The Gildan Softstyle 64000 tee comes in nearly 80 colors, including a big range of heathers you won't find on the classic Gildan 5000. The chart below sorts every current Softstyle color by family. Softstyle is the lighter, softer Gildan tee, made from ring-spun cotton with a more modern fit.
- Style
- Gildan Softstyle 64000 T-Shirt
- Fabric
- 100% US ring-spun cotton (blend exceptions below)
- Weight
- 4.5 oz/yd²
- Yarn
- 30 singles
- Sizes
- XS to 5XL
Gildan Softstyle color chart
Here are the Gildan Softstyle colors from the current distributor catalog, grouped so you can scan by family. Gildan adds and retires colors over time, so confirm stock before you plan a large order.
| Color family | Colors |
|---|---|
| Whites and naturals | White, Off White, Natural, Heather Oatmeal, Sand, Prairie Dust, Desert Clay |
| Grays and black | Ice Grey, Sport Grey, Heather Dark Grey, Dark Heather, Graphite Heather, Charcoal, Black |
| Browns | Dark Chocolate |
| Reds | Red, Heather Red, Cherry Red, Antique Cherry Red, Cardinal Red, Heather Cardinal Red, Garnet, Maroon, Heather Maroon |
| Pinks and corals | Light Pink, Fan Candy Pink, Azalea, Heliconia, Heather Heliconia, Antique Heliconia, Heather Berry, Coral Silk |
| Oranges, yellows, golds | Orange, Heather Orange, Fan Texas Orange, Cornsilk, Daisy, Gold |
| Greens | Pistachio, Mint Green, Sage, Kiwi, Lime, Irish Green, Heather Irish Green, Kelly Green, Jade Dome, Fan Marine Green, Turf Green, Forest, Fan Dark Green, Military Green, Heather Military Green |
| Blues | Light Blue, Sky, Carolina Blue, Stone Blue, Tropical Blue, Heather Galapagos Blue, Sapphire, Antique Sapphire, Heather Sapphire, Neon Blue, Iris, Metro Blue, Royal, Heather Royal, Fan Deep Royal, Indigo Blue, Heather Indigo, Navy, Heather Navy |
| Purples | Heather Radiant Orchid, Paragon, Purple, Heather Purple, Fan Dark Purple |
Softstyle leans hard on heathers. Navy, Royal, Red, Maroon, Military Green, and several others come in both a solid and a heather version, which makes it easy to build a set with matching tones and a little texture.
Which Softstyle colors are blends
Most Softstyle colors are 100% ring-spun cotton. The exceptions are worth knowing before you order:
- 99% cotton, 1% polyester. Heather Oatmeal.
- 90% cotton, 10% polyester. Sport Grey and the Antique colors.
- 65% polyester, 35% cotton. Dark Heather and the colors with "Heather" in the name.
- 50% cotton, 50% polyester. Graphite Heather.
That 65/35 split is the big one. Softstyle heathers carry more polyester than cotton, so they feel slicker and lighter than the solids, and they hold their shape well. On the Gildan 5000, heathers are 50/50. If you're switching an order from one style to the other, the heathers will feel noticeably different.
How Softstyle differs from the Gildan 5000
Both are workhorse Gildan tees, but they suit different jobs.
- Weight. Softstyle is 4.5 oz/yd². The 5000 is 5.3 oz/yd². Softstyle is lighter and cooler. The 5000 feels thicker and boxier.
- Yarn. Softstyle uses 30 singles ring-spun cotton. The 5000 uses 20 singles. Higher singles means a finer yarn and a smoother, softer fabric.
- Fit. Softstyle has a modern classic fit with a narrow rib collar and taped neck and shoulders. The 5000 has a roomier, traditional cut.
- Colors. The two lines overlap a lot, but each has colors the other doesn't. Softstyle has Sage, Pistachio, Stone Blue, Paragon, and many more heathers. The 5000 has safety and neon colors and more of the Antique range. See the full list in our Gildan color chart.
Rule of thumb: choose Softstyle for retail, brands, and anything people will wear for comfort. Choose the 5000 for events, workwear, giveaways, and anywhere a heavier shirt makes sense.
DTF tips for Softstyle shirts
Softstyle takes DTF very well. The smooth ring-spun surface gives the transfer a clean, flat base. A few things to keep in mind:
- Lighter fabric shows texture. A big, solid block of print feels heavier on a 4.5 oz tee than on a thick one. Break up large fills with negative space or halftones for a softer feel.
- Heathers soften the look. The speckle around a print makes it look a bit more vintage. Bold shapes and clean type read best.
- Mind contrast. Light art on Ice Grey or Heather Oatmeal can wash out. Dark art on Heather Dark Grey can get lost. Check a mockup before you print.
- Size it for the shirt. The modern fit runs a little narrower than the 5000. Our DTF transfer size chart has standard widths for each placement.
Press settings
Our settings are the same for Softstyle's cotton solids and polyester heavy heathers:
- Confirm your temperature. Plenty of presses read hotter or cooler than the dial. Check the platen with a probe or temp strips and get it to 300°F.
- Pre-press for 5 seconds. This pulls moisture out of the cotton and flattens wrinkles.
- Press at 300°F for 10 seconds with high pressure.
- Peel hot. Open the press and peel the film right away in one smooth, low motion.
- Post-press for 5 seconds. Cover the print with parchment or a Teflon sheet.
Popular Gildan Softstyle colors
- Black, White, Navy. The basics. Always a safe stock order.
- Sport Grey and Heather Dark Grey. Easy neutrals that work with most art.
- Heather Navy and Heather Military Green. Textured takes on classics, popular with brands.
- Sand, Natural, and Heather Oatmeal. Warm tones for earthy and outdoor designs.
- Sage and Light Pink. Soft colors that suit modern, minimal art.
Want a closer look at the heathers? We break down Heather Sapphire on its own page.
FAQ
Is Gildan Softstyle 100% cotton?
Most colors are 100% ring-spun cotton. Heather colors and Dark Heather are 65% polyester and 35% cotton, Graphite Heather is 50/50, Sport Grey and Antique colors are 90/10 cotton and polyester, and Heather Oatmeal is 99/1.
Is Softstyle softer than the Gildan 5000?
Yes. It uses a finer 30 singles ring-spun yarn and a lighter 4.5 oz fabric, so it feels smoother and lighter than the 5.3 oz Heavy Cotton 5000.
Do Softstyle shirts run small?
The fit is more modern and a bit trimmer than the 5000. Check the size chart from your supplier, and size up if your customers like a looser fit.
Can I use the same DTF settings on Softstyle heathers?
Yes. Press at 300°F for 10 seconds with high pressure, peel hot, then post-press 5 seconds with parchment or a Teflon sheet.
Press on Softstyle
Upload a transparent PNG at 300 DPI and orders placed before 1PM PT ship the same business day.