Gildan 2026 Recap: What’s New for Apparel Brands

Gildan's 2026 apparel updates, including new products, sustainability initiatives, and features designed to support apparel brands

Table of Contents

  1. Gildan 5000 Gets a Major Upgrade
  2. New Premium Fleece Styles
  3. Matching Sets, Women’s Styles & Performance Apparel
  4. Hidden Gems Worth Watching
  5. Gildan Style Guide
  6. Request New Styles Through Apliiq VIP

Gildan 5000 Gets a Major Upgrade

Gildan 5000 t-shirt comparison showing its evolution over the years, highlighting design and quality improvements, available for customization through Apliiq

The biggest update from Gildan this year is the enhancement of its best-selling Gildan 5000 Heavy Cotton Tee.

What’s New?

✅ Softer hand feel thanks to updated fabric processing technology

✅ Improved print performance for cleaner and more consistent print results

✅ Maintains the durability and affordability that made the 5000 an industry staple

For brands that need a reliable everyday custom t-shirt, the Gildan 5000 now offers a more retail-friendly feel without changing the core product customers already know.

StyleBest ForKey Features
Gildan 5000Everyday custom teesSofter feel, improved print consistency
Gildan 3000Traditional cotton loversHeavier construction, classic feel
Softstyle 64000Fashion-forward brandsModern fit, soft retail-inspired feel

New Premium Fleece Styles

NEW STYLE ALERT: Gildan 19500 Premium Fleece Hoodie

Woman wearing a blue Gildan 19500 Premium Fleece Hoodie with jeans in a relaxed, stylish look, available for customization through Apliiq.

One of the most exciting additions is the new Gildan 19500 premium fleece hoodie.

Key Features

  • Heavyweight fleece construction
  • 100% cotton face
  • Thick premium drawstrings
  • Drop shoulder design
  • Oversized fit
  • Streetwear-inspired silhouette

The 19500 gives apparel brands access to a premium hoodie option that feels much closer to modern retail and streetwear products than traditional promotional fleece.

Matching Premium Crewneck

The Gildan 19000 Crewneck Sweatshirt features:

  • Heavyweight fleece
  • Modern relaxed fit
  • Premium decoration potential
  • Excellent option for custom embroidery

New Matching Sets, Women’s Styles & Performance Apparel

Gildan women's performance apparel featuring matching sets that combine style and performance, available for customization through Apliiq.

Consumer demand continues shifting toward complete collections rather than individual garments.

Notable styles to watch include:

Matching Sets

SF500 Hoodie

  • Soft midweight brushed fleece.
  • 100% ring-spun cotton face for premium printing.
  • Modern fit with dropped shoulders.
  • Pairs with the SF100 for matching sets.

SF100 Sweatpants

  • Soft midweight fleece.
  • Relaxed everyday fit.
  • Smooth cotton face for decoration.
  • Made to match the SF500 Hoodie.

Women’s Styles

3023CL Mid-Crop Tee

  • Garment-dyed for a vintage look.
  • Relaxed boxy cropped fit.
  • Soft 100% ring-spun cotton.
  • Great for fashion-forward collections.
Women's apparel collection featuring the 1566L crewneck sweatshirt and 42000 performance t-shirt, available through Apliiq VIP sourcing.

1566L Crewneck Sweatshirt 

  • Women’s garment-dyed fleece.
  • Soft premium feel.
  • Modern women’s fit.
  • Expands Comfort Colors fleece options.

Performance Apparel

42000 Performance Tee

  • Lightweight moisture-wicking polyester.
  • Odor-resistant and snag-resistant.
  • Ideal for activewear.
  • Excellent for sublimation printing.

These styles help brands expand beyond basic t-shirts and hoodies while creating higher-value product collections.

Hidden Gems Worth Watching

Men wearing the Gildan 2000T Tall Tee, 18810 Quarter-Zip, and SF008 Quarter-Zip in a casual lifestyle setting, available for customization through Apliiq.

Several lesser-known Gildan styles continue gaining attention:

2000T Tall Tee

  • Extended sizing option
  • Serves an underserved market
  • Great for inclusive apparel collections

Quarter-Zips

  • 18810 Quarter Zip
  • SF008 Quarter Zip

Perfect for:

  • Corporate apparel
  • Team uniforms
  • Layering collections
  • Lifestyle brands

Request New Styles Through Apliiq VIP

highlighting Gildan heavyweight and oversized tees that Apliiq VIP members can request access an expanded selection of apparel for custom sourcing.

Some of Gildan’s newest and most exciting products are not currently available through Apliiq’s catalog. Through the Apliiq VIP program, members can request products they’d like to see added for dropshipping and custom branding. New styles don’t often have great stock at first, but as the inventory levels increase and they become available, in all sizes and popular styles, it’s worth considering adding them to your brand. Here are some styles we’re watching, and you might want to also! 

Styles To Consider Watching & Requesting

  • Gildan 19500 Premium Fleece Hoodie
  • Gildan 19000 Premium Fleece Crewneck
  • Gildan SF500 Hoodie
  • Gildan SF100 Sweatpants
  • Gildan 3023CL Mid-Crop Tee
  • Gildan 1566L Women’s Collection
  • Gildan 2000T Tall Tee
  • Gildan 18810 Quarter-Zip
  • Gildan SF008 Quarter-Zip
  • Gildan Hammer Max 7500

Additional Garment-Dyed Styles

Man wearing a Gildan pink tie-dye T-shirt with a unique pigment-sprayed wash, showcasing a premium fashion look, available for customization through Apliiq.
  • 1302GD Crop Top – Boxy, on-trend silhouette with a vintage garment-dyed finish for a lived-in look.
  • 1745 Color Blast Tee – Unique pigment-sprayed wash gives every piece a one-of-a-kind, premium appearance.

French Terry Collections

  • FTCB0 Women’s – Soft French terry fabric with a boxy oversized fit that’s perfect for elevated casualwear.
  • FTEX00 Men’s – Relaxed, oversized fit with premium French-terry comfort, ideal for modern streetwear collections.

Matching Fleece Sets

  • SF500 Hoodie – Premium 80/20 fleece
  • SF100 Sweatpants – Thick waistband, internal drawcord

Baby Rib Fashion Styles

  • BR210 Tee – Soft, stretchy baby rib fabric creates a flattering, fitted silhouette that’s trending in contemporary fashion. 
  • 3023CL Mid Crop Tee – Modern cropped silhouette

Join Apliiq VIP to:

  • Request new products for dropshipping
  • Influence future catalog additions
  • Gain access to emerging apparel opportunities
  • Help prioritize the styles your brand wants most
  • Get 20% off all products (not just select styles like some subscription memberships)

If one of these products is a good fit for your brand, joining the Apliiq VIP program is the best way to let the Apliiq team know. The more demand we see for specific styles, the easier it becomes for us to evaluate and source them for future availability.

Final Thoughts

The biggest themes from Gildan’s 2026 updates are clear:

  • Softer fabrics
  • Better print performance
  • Premium heavyweight fleece
  • Oversized streetwear fits
  • More collection-building opportunities

From the upgraded Gildan 5000 to the new Gildan 19500 premium fleece hoodie, Gildan continues expanding beyond traditional basics and giving apparel brands more options to build modern, retail-inspired collections.