Specs at a glance
- Brand
- Independent Trading Co.
- Style
- SS4500
- Fabric
- Solids and camo 80/20 cotton/polyester with a 100% cotton face yarn; Gunmetal and Grey Heather 75/25; Ash Heather 60/40; other heathers and safety colors 55/45
- Weight
- 8.5 oz (about 288 GSM)
- Yarn
- 100% cotton face yarn, 32 singles (the maker calls it a ring-spun face)
- Fit
- Standard fit
- Sizes
- XS–3XL; 4XL–5XL in select colors
- Colors
- About 48 colors, including several camo prints
- Construction
- Jersey-lined hood; Metal eyelets for the drawcord; Split-stitch double-needle seams; Twill neck tape; 1x1 rib cuffs and waistband; Tear-away neck label
Specs per Independent Trading Co. SS4500 8.5oz Midweight Pullover Hood product page, checked 2026-10-04. Makers change colors and details; check the current spec before ordering.
Decorating it
| Method | What to know |
|---|---|
| Screen Printing | The cotton face on solid colors takes plastisol and water-based ink well. Plan full-front art to sit above the pouch pocket seam, or ask about printing across it. |
| Screen Printing | Heathers and safety colors run up to 45 parts polyester in 100. Use low-bleed ink and a controlled cure for white or pale prints on those colors. |
| DTG Printing | DTG works on the 80/20 solids thanks to the cotton face. Pretreat and press firmly to flatten the fleece surface, and expect softer color on the polyester-rich heathers. |
| Embroidery | Midweight fleece is a stable, forgiving base for chest logos, sleeve hits and even larger back designs, with a cut-away backing. |
The SS4500 is Independent Trading Co.'s midweight pullover hoodie, sold on the maker's site as the 8.5oz. Midweight Pullover Hood and described as its Standard Supply style. It is aimed squarely at decorators: a cotton-faced fleece in a wide palette with consistent construction, positioned by the maker as its value style.
Who the SS4500 suits
It is a workhorse for team and club hoodies, school spirit wear, company and staff fleece, event merch and brand basics that need many colors. The camo prints, including Realtree and Independent's own camo patterns, open up outdoor, hunting and workwear-flavored merch. For a premium heavyweight drop, a thicker fleece or a cross-grain hoodie may suit better.
Fabric, weight and feel
The maker lists 8.5 oz fleece (about 288 GSM). Fiber content depends on the color:
- Solids and camo: 80/20 cotton/polyester, with a 100% cotton, 32-singles face yarn.
- Gunmetal Heather and Grey Heather: 75/25.
- Ash Heather: 60/40.
- All other heathers and the safety colors: 55/45.
The cotton face matters more than the overall blend for decoration, because ink and needle meet the outside of the fabric. The polyester share adds strength and helps the hoodie hold its shape. Heathers with more polyester feel a little slicker and tend to pill sooner, a general trait of higher-poly fleece. French terry vs fleece explains the brushed inside.
Construction is classic: a jersey-lined hood, heavy-gauge drawcord through metal eyelets, split-stitch double-needle seams, twill tape at the neck, 1x1 rib cuffs and waistband, and a tear-away neck label. Like most pullover hoodies it has a front pouch pocket, although the maker's spec list does not mention it.
Decorating the SS4500
Screen printing
On the solid colors, the cotton face takes plastisol and water-based inks cleanly. Dark colors need a white underbase for bright prints. Fleece is thicker than jersey, so it takes longer to come up to cure temperature; a wash test on a sample confirms the dryer settings.
The pouch pocket sets the lower edge of most full-front prints. Printing over the pocket seam is possible with care but can leave a gap or a ridge in the ink, and the guide to printing on sleeves, hoods, pockets and zippers covers those placements. The heathers and safety colors carry more polyester, which raises the risk of dye migration into white and pale inks.
DTG
DTG works best on the cotton-faced solids. Fleece needs thorough pretreatment and a firm press to lay the surface fibers down before printing. On 55/45 heathers, colors print duller and the white layer is harder to keep bright.
Embroidery
Midweight fleece is a forgiving base for embroidery. Left-chest logos, sleeve hits and larger back designs all hold their shape with a cut-away embroidery backing, and the thickness hides the stitching on the inside. A hood or pocket embroidery spot needs a check with the embroiderer, since the hood lining and pocket layers change how the fabric hoops.
Sizing notes
Sizes run XS to 3XL, with 4XL and 5XL only in some colors, mostly the core neutrals plus a few team shades. The maker calls the fit standard and describes it as generous in the body, so most people take their usual size. The site has a sizing and color chart worth linking from your own product page.
Alternatives
- Softer, side-seamed and regular in fit: the Lane Seven LS14001.
- Heavy cross-grain fleece with a heritage logo: the Champion Reverse Weave hoodie.
How to choose a blank hoodie covers weights, blends and construction details across styles.
Sources
- Independent Trading Co. SS4500 product page, checked 2026-10-04
Useful for: sports teams, schools and clubs, companies, events.