Bear Grips Pro ShopsIs Gildan 100% Cotton? A Guide for Custom Printers and Shop Owners
- Gildan is a brand that manufactures dozens of garment styles, some 100% cotton and some cotton-poly blends.
- The two Gildan pieces in the Bear Grips Pro Shops catalog named "Cotton" are the men's and women's Premium Cotton Pique Polo.
- Gildan hoodies and crewnecks in the catalog are fleece constructions, which are typically blended for shape retention.
- Whether a specific Gildan shirt is 100% cotton depends on the style, not the brand name alone.
"Is Gildan 100 cotton" gets asked because Gildan makes an enormous range of garments, and the brand name alone does not answer the fabric question. Some Gildan styles are 100% cotton, others are cotton-poly blends built for fleece or performance. Here is how to tell the difference, and specifically which Gildan pieces in the Bear Grips Pro Shops catalog are cotton.
Gildan Is a Brand, Not a Single Fabric
Gildan produces dozens of garment lines across tees, polos, hoodies, and fleece, and the fiber content changes by style. Some Gildan tee lines are built as straight 100% cotton, while hoodies and crewnecks generally use a cotton-poly fleece blend for shape retention and reduced shrink. The fabric depends on the specific product, not the brand name by itself, the same way it does for any large blank-garment manufacturer.
Which Gildan Pieces in the Bear Grips Pro Shops Catalog Are Cotton
| Piece | Fabric family (per catalog name) | VIP base |
|---|---|---|
| Men's Premium Cotton Pique Polo | Cotton pique | $34.88 |
| Women's Premium Cotton Pique Polo | Cotton pique | $34.88 |
| Youth Hoodie | Fleece (typical blend construction) | $36.88 |
| Classic Zip-Up Hoodie | Fleece (typical blend construction) | $41.88 |
| Youth Crewneck Sweatshirt | Fleece (typical blend construction) | $33.88 |
Why Hoodie and Crewneck Fleece Is Usually a Blend, Not 100% Cotton
Hooded sweatshirts and crewnecks across the industry, not just Gildan, typically blend in polyester to help the fleece hold its shape, resist pilling, and shrink less through repeated washing. This is a standard practice for the fleece category generally, not a downgrade specific to any one brand.
When to Choose the Gildan Cotton Pique Polo
The Gildan Premium Cotton Pique Polo is a solid pick for office wear, customer-facing visits, or any brand that wants a classic, textured cotton feel at a $34.88 VIP base price, an accessible entry point into cotton polos.
Print on the Gildan Cotton Polo
Cotton pique polo from $34.88 VIP base, single-piece printing, no minimum.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Is every Gildan shirt 100% cotton?
No. Gildan makes both 100% cotton styles and cotton-poly blend styles depending on the specific product line.
Which Gildan product in the Bear Grips catalog is 100% cotton by name?
The men's and women's Premium Cotton Pique Polo, both at $34.88 VIP base.
Are Gildan hoodies 100% cotton?
The Gildan hoodies in the catalog are fleece constructions, generally a cotton-poly blend, which is standard across the hoodie category industry-wide.
Why does the fabric matter for printing?
Cotton pique holds embroidery and screen print differently than a poly-blend fleece, so matching the fabric to the use case (customer-facing polo vs cold-weather hoodie) affects both feel and print result.
