Overview
The Gildan 2000 cotton t-shirt is a widely available option for print-on-demand business. As of this writing (March 2022), it’s offered by all three of the companies I’m using for this research project: Printful, Printify, and Gooten.
I purchased my samples for this shirt model from Gooten in early 2021. I have seen a reduction in the number of available colors and an increase in the pricing since I ordered these samples. I’ve reflected those changes in my comments below.
Overall, the Gooten 2000 t-shirt is a solid choice for print-on-demand. The style comes in a wide range of sizes and colors and takes print well. Base pricing is about on average for this general shirt category. It does shrink quite a bit in length, and the fabric shows small slubs even before wearing.
This post is part of a research project into the best print-on-demand t-shirt options. I’ve summarized my findings in a separate post and am also providing more detailed reviews of the individual options.
I’ve sewed and enjoyed a variety of needlework for almost my entire life, having a solid background in textiles and garment construction. I’ve relied on this lifetime of experience as I evaluated each sample.
Methodology
In order to better compare all of the styles, I used the following approach:
- Unisex size XL
- Two colors: 1 black, 1 white (or closest equivalent)
- Same design file. I did have to resize for one or two shirts depending on the vendor, but I was starting with an Illustrator file and so could keep the same resolution.
- Measured 3 points on each shirt upon receipt:
- Center back from base of collar to hem
- Chest width just below the arm hole
- Sleeve length from shoulder seam to hem along the top center
- Washed each shirt twice using the label instructions and then remeasured along the same points.
I examined the construction and fabric quality of each sample. The print quality was part of my evaluation, but I considered it a secondary factor for this particular project.
Certain parts of my conclusions – such as about the fabric quality – are a bit subjective. But I’ve tried to balance that out by describing the specific elements that went into my judgment.
Fabric and Construction
Content and Colors
Most colors of the Gildan 2000 come in 100% cotton. A few – such as the Sport Grey and some heather shades – include anywhere from 10% to 50% polyester according to multiple POD supplier sites.
The manufacturer touts the fact that their cotton is a 100% USA product “that is sustainably grown and ethically harvested.”
I would consider this a medium weight t-shirt jersey. It has a slightly rough feel that did not soften or improve with washing. But it does not seem cheap or flimsy. According to the manufacturer’s specifications, it’s 6.0 oz. per square yard.
The surface roughness is visible, too. It appears as little slubs on the fabric. These are not the result of wear or washing: they were there when I got the shirts. They don’t seem to have affected the print quality to any meaningful degree. I suspect they use a short-staple cotton to save on costs.
It comes in up to 60 colors according to the manufacturer, but the most I could find at any of the three POD suppliers I’m using for this project is 23. That’s still one of the larger color ranges available, and they tend to be classic shades with broad appeal.
Unisex sizing is Small through 5XL which is definitely one of the most extensive available, particularly at the larger end of the scale.
My white sample is a bright white. The black is one of the “purer” shades out of all the samples I received.
Construction
The body construction is with the tubular method, meaning there’s no side seams in the body of the shirt. If you’ve ready any of my other posts in this series, you’ll know that I’ve found a pattern of crooked printing with shirts made this way.
In this case, however, the printer did an excellent job at lining up the design with the grain of both shirts. It’s one of the better placed print jobs on any of the tubular-style shirts I’ve received.
Both samples are well made with neatly finished seams, double-needle hems, and taped shoulder and collar seams. The taping helps to prevent the garment from stretching out of shape at those stress points.
There’s an odd curve in the underarm sleeve seam from the shoulder seam to the sleeve hem. I suspect it’s an effort to give the sleeve a trimmer fit, and it’s not something you would notice when wearing the shirt.
Styling
This t-shirt option has fairly standard, boxy, unisex styling. The body and sleeve lengths were shorter than average within the test group. The chest width is just about on average, however.
Measurements – Before and After Washing
These shirts are very consistent in sizing between the two colors, which speaks to good quality control by the manufacturer and their suppliers. They did, however, shrink in length – both body and sleeves – far more than the average within the test group. The chest width remained essentially unchanged.
All measurements in inches.
Before Washing
| Color | Center Back | Chest Width | Sleeve Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 29″ | 23″ | 7.75″ |
| White | 29″ | 23″ | 7.50″ |
After 2nd Wash
| Color | Center Back | Chest Width | Sleeve Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 27.125″ | 23.125″ | 7.5″ |
| White | 26.875″ | 22.875″ | 7″ |
Shrinkage After 2 Washes
| Color | Center Back | Chest Width | Sleeve Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 6.5% | -0.5% | 3.2% |
| White | 7.3% | 0.5% | 6.7% |
I did notice an unusual twisting within the sleeve hem of the white shirt. With the double-needle stitching commonly used on knit garments, you’ll often see “tunneling” of the fabric after washing where a little ridge forms between the lines of stitching. But the diagonal lines in this samples hem make me think the fabric was either stretched off-grain during construction or the thread tension was set incorrectly on the finishing machine. It’s minor but something to point out.
Print Quality
The print quality is very good in terms of color and design reproduction. The difference in shade and intensity between the black and white shirts is much less pronounced than with various other samples. The design details are well-defined.
I haven’t noticed any meaningful degradation in the print job on either shirt after two washings. Overall, I’m just really pleased with how the design turned out on both of these samples!
Pricing and Suppliers
The manufacturer labels this as an Adult t-shirt, and they use a male model on their site. The three POD vendors I looked at each market the style differently:
- Printful: Only under Men’s
- Printify: Under both Men’s and Women’s
- Gooten: Under Unisex (the only one of the three with this specific category)
As previously mentioned, the unisex sizing ranges from Small to 5XL. The full size range is available at all three suppliers, albeit in varying combinations of colors.
Without any volume or other discounts, the base prices start at $8.40 per shirt for a white small – depending on the POD supplier – when checked on March 5, 2022. Other colors and larger sizes (2XL and higher) can cost more.
This pricing is at the lower end of average for the shirts I’ve looked at so far.
Conclusion
The Gildan 2000 is a really solid option for a print-on-demand business. While I, personally, am not a fan of the surface texture, it’s priced well for the quality. You’ll also have a ton of color and size options to offer your customers.
The shirts take printing well. And the manufacturer seems to have excellent quality control in their materials and constructed. The shirts do shrink more than average in length, however, which you will probably want to take into account in your product copy.
But, overall, this style should work well for a value-oriented t-shirt line.
