Pullover hoodies are one of the highest-volume decorated blank categories in wholesale. Three blanks cover most of the market: the Gildan 18500 at the commodity tier, the Independent Trading IND4000 at mid-premium, and the Champion S700 at premium. Each occupies a distinct price and quality position. Understanding the construction differences allows a decoration shop to recommend and stock the right blank for each customer type.
Gildan 18500: The Volume Standard
The Gildan 18500 is an 8 oz/yd² preshrunk 50/50 cotton-polyester fleece pullover hoodie. Jersey-lined hood with matching drawcord. Front kangaroo pocket. Ribbed cuffs and waistband. Available in 40+ colorways, S through 5XL.
The 50/50 cotton-polyester blend provides good preshrink stability and resistance to pilling over repeated washing cycles. The cotton content keeps a natural hand feel on the exterior face; the polyester content helps retain shape and resist shrinkage. At 8 oz, the 18500 is a standard-weight hoodie appropriate for decoration and general-purpose use.
The 50/50 blend introduces dye migration risk for DTF work on dark colorways. Navy, black, red, and forest green 18500 blanks pressed with white or light-colored DTF designs should be test-pressed at 315 to 320°F before full production runs. The cotton content in the 50/50 blend gives screen printing on the 18500 good ink hold with standard plastisol.
Price: the 18500 is the lowest-cost option in this comparison. It is the dominant hoodie blank in the promotional, corporate, and event merchandise segments where price per unit drives the sourcing decision. For any job where the hoodie is going into a box rather than onto a retail shelf, the 18500 is the correct call.
Independent Trading IND4000: Mid-Premium with an Unlined Hood
The Independent Trading IND4000 is an 8.5 oz/yd² 80/20 cotton-polyester fleece pullover hoodie. The 80% cotton content gives a noticeably softer hand feel than the 50/50 Gildan blend. The IND4000 is heavier than the 18500 and has a thicker, denser fleece construction.
The distinguishing feature of the IND4000 for decorators is the unlined hood. Most pullover hoodies use a jersey-knit lining inside the hood, which adds bulk to the hood area and creates extra fabric layers near the back upper shoulder. The IND4000 hood has no lining. The hood shell is the only layer, and it lies flat when the garment is pressed on a platen.
For large back DTF prints and screen prints that extend into the upper back area near the hood seam, the unlined hood is a practical advantage. It reduces the fabric bulk near the hood attachment point and allows the pressing surface to stay flatter in that area. For shops regularly producing large back graphics on hoodies, the IND4000's unlined hood reduces the number of repositioning steps needed during pressing.
The 80/20 cotton-polyester blend also reduces dye migration risk compared to the Gildan 18500. At 80% cotton, the proportion of polyester dye available to migrate is lower, and dark IND4000 colorways are more forgiving for DTF with white or light designs. Still run a test press on dark colors before production, but the migration risk is lower than the 18500.
Price: the IND4000 is priced above the Gildan 18500 and below the Champion S700. It is the correct blank for mid-tier decorated apparel programs selling finished hoodies at $40 to $65 retail, corporate programs with a quality perception requirement, and any job where the end consumer will wear and evaluate the hoodie as a garment.
Champion S700: Premium Reverse Weave
The Champion S700 is a heavyweight reverse weave pullover hoodie. Reverse weave construction knits the fabric horizontally rather than the standard vertical direction. This reduces the primary axis of shrinkage (vertical/lengthwise) that affects conventional sweatshirt construction. The result is a garment that holds its length through repeated washing better than standard fleece construction.
Weight is approximately 9 oz, making the S700 the heaviest blank in this comparison. The denser construction gives the S700 a substantial, premium hand feel that is immediately apparent compared to the 18500 or IND4000.
The S700 is available in fewer colorways than the Gildan 18500 or IND4000. Core colorways (black, navy, oxford gray, athletic gray, white) are reliably stocked; fashion colors are more limited. The S700 carries the Champion brand recognition that is a meaningful factor for certain retail and lifestyle brand programs.
Price: the S700 is the most expensive blank in this comparison, often two to three times the wholesale price of the Gildan 18500. The price is justified for premium decorated apparel programs selling finished hoodies at $70 or above, where the reverse weave durability and brand equity are part of the product value proposition.
Comparison Summary
| Feature | Gildan 18500 | IND4000 | Champion S700 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 8 oz/yd² | 8.5 oz/yd² | ~9 oz/yd² |
| Blend | 50/50 cotton-poly | 80/20 cotton-poly | Cotton-poly (varies by color) |
| Hood lining | Jersey lined | Unlined | Jersey lined |
| Kangaroo pocket | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DTF migration risk | Moderate (50% poly) | Lower (20% poly) | Varies by colorway |
| Price tier | Low | Mid | High |
| Best use | Promo / volume | Mid-premium retail | Premium lifestyle brand |
Shop wholesale pullover hoodies at TheClothingSpace. Gildan, Independent Trading, and Champion blanks available with no minimums.
