softstyle” without a number, they almost always mean the 64000. This guide focuses on it, with notes where the others differ.
Full Fabric and Construction Specs
Specs matter because they’re how you compare shirts without holding them. Here’s everything a buyer needs, verified against distributor spec sheets and independent reviews:
| Spec | Gildan 64000 Softstyle |
|---|---|
| Fabric weight | 4.5 oz/yd² (lightweight) |
| Material | 100% ring-spun cotton (24 singles); heather and sport colors are poly-blends |
| Construction | Seamless tubular body (no side seams), quarter-turned to avoid center creases |
| Fit | Modern classic fit — slightly more tailored than the boxy Gildan 5000 |
| Neck | Narrow, classic-width rib collar, non-topstitched; taped neck and shoulders |
| Stitching | Double-needle sleeves and bottom hem |
| Label | Tear-away (easy to remove for private labeling) |
| Shrinkage | Preshrunk jersey knit; expect roughly 1–3% residual shrinkage |
| Sizes | S–5XL (unisex 64000) |
| Colors | Dozens of options — anywhere from ~two dozen core stock colors to 60+ shades depending on the distributor’s range |
A few of those specs deserve unpacking, because they’re the whole reason this shirt exists.
What “ring-spun” actually means
Regular cotton tees (like the classic Gildan 5000) use “open-end” cotton: fibers spun loosely into a thicker, rougher yarn. Ring spinning twists and thins the fibers into a finer, smoother, stronger yarn before knitting. The result is a shirt that feels noticeably softer out of the package, drapes a little better, and gives printers a smoother surface with higher stitch density — which means crisper printed details. This is the single biggest difference between the Softstyle and the budget blanks below it.
What “24 singles” means
The “singles” number measures yarn fineness — higher means finer, smoother yarn. At 24 singles, the Softstyle’s yarn is finer than the open-end cotton of budget shirts but coarser than the 30-single yarns used in premium fashion blanks. That puts the Softstyle squarely in the middle: clearly softer than cheap tees, not quite as silky as the premium tier. It’s an honest mid-range fabric, priced like one.
How It Actually Feels to Wear
Out of the package, the Softstyle feels soft — no break-in period needed. The 4.5-ounce fabric is light without being flimsy, and the ring-spun cotton has a smooth hand that doesn’t have the slightly scratchy edge of open-end cotton. It’s comfortable for all-day wear, which is exactly why shops recommend it for staff uniforms, team shirts, and branded apparel people will actually wear more than once.
Honesty requires the other side: it is not the softest shirt you can buy. Reviewers consistently note that the Bella+Canvas 3001 (with its combed-and-ring-spun “Airlume” cotton) and the Next Level 3600 feel softer. The Softstyle’s hand is best described as retail-quality soft at a value price — a shirt that feels like something from a mid-tier clothing store, not something from a discount bin and not something from a boutique.
After washing, the preshrunk knit holds its shape well. The tubular construction means there’s no side seam to twist (a real advantage — side seams on cheap shirts often rotate after a few washes), and the taped neck and shoulders keep the collar from stretching into a sad boat-neck. Minor quality-control variations are occasionally reported, which is normal at this price tier.
Sizing and Fit: How It Runs
The short answer: the 64000 runs true to size in a classic unisex cut. Order the size you’d normally wear.
The “modern classic fit” is Gildan’s way of saying it’s a touch less boxy than the old-school 5000 — a slightly more tailored cut through the body, but still a relaxed, everyday fit, not a slim or fashion fit. If you’re between sizes or prefer a looser drape, size up. If you like a closer fit, the ladies’ 640L or a premium side-seamed shirt will serve you better.
Practical tip: expect a small amount of shrinkage after the first wash — roughly 1–3% — even though the shirt is preshrunk. If the fit is borderline when it arrives, wash and dry it once before deciding whether to size up. And if you’re ordering for a group, collect everyone’s sizes once, from one source; the fit is consistent enough across the family of Softstyle cuts (men’s, ladies’, youth) that a whole team can coordinate in one order.
Softstyle vs Gildan 5000 vs Bella+Canvas 3001
This is the comparison that matters, because these three shirts define the three price tiers of the blank-tee world. Here’s how they stack up:
| Gildan 5000 (budget) | Gildan 64000 Softstyle (mid) | Bella+Canvas 3001 (premium) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fabric | Open-end cotton, 5.3 oz | 100% ring-spun cotton, 4.5 oz | Airlume combed ring-spun cotton, 4.2 oz |
| Feel | Sturdy, slightly rough | Soft, smooth | Softest of the three |
| Fit | Boxy classic | Modern classic, lightly fitted | Retail fit, side-seamed |
| Colors | 75+ (widest palette) | Dozens | 90+ (widest premium palette) |
| Best for | One-time events, workwear, tight budgets | Teams, merch, staff shirts people keep | Retail brands, fashion merch |
| Price tier | Lowest | Low-mid | Premium |
The rule of thumb shops use: choose the Softstyle when people will wear the shirt more than once and you want them to think well of it, without paying premium prices. For single-use event tees, the 5000 is fine and cheaper. For a clothing brand’s actual retail line, step up to the 3001.
