A wholesale fleece order lives or dies on one spec: fabric blend. Cotton-poly blend percentage determines warmth, shrinkage, print behavior, and price across every hoodie and crewneck in the category, and decorators sourcing in bulk need to match that blend to the decoration method and end-use before placing an order. This guide covers how Delta Clothing's core fleece brands, Gildan, TeeLand, and Comfort Colors, differ in blend and construction, and how to match fleece format (crewneck vs. hoodie) to the job.
Crewneck Sweatshirts vs. Hoodies: Matching Fleece Format to the Job
Crewneck sweatshirts and hoodies share the same fabric options across Gildan, TeeLand, and Comfort Colors, but the format itself changes decoration area, layering behavior, and typical buyer intent. A crewneck offers a larger, uninterrupted chest and back panel with no hood bulk to work around; a hoodie adds a front pocket, drawstring hood, and ribbed cuffs that narrow the usable flat print area but add retail appeal for streetwear and lifestyle orders.
| Format | Decoration area | Typical buyer |
|---|---|---|
| Crewneck | Large, uninterrupted chest/back panel | Team orders, fundraiser merch, event giveaways |
| Hoodie | Narrower chest panel (pocket/drawstring interference), full back panel | Retail, streetwear, premium merch programs |
Direct answer: Default to crewnecks for high-volume team and event orders where cost and a clean large-format print matter most. Choose hoodies when the end customer expects retail-style outerwear and the order can absorb the higher per-unit cost of the additional hood and pocket construction.
Pro tip: Crewneck sweatshirts typically run cheaper per unit than hoodies in the same fabric weight and brand, since they use less fabric and have simpler construction; factor that into quotes when a customer hasn't specified format yet.
Classic Fit vs. Heavy Blend: Gildan Hoodie Comparison
Gildan's hoodie line splits mainly between Heavy Blend (18500 series), the standard 50/50 cotton-poly wholesale hoodie, and heavier Hammer or Dryblend variants for buyers wanting a more substantial garment. Heavy Blend remains the volume leader because of consistent sizing, broad color availability, and the lowest per-unit cost in the Gildan fleece line.
| Spec | Gildan 18500 Heavy Blend | Gildan Heavy Cotton Fleece |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric | 8.0 oz, 50/50 cotton-poly | Heavier blend, denser loop |
| Fit | Classic, roomy | Classic, slightly structured |
| Price tier | Budget-to-mid | Mid |
| Best for | High-volume team/event orders | Premium-feel bulk orders |
Bulk order context: Gildan Heavy Blend ships in the widest color range of any wholesale hoodie in the Delta Clothing catalog, which makes it the easiest style to hit multi-color, multi-size minimums on a single PO. Check current stock on the Hoodie collection.
TeeLand Fleece Guide: Delta Clothing's House Brand Explained
TeeLand is Delta Clothing's house brand: a value-forward fleece alternative positioned against name-brand options like Gildan, not as a discount knockoff. TeeLand fleece is built to the same 50/50 cotton-poly blend standard decorators expect from national brands, with Delta Clothing controlling sourcing and quality directly rather than through a third-party distributor layer.
For decorators price-shopping a bulk fleece order, TeeLand typically undercuts Gildan on a comparable 8 oz blend while maintaining the same screen-print and embroidery compatibility; the value gap comes from Delta Clothing's direct house-brand sourcing, not from a lower fabric spec.
Critical note: Because TeeLand is house-exclusive, it isn't available through competing distributors, a relevant point for decorators building a consistent fleece program who want price stability without being locked into a single national brand's allocation and pricing shifts.
For the full TeeLand size range and pricing breakdown across t-shirts, sweatshirts, and the hoodie, see our TeeLand House Brand Guide.
Comfort Colors Fleece: The Garment-Dyed Alternative
For buyers who've read the standard Gildan/TeeLand comparison and want a different texture entirely, Comfort Colors' garment-dyed fleece (1566 crewneck) delivers the same pigment-dye, pre-washed hand-feel as its t-shirt line, at a heavier 10 oz weight. It costs more than standard 8 oz blend fleece but serves a different buyer: one sourcing for a premium, vintage-positioned product rather than a standard bulk team order. See the full breakdown in our Comfort Colors Wholesale Guide.
Pullover vs. Zip Hoodie: Construction Differences That Affect Decoration
Pullover and full-zip hoodie constructions share the same fleece fabric options across Gildan and TeeLand, but the center-front zipper changes where decoration can go. A pullover hoodie offers a continuous, uninterrupted chest panel, ideal for large centered logos or full-chest graphics. A full-zip hoodie splits that panel down the middle, which pushes most decoration to the left-chest placement (matching a polo-style logo position) or the back panel, since a center-chest design would be visually broken by the zipper line.
| Construction | Chest panel | Best placement |
|---|---|---|
| Pullover | Continuous, no interruption | Full-chest or large centered graphic |
| Full-zip | Split by center zipper | Left-chest logo, back panel |
Direct answer: Confirm construction type before finalizing art placement: a full-chest design built for a pullover will not translate cleanly to a full-zip hoodie without resizing and repositioning to the left-chest or back.
Critical note: Full-zip hoodies also require decorators to account for zipper-pull hardware when embroidering near the collar: dense stitching too close to the zipper track can catch on the pull during wear. Keep embroidery placement at least a standard seam-allowance distance from the zipper edge.
FAQ
What's the difference between a crewneck and a hoodie in the same fabric blend? The fabric and weight are often identical; the difference is construction. A crewneck has a larger uninterrupted print area and a lower per-unit cost, while a hoodie adds a hood, drawstring, and front pocket that narrow the usable chest placement and raise the price.
Is TeeLand a good substitute for Gildan fleece? Yes, for decorators prioritizing cost: TeeLand matches the standard 50/50 cotton-poly blend spec at a lower price point as Delta Clothing's house brand, with the same screen-print and embroidery compatibility as comparable national-brand fleece.
Do cotton-poly blend hoodies shrink more than 100% cotton? No. Polyester content in a blend generally reduces shrinkage compared to 100% cotton fleece, since poly fibers resist the shrinkage that occurs when cotton fibers tighten in heat.
What minimum order applies to wholesale hoodies? Minimums are tied to case-pack and size-run quantities, which vary by brand and style. Register a B2B account to view exact tier pricing and minimums for each fleece line.
Conclusion
Fleece sourcing comes down to blend, weight, format, and budget tier: Gildan covers the standard 50/50 wholesale range, TeeLand undercuts it on price at the same spec, and Comfort Colors serves buyers wanting a heavier, garment-dyed premium option. Before placing a bulk fleece order, confirm decoration compatibility in our Decoration Methods guide. Ready to order? Browse the Hoodie and TeeLand collections, or set up wholesale B2B access.