When summer hits, there’s one piece of custom apparel that rises to the top of the promotional game: custom tank tops. Whether you’re organizing a summer festival, launching a seasonal brand campaign, or outfitting a fitness team, tank tops are a lightweight, stylish, and highly visible way to promote your business.
In this blog, we’ll explore why tank tops are ideal for summer promotions, the best styles available, customization options, and design tips—featuring six popular tank tops from trusted brands like Gildan, M&O, and BELLA + CANVAS. By the end, you’ll be ready to find the perfect style and start designing your own. Let’s dive in.
1. Why Choose Custom Tank Tops for Summer Promotions?
Tank tops are a natural choice for summer—and even more so when you’re trying to build brand visibility in a fun and comfortable way.
Here’s why they work:
- Breathability & Comfort: Sleeveless designs help people stay cool in the heat, making them ideal for summer events.
- Versatility: Perfect for concerts, team events, beach parties, and more.
- High Visibility: With a prominent print area on both front and back, tank tops are excellent for logo placement and bold graphics.
- Appeal to All Genders: Tank tops come in a wide range of styles tailored for men, women, and unisex fits.
- Affordable in Bulk: You can order custom tank tops wholesale, keeping your marketing budget in check.
Whether used as giveaways, team uniforms, or retail merchandise, custom tank tops leave a lasting impression long after summer ends.
2. Best Styles of Custom Tank Tops
Let’s look at six standout options that combine style, comfort, and printability—perfect for bulk orders or brand promotions:
1. Gildan 2200 – Ultra Cotton® Tank Top
A timeless classic, the Gildan 2200 offers 100% preshrunk cotton with a heavyweight feel that holds up to screen printing beautifully. With a wide fit and double-needle stitching, this tank top is durable and great for casual promotions, beach parties, and community events.
Best for: General-purpose promotions, bold logo printing, team uniforms.
2. M&O 3590 – Women’s Racerback Blend Tank
The M&O 3590 is a stylish racerback tank designed specifically for women. Made with a cotton/polyester blend, it’s soft, lightweight, and has a flattering fit that’s perfect for yoga studios, fitness events, or boutique merchandise.
Best for: Fitness campaigns, lifestyle brands, wellness studios.
3. M&O 4505 – Tank Top
Another excellent option from M&O, the 4505 Tank Top is a versatile unisex style featuring a soft, lightweight jersey knit. It’s breathable, easy to customize, and ideal for both fashion and casual wear.
Best for: Streetwear brands, summer merch, influencer campaigns.
4. Gildan 5200 – Heavy Cotton™ Tank Top
With a more rugged and structured feel, the Gildan 5200 is great for outdoor activities, sporting events, or activewear promotions. The heavyweight cotton fabric is durable and supports vibrant screen printing.
Best for: Sports events, construction crews, durable branding.
5. BELLA + CANVAS 3480 – Unisex Jersey Tank
A modern fit with high-fashion appeal, the BELLA + CANVAS 3480 is made from Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton. It’s soft, smooth, and retail-ready—perfect for direct-to-garment (DTG) printing and detailed designs.
Best for: Fashion-forward brands, premium custom merch, event giveaways.
6. BELLA + CANVAS 6682 – Women’s Racerback Crop Tank
Trendy and fun, the 6682 Racerback Crop Tank is made with a blend of cotton and polyester. It’s stylishly cropped and fits well into fashion or music-related promotions. This is the ideal choice if you’re targeting Gen Z or running a beach-themed event.
Best for: Music festivals, youth-focused branding, summer boutiques.
3. Customization Options
Custom tank tops offer the perfect canvas for bringing your brand’s personality to life. With the right customization techniques, you can turn a basic garment into an eye-catching promotional piece that people actually want to wear.
Here are the most popular methods used for tank top customization at Teeprints.ca:
Screen Printing
This is one of the most cost-effective and reliable methods for bulk customization. Screen printing produces vibrant, durable designs that last through multiple washes. It’s especially effective on cotton-based tank tops like the Gildan 2200 Ultra Cotton® Tank Top and the Gildan 5200 Heavy Cotton™ Tank Top.
Screen printing is ideal for:
- Bold logos and slogans
- Single or limited color designs
- High-volume orders (cheaper per unit in large quantities)
Direct-to-Garment (DTG) Printing
DTG printing is perfect for detailed or full-color artwork. Unlike screen printing, DTG allows you to print directly onto the fabric with high-resolution quality. This works best on smooth, ring-spun cotton tanks like the BELLA + CANVAS 3480 Unisex Jersey Tank.
