If you've ever placed a custom hoodie order and been asked "which blank would you like?"  and had absolutely no idea what that means you're not alone. Choosing the right hoodie brand is something most people overlook, but it makes a significant difference to how your finished product looks, feels, and lasts.

The blank garment is the canvas. Even the best printer in Sydney can't save a cheap, thin hoodie that shrinks after two washes or pills after a month of wear. On the flip side, a premium blank paired with quality printing produces something people actually want to wear which matters whether you're building a brand, kitting out a team, or creating staff uniforms.

What Makes a Hoodie Good for Printing?

Before diving into specific brands, it helps to understand what separates a print-friendly hoodie from one that isn't.

Fabric composition is the biggest factor. Cotton-rich fabrics work best with DTG and screen printing. Polyester-heavy blends are better suited to DTF and sublimation. A roughly 80% cotton / 20% polyester blend is considered the sweet spot for most printing methods it holds ink well, resists shrinking, and maintains its shape.

GSM (grams per square metre) refers to the weight and thickness of the fabric. Heavier hoodies at 300gsm+ feel premium, drape well, and produce more vibrant screen prints. Lighter hoodies at 240–280gsm are more affordable and suitable for casual use but can look thinner and less substantial once printed.

Fabric surface also matters. A smooth, even surface gives DTG and DTF prints a cleaner finish. Heavily textured or brushed fabrics can cause ink to spread unevenly.

Pre-shrunk treatment is worth checking. Hoodies that haven't been pre-shrunk can distort a printed design after the first wash especially problematic for chest prints and logo placement.

With those basics in mind, here are the brands Australian printers consistently recommend.

1. AS Colour — The Gold Standard in Australia

If you ask any experienced custom hoodie printer in Australia which blank they trust most, AS Colour will come up almost every time. The New Zealand-founded brand has become the default choice for premium custom printing across the country, and for good reason.

Why It's So Good for Printing

AS Colour hoodies are made from ring-spun cotton fleece, which produces an exceptionally smooth surface for printing. The fabric is consistent batch to batch meaning the hoodie you sample today will look the same as the one in your bulk order six months later. For printers, consistency is everything, and AS Colour delivers it reliably.

Their fabric also holds DTG ink beautifully, producing deep blacks and vibrant colours with minimal ink bleed. Screen printing on AS Colour blanks results in sharp edges and excellent opacity, even on darker colourways.

Popular AS Colour Hoodies for Printing

• 5101 Supply Hood — The most popular AS Colour hoodie. 350gsm, ring-spun cotton fleece, relaxed fit. A workhorse blank that suits virtually every printing method.

• 5102 Stencil Hood — A slightly lighter 300gsm option with a more fitted silhouette. Popular for fashion-forward brand merchandise.

• 5100 Heavy Hood — 450gsm, thick and structured. A premium option for winter drops and high-end branded custom hoodies where weight and feel really matter.

Best For

Brand merchandise, fashion labels, corporate gifting, premium retail, and anyone where the quality of the finished product directly reflects on their brand.

Price Range

Mid to premium. AS Colour blanks cost more than budget alternatives, but the finished result justifies it. Expect to pay a higher per-unit cost, which is reflected in the final product quality.

2. Gildan — The Reliable Budget Workhorse

Gildan is one of the most printed-on brands in the world, and it's easy to see why. The Canadian apparel giant produces consistent, affordable blanks that are widely available across Australia and well-suited to high-volume printing jobs where cost per unit matters most.

Why It's Good for Printing

Gildan's Heavy Blend hoodie their flagship product is an 50% cotton / 50% polyester fleece construction at around 280–300gsm. The polyester content gives it good shape retention, while the cotton side holds ink reasonably well for both DTG and screen printing.

Because Gildan is so widely used, most Australian printers have extensive experience printing on it. Results are predictable, setup is straightforward, and the price is hard to beat for bulk runs.

Popular Gildan Hoodies for Printing

• 18500 Heavy Blend Hoodie — The industry standard budget blank. Available in dozens of colours, widely stocked across Australia, and extremely print-friendly for screen printing and DTF.

• 18600 Zip Hoodie — The zip-up version of the Heavy Blend, popular for corporate workwear and team uniforms.

Best For

Large bulk orders on a tight budget, event merchandise, charity runs, school groups, and situations where quantity takes priority over premium feel.

Price Range

Budget to mid-range. One of the most affordable blanks on the market without sacrificing basic quality.

3. Biz Collection / Winning Spirit — The Australian Workwear Standard

While AS Colour and Gildan dominate the fashion and merchandise space, Biz Collection and its sister brand Winning Spirit are the go-to choices for Australian workwear, corporate uniforms, and trade applications.

