Gildan 980 - Lightweight Softstyle T-Shirt - Dusty Rose

The Gildan 980 is the Softstyle Lightweight tee, a 4.5 oz 100% combed ring-spun cotton blank spun at 30 singles with an EZ Print enzyme-washed face on the solid colours. It is the blank a shop reaches for when a job wants the soft retail drape of a Softstyle but a lighter, finer print surface than a heavy cotton tee, which makes it the default for soft-style retail and merch lines, fashion-forward event tees, DTG and fine-detail screen runs, and any program where a smooth lint-free print face and a semi-fitted body are the selling point over a boxy value tee.

The print story on the 980 is the EZ Print finish, an enzyme biotechnology wash that strips the loose cotton surface fibres off the solid colours to leave a smooth, lint-free face, which is exactly the prep a DTG shop normally does by hand. For DTG, the solid-colour EZ Print face pre-treats flat and prints fine halftone and photoreal detail with the cleanest edge in the value Softstyle class, so favour the solids for direct-to-garment. For screen printing, the fine 30-singles ring-spun yarn holds tight halftones and small text that an open-end value tee blurs, and the lint-free face keeps fibre fly-back out of the print; on the heather colours plan for the blend trap below. For DTF, the transfer bonds to the cotton at standard heat-press settings and the smooth face seats the film cleanly; on the poly-heavy heathers use a low-bleed film and a controlled press temperature. For water-based and discharge, the 100% cotton solids discharge cleanly for the soft retail hand, while the polyester in the heathers limits discharge to a faded tonal result. For embroidery, the lightweight 4.5 oz body needs a cut-away backing and a lighter stitch density so a dense left-chest design does not pucker the fine jersey.

• Brand: Gildan
• Style: 980 (Gildan Unisex Softstyle Lightweight T-Shirt)
• Fabric: 100% combed ring-spun cotton, 30 singles; Heather Grey 90/10 cotton/polyester; Graphite Heather 50/50; Heather Blue, Heather Navy and Heather Dark Grey 65/35 polyester/cotton
• Weight: 4.5 oz/yd2
• Construction: 30-singles ring-spun fine jersey with an EZ Print enzyme-washed lint-free face on solids. Side-seamed semi-fitted body. 5/8 inch rib collar. Taped neck and shoulders. Double-needle sleeve and bottom hems. Black tear-away label.
• Fit: Unisex semi-fitted
• Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL
• Colors available: 50+ colours across solids and heathers (check current availability on the product page)
• Ordering: available by the piece or by the case; confirm current packing per case for your colour and size before a large order
• Care: Machine wash cold. Tumble dry low.

The reorder note specific to this style: confirm whether your colour is a 100% cotton solid with the EZ Print face, a 90/10 Heather Grey, a 50/50 Graphite Heather, or a 65/35 poly-heavy heather before a repeat run, because the substrate changes your pre-treat, underbase, and DTG decision. Pair the 980 with the standard Gildan Softstyle 64000 (G640) when a program wants the same ring-spun hand at a slightly fuller weight, and step down to the open-end Gildan G500 when a job wants a value heavy cotton on the same artwork. TheClothingSpace stocks the 980 at wholesale pricing with bulk discounts that increase as case and unit quantities rise, among the lowest prices online for this style, with fast US shipping on stocked colours.

Comparing soft-style ring-spun blank tees for your decoration method? Browse all wholesale blank t-shirts.