The Rise of the Heavyweight Garment

Following the trends of the custom apparel industry is interesting - popular garment colors and design styles come and go as they do with any sector or industry, but this is my first time ever seeing a fully new style of garment construction. 

We see new colors added to popular styles quite frequently (our flagship Bella+Canvas tee is up to so many colors that even a mantis shrimp can't process them all) as well as new fits and cuts of familiar favorites, but we're entering a stage now where rather than releasing a new shade or style, suppliers are making one subtle difference: making things heavier.

In the cyclical fashion of fashion, we're inching away from the tailored and slim fit style back to the roomy and boxy fit (I'm not talking 2003 NBA Draft roomy, just a little breathing room). Not dissimilar to my physique once college football season rolls around, heavier is becoming not only a popular choice but in many cases the preferred choice. Here's a detailed overlay breakdown from Next Level about the difference in fit between the 3600 standard cotton tee and the 7200 heavyweight tee:

What's most shocking to me isn't that just it is becoming a preferred fit, but virtually every brand we carry from Gildan to Brooks Brothers is releasing a heavyweight garment. 

What is considered heavy?

Usually anything above 6 ounces for a short sleeve tee. Here's more or less how I define the different weight classes for tees:

• <4 ounces: performance tee (Paragon, A4, Sport-Tek)
• 4-5.5 ounces: casual (Bella+Canvas, Next Level)
• 5.5-7 ounces: heavy (Comfort Colors, ComfortWash)
• and new to the fold is the 7+ounce superheavy division

Certain street-wear brands like Shaka Wear and the Gildan Hammer/Hanes Beefy T have provided the superheavy style tee but now, stalwarts of the casual weight tee are starting to get into the heavy and superheavy garments with a full head of steam. 

Bella+Canvas recently released:

• a 6 ounce tee in a unisex, youth short and long sleeve, and women's short and long sleeve
• a 6.5 ounce garment dyed short and long sleeve AND
• a 7.5 ounce short and long sleeve tee

Next Level recently released:

• a 6.8 ounce women's relaxed fit tee
• a 6.8 ounce LEGEND tee - see the above infographic for how it compares to the 3600

Even Tultex, one of our favorite 'house' brands that has almost traditionally been standard youth and adult tees have released a heavyweight style for youth and adults!

What's your favorite heavy garment?

I haven't had the pleasure of trying on every single option, but one that I really love is the Lane 7 Urban Heavy tee. The thicker collar and relaxed fit are wonderful for the summer; I thought that at 7.6 ounces, a t-shirt heavier than some of my hoodies would feel like a x-ray jacket from the dentist but I actually loved it! If you want to go even thicker and heavier (me with guac when I have a Chipotle gift card), Lane 7 has an 8.2 ounce superheavy tee as well. 

This trend isn't just limited to t-shirts, either. Crewnecks and hooded sweatshirts are seeing the same flurry of new releases from top to bottom of the price range and weight class. Heavyweight hoodies such as the Lane 7 LS19001 and Independent Trading IND4000 have been awhile - that makes sense considering this garment can double as your outer layer in the colder weather (guilty), but now it's a choice of style moreso than practicality. 

Is this just new in t-shirts?

Yes and no - a handful of suppliers have had a heavyweight hoodie as part of their offers for awhile (Independent IND4000 and Lane 7 LS19001 have been around almost as long as I have been at Good Ink), but we are seeing many other brands introduce a heavyweight garment. While many suppliers are introducing a heavy and superheavy tee, they are only doing one heavyweight hoodie to pair with a standard weight hooded option rather than the variety of weight classes like in t-shirts mentioned above. 

What are the weight classes for hoodies?

I thought you'd never ask.

• Performance or Lightweight hoodie: 5-7 ounces
  • If lightweight hoodies are your thing, I'm sorry but I can't help but feel that this rings true:

• Standard weight: 8-9 ounces
• Heavy weight: 10-12 ounces
• Superheavy weight: 12+ ounces

District, which creates one of my favorite hoodies, is making a new hoodie in both the heavy and superheavy class. Bella+Canvas, another one of my hoodie favorites with the 3719, is now selling their heavyweight 10 ounce 4719. 

The heaviest one I've seen so far is Lane 7's 16.5 ounce LS17001. If you like wearing a weighted blanket out and about - this one's for you.

I'm sure it's only a matter of time until we see crewnecks and hoodies from every brand in the various weight classes. I'm already something of a hoodie snob, so I look forward greatly to trying more of these and to printing your next custom design!