Why It's Good for Printing

Biz Collection hoodies are built for function reinforced stitching, durable fabric blends, and practical features like thumb holes, high-vis options, and water-resistant finishes. They're designed to be washed repeatedly in commercial settings, which means the fabric holds up well to embroidery in particular.

For businesses outfitting a team of tradies, hospitality staff, or warehouse workers, Biz Collection provides a professional baseline that workwear-grade embroidery sits beautifully on.

Popular Options for Printing

• Hype Pull-Through Hoodie — Clean design, corporate-friendly colourways, ideal for embroidered chest logos.

• Bonded Micro Fleece Hoodie — A popular choice for outdoor and high-vis workwear applications.

Best For

Corporate uniforms, trades and construction, hospitality staff, outdoor workwear, and any application where durability and a professional appearance are equally important.

Price Range

Mid-range. Priced above Gildan but below AS Colour, with a strong value proposition for commercial applications.

4. JB's Wear — The Australian-Friendly All-Rounder

JB's Wear is an Australian-owned brand that has built a loyal following among local businesses and printers alike. Their range covers everything from basic fleece hoodies to high-vis workwear, and their blanks are stocked by most Australian decoration suppliers.

Why It's Good for Printing

JB's hoodies offer a solid cotton-polyester blend construction at competitive price points. They're well-suited to screen printing, DTF, and embroidery, and their consistent sizing across the range makes ordering for large mixed groups straightforward.

Being Australian-owned also means their sizing tends to suit Australian body shapes slightly better than some international brands, which reduces sizing complaints on bulk orders.

Popular Options for Printing

• 3HJ1 Fleecy Hoodie — A classic pullover in an 80/20 cotton-poly blend. Clean surface, good weight, widely used for school and club printing.

• 3FHZ1 Zip Hoodie — A popular zip-up option for corporate and workwear applications.

Best For

Schools, community clubs, small businesses, and local organisations looking for an Australian-owned option at a competitive price point.

Price Range

Budget to mid-range. Comparable to Gildan in price but with an Australian identity that resonates with local buyers.

5. Ramo — The Value Pick for Bulk Orders

Ramo is a lesser-known name among end customers but well-regarded among Australian printers for producing consistent, print-ready blanks at very competitive prices. If you're placing a large order and cost per unit is the primary driver, Ramo deserves a look.

Why It's Good for Printing

Ramo hoodies are produced to a consistent standard with a smooth fleece surface that works well for screen printing and DTF. Their sizing is consistent, their colour range is adequate, and their price point makes them one of the most affordable options for large-run jobs in Australia.

Best For

Large volume orders where budget is the main consideration, promotional merchandise, fundraiser gear, and short-lifespan event apparel.

Price Range

Budget. Among the most affordable Australian-stocked blanks available.

6. Nike & Champion — The Premium Brand Play

For organisations that want the brand cachet of a recognised name on their custom hoodies think corporate gifting, premium merchandise, or elite sports teams Nike and Champion are both available through Australian decoration suppliers.

Why People Choose Them

The brand recognition alone justifies the cost for some buyers. A Nike Swoosh on the chest alongside your embroidered logo communicates a level of quality and investment that generic blanks simply can't replicate. Champion's reverse weave construction is also genuinely premium a thick, durable fabric with a distinctive texture that holds embroidery exceptionally well.

The Trade-Off

Both brands are significantly more expensive than standard blanks. Customisation options are also more limited you generally can't print all over a Nike hoodie or use sublimation, as licensing restrictions apply. Embroidery and small chest prints are the standard approach.

Best For

Corporate gifting, premium merchandise, executive team uniforms, and elite sporting clubs.

Price Range

Premium to high-end. Expect to pay considerably more per unit than any other option on this list.

How to Match the Brand to Your Printing Method

What Do Sydney Printers Actually Recommend?

Most experienced Sydney-based printers will point you toward AS Colour for quality and Gildan for volume. These two brands cover the vast majority of custom hoodie jobs AS Colour when the end product needs to impress, Gildan when the budget needs to stretch across a large order.

For workwear and corporate applications, Biz Collection and JB's Wear come up consistently. And for buyers in the Hills District and greater Sydney who want to see and feel samples before committing to a blank, visiting a local printer like those based in Castle Hill gives you the chance to handle the actual garments before placing an order something you simply can't do when ordering blind online.

Final Word

The best hoodie brand for printing in Australia ultimately depends on what you're printing, how you're printing it, and who's going to be wearing it. A $15 Gildan blank is the right call for a 200-unit school fundraiser. An AS Colour Heavy Hood is the right call for a premium streetwear drop. A Biz Collection fleece is the right call for a team of tradies getting embroidered workwear.

Get the blank right, and the printing almost takes care of itself. Get it wrong, and even the best printer in Sydney can't fully rescue the result.