Printing and Customizing the Softstyle
The Softstyle is a decorator’s friend, and that’s a big part of why it’s everywhere. The high stitch density of the ring-spun knit gives screen printing and DTG (direct-to-garment) a smooth, even surface, and shops report consistent, repeatable results run after run — important for reorders, where this year’s batch has to match last year’s.
- Screen printing: excellent. The smooth surface holds detail well; standard plastisol and water-based inks both work.
- DTG: very good. Not quite the benchmark surface of the Bella+Canvas 3001, but more than good enough for detailed designs.
- DTF (direct-to-film) transfers: works well on the stable knit.
- Embroidery: the 4.5-oz fabric is light for heavy embroidery — keep stitch counts modest or use backing.
Two small cautions. First, the tubular (seamless) body means there’s no side seam to fight during printing, which is good — but it also means no side seam to anchor the shirt, so very heavy or oversized prints can feel more noticeable on the lighter fabric. Second, the tear-away label is a genuine feature for anyone building a brand: pull it out, sew in your own woven label, and the shirt reads as private-label apparel.
Who Should Buy It — and Who Shouldn’t
Buy the Softstyle if: you’re ordering team or staff shirts people will wear repeatedly; you’re launching merch on a budget; you’re a print shop that needs a reliable mid-tier blank with broad color and size availability (S–5XL covers just about everyone); or you just want a comfortable everyday tee that feels a clear step above the cheapest option.
Skip it if: you need the absolute lowest price per shirt for a one-time event (the 5000 wins there); you need a true fashion fit with side seams (look at the 65000 midweight Softstyle or a premium blank); you need heavy-duty workwear that takes abuse (a heavier shirt like the 5000 or a DryBlend style holds up better); or you’re building a premium retail brand where hand-feel is the whole selling point.
Care Instructions
Treat it like any good cotton tee and it’ll last: machine wash cold with like colors, tumble dry low or hang dry, and don’t iron directly on any printed design. The preshrunk knit minimizes surprises, but hot water and high heat are still the fastest way to age any cotton shirt prematurely.
One note on heather and sport colors: those aren’t 100% cotton — they’re cotton/poly blends (for example, 90/10 or 65/35 depending on the shade). They behave slightly differently in the wash and take dye differently, which is also why their colors look a little different from the solids. Nothing to worry about, just know what you’re buying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Gildan Softstyle actually soft?
Yes — noticeably softer than budget open-end cotton shirts, thanks to the ring-spun yarn. It’s not the softest shirt on the market (premium combed-cotton blanks feel softer), but for its price it’s the softest option in its class, and most wearers find it comfortable for all-day wear with no break-in needed.
Does the Gildan Softstyle shrink?
Very little. It’s a preshrunk jersey knit, so expect only about 1–3% residual shrinkage after the first wash. Wash cold and tumble dry low to keep it minimal.
What’s the difference between the 64000 and the 640L?
The 64000 is the unisex/men’s cut (S–5XL); the 640L is the ladies’ cut with a more fitted shape (S–3XL). Same Softstyle fabric and feel, different pattern.
Is the Softstyle good for screen printing?
Excellent. The high stitch density of the ring-spun knit gives a smooth print surface, and the tear-away label makes it easy to rebrand. It handles screen printing, DTG, and DTF well.
How does the Softstyle compare to the Bella+Canvas 3001?
The 3001 is softer (combed ring-spun cotton), has a more tailored side-seamed retail fit, and offers more colors — but it costs notably more. The Softstyle wins on price, size range, and availability. Choose the 3001 for premium retail lines; choose the Softstyle for quality merch on a budget.
What does “tubular” construction mean?
The body is knit as a seamless tube rather than cut from flat fabric and sewn at the sides — so there are no side seams. That means no seams to twist in the wash and no seams interfering with printing, at the cost of a slightly less tailored shape than side-seamed shirts.
Conclusion
The Gildan Softstyle earns its place as the default mid-tier blank. It’s genuinely softer and better-constructed than the budget shirts below it, honestly priced below the premium shirts above it, and reliable enough that print shops build repeat business on it. It won’t impress anyone looking for boutique hand-feel, and it doesn’t try to. For teams, staff, merch, and everyday wear on a sensible budget, it’s the shirt to beat — which is exactly why it’s everywhere.
For more honest product breakdowns and buying guides, check out the product guides on 9bio and the daily features at Daily ORVIX.
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