DTG printing is best suited for:
- Complex, full-color graphics or gradients
- Shorter runs or limited edition pieces
- Fashion-forward brands that want a retail-quality finish
Embroidery
While embroidery is more commonly used for polos, hoodies, and hats, it can be applied to certain tank tops—especially if you’re looking for a premium or subtle touch. Embroidered logos on the chest or hem tag area can add a boutique or upscale vibe to your promo wear.
Embroidery is best for:
- High-end promotional collections
- Subtle, professional branding
- Corporate and hospitality use
Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV)
HTV is ideal for smaller print runs or specialty effects like metallic, neon, or glitter finishes. It’s versatile and fast to produce, although it may not be as durable as screen printing for heavy wear.
HTV works well for:
- Personalized tank tops (e.g., names, numbers)
- Small-scale customizations
- Creative or limited-time promotions
Placement Ideas
Strategic design placement can increase visibility and style:
- Front center: Great for branding and event names.
- Back print: Useful for sponsors, slogans, or hashtags.
- Left chest: Minimalist branding for a professional touch.
- Hem or label area: Adds a custom, retail-like look.
With Teeprints.ca, you can mix and match styles and customization methods to best fit your brand’s needs.
4. Best Use Cases for Promotional Tank Tops
Custom tank tops are more than just promotional apparel—they’re versatile tools that can be used across industries, events, and campaigns. Here are some of the top ways businesses, brands, and event organizers are using custom tanks to boost visibility and engagement:
Summer Events & Festivals
Tank tops are the ultimate staple for summer events—from music festivals and outdoor markets to beach clean-ups and charity walks. They’re comfortable in the heat, easy to layer, and offer high visibility for sponsors or branding.
Choose tanks like the BELLA + CANVAS 6682 Women’s Racerback Crop Tank for trend-conscious youth audiences or the Gildan 2200 for wide distribution to volunteers, staff, or attendees.
Fitness & Wellness Campaigns
If you’re launching a gym promotion, running a fitness challenge, or branding gear for a wellness retreat, tank tops are a natural fit. Sleeveless, breathable styles like the M&O 3590 Women’s Racerback Tank and the M&O 4505 Unisex Tank allow for freedom of movement and wick away sweat, making them ideal for yoga studios, boot camps, and athletic brands.
These can be used as:
- Branded uniforms for personal trainers or studio staff
- Giveaway merchandise for signing up to fitness challenges
- Upsell items in wellness-focused eCommerce stores
Corporate Retreats & Team-Building Events
Summer is prime time for company retreats, leadership camps, and team-building days. Outfit your staff or attendees with unified tank tops to encourage team spirit and create a cohesive look. You can print your logo, event theme, or motivational quote for an uplifting, on-brand experience.
For these events, the Gildan 5200 Heavy Cotton™ Tank Top is a great option for its durability and classic appeal, especially for outdoor activities or sporting tournaments.
Brand Promotions & Giveaways
Want to attract attention at trade shows, pop-ups, or digital contests? Custom tank tops make great branded giveaways that customers actually use. Compared to flyers or pens, tanks are wearable, photo-worthy, and spread your brand every time they’re worn.
The BELLA + CANVAS 3480 Unisex Jersey Tank is perfect for modern branding with its soft fabric and contemporary fit, giving your promotional item a retail-grade appeal.
Use custom tanks to:
- Incentivize social media contests (“Tag us wearing this tank!”)
- Offer freebies with purchase
- Distribute promo kits to influencers or brand ambassadors
Tourism & Hospitality
For resorts, adventure companies, and summer camp programs, custom tank tops offer a great way to promote your location and unify your team. Whether it’s a branded souvenir for guests or workwear for summer staff, tanks help promote a laid-back, coastal, or outdoorsy brand image.
Opt for a durable style like the Gildan 2200 or a softer blend like the M&O 4505 for comfort under the sun.
Conclusion:
Custom tank tops are an easy win for summer promotions. Whether you need durable staff gear for a festival, stylish merch for a yoga studio, or giveaways for a new product launch, there’s a tank top style that fits your audience and your brand.
From the heavyweight feel of the Gildan 5200, to the modern, flattering cuts of the BELLA + CANVAS 6682 Racerback Crop Tank, you’ll find styles for every event, market, and occasion. With customization options like screen printing, DTG, and embroidery, your brand has unlimited potential to stand out.
At Teeprints.ca, we make it easy to bring your designs to life. With bulk pricing, quick production, and expert support, you can confidently create tank tops that reflect your brand’s identity—and keep customers cool and stylish all summer long.
Ready to get started? Explore our custom tank tops collection and design your promotional apparel today.
