The battle of the blank apparel brands has many fronts. A lot of brands are competing to be number one, and depending on the item of clothing, some are better than others. Here we’re looking at who makes the best t-shirts. It’s only fair to compare brands in a similar price range, which is why we’ve pitched these three against each other.
These are all wholesale blank apparel suppliers, so they’re great value. There are cheaper options out there, these three are what we consider the more premium range. Which makes better t-shirts though?
An Overview of Their Blank Apparel
These brands are all based in the US, with Next Level and Bella+Canvas both operating in Los Angeles. The first thing to note is that Bella+Canvas has comfortably the widest range of blank apparel, Next Level comes in second, while Comfort Colors has a more slimmed-down range. This is quite nice if you want to get your shopping done quickly, but does mean it’s missing some things. Its range of hoodies is very limited, and Bella+Canvas has some crop tops, and t-shirt styles that you won’t find at Comfort Colors.
Next Level is a nice happy medium here, they have more or less everything, but having a little less than Bella+Canvas makes it quicker to find what you want. The main reason for Comfort Colors’ reduced options is their commitment to 100% ringspun US cotton. We like this about the company, but it does limit its variety. Let’s take a look at their t-shirts then.
Who Makes the Best T-Shirts?
The Classic: 3001 vs 3600 vs 1717
A lot of printers and retailers don’t want to buy a range of different t-shirts, they just want one t-shirt that works for everyone, so the staple, signature, 100% cotton t-shirt is the most important for many. For Bella+Canvas that’s the 3001, there’s the Next Level 3600, and the Comfort Colors 1717. They’re all unisex, and cost about $5 wholesale or $10 retail. The 3001 has a kids version, and while the others don’t they have equivalent models (the 3310 and the 9018) which are basically the same tee.
| Bella + Canvas 3001 | NL 3600 | CC 1717 |
|---|---|---|
|
Colors: 86 Weight: 4.2 oz. Sizes: XS - 5XL |
Colors: 41 Weight: 4.3 oz. Sizes: XS - 6XL |
Colors: 68 Weight: 6.1 oz. Sizes: S - 4XL |
The 3001 has the most colors available, with 86, although both Bella+Canvas and Next Level use a dash of Polyester in a couple of them. Next Level has the largest size range, going up to 6XL. The 3001 and the 3600 are almost identical. Bella+Canvas use patented Airlume ringspun cotton, which makes their t-shirts just a touch smoother. They are both casual t-shirts, but with a bit of a modern, sleek fit, and a lighter feel, the 3600 is slightly more fitted.
Comfort Colors’ 1717 has a different look and feel to it, it’s a bit heavier, and less smooth, but softer. The earthy colors give the t-shirt a more traditional look. For the sleeker, more fitted version, you have to upgrade to the 6300. It costs a little more, but it’s a really nice pocket tee, which in our opinion, gives you the best of both worlds. Their t-shirts also hold up a little better over time, although all three are very durable.
The Verdict:
Comfort Colors makes the best casual tees, so if you want a range of different styles, we recommend the 1717 for your relaxed fit. If you’re looking to get one t-shirt for every situation though, the 3001 and the 3600 are better choices. It’s hard to separate them– Next Level offers an extra size, Bella+Canvas has more colors, and the material is a little nicer.
Style Variations
This is where Comfort Colors start to perform less well. They focus on a few options, and don’t have anywhere near the range of the other two. They have long-sleeved, v-neck and pocket versions, and a tank top. All have the soft feel of the brand, and having limited options can make your life easier as a business, but if you want real range you have to go for the other two.
Again, there is very little to separate Next Level and Bella+Canvas here. They both have a really wide range of variations, with great options for women, several v-necks and scoop necks of different sizes, ringer tees, two-tone raglan tees, and a range of tanks. The women in the office narrowly voted for Bella+Canvas as the better of the two for ladies’ options, as their cuts are slightly more modern. The flowy muscle tee was a particular standout. We also liked their long body tee, the 3006.
The Verdict:
While we love their 6030, we can’t really consider Comfort Colors. Bella+Canvas just win this one, thanks to their ladies’ options.
Blends
| Blend | Bella+Canvas | Next Level |
|---|---|---|
|
CVC Cotton/Polyester |
3001 (52%/48%) Colors: 86 Weight: 4.2 oz. Sizes: XS - 5XL |
6210 (60%/40%) Colors: 41 Weight: 4.3 oz. Sizes: XS - 6XL |
|
Tri-Blend Cotton/Polyester/Rayon |
3413 (25%/50%/25%) Colors: 68 Weight: 3.8 oz. Sizes: XS - 4XL |
6010 (25%/50%/25%) Colors: 24 Weight: 4.3 oz. Sizes: XS - 3XL |
|
Sueded Cotton/Polyester |
3301 (52%/48%) Colors: 21 Weight: 4.2 oz. Sizes: XS - 2XL |
6410 (60%/40%) Colors: 20 Weight: 4.3 oz. Sizes: XS - 3XL |
Here we lose Comfort Colors completely, since they only make t-shirts from 100% cotton. Our other two brands both have a range of cotton/polyester blends, which are great for DTG printing. Next Level’s use a little more cotton, which we like– it makes them slightly softer.
They also have tri-blends, and for the first time, there is a noticeable difference in weight– The 3413 is half an ounce lighter than the 6010, which is what you want from a tri-blend tee. Their sueded t-shirts are very similar, but Bella+Canvas’ Airlume cotton makes them a tiny bit softer, but we do like the extra cotton count in Next Level’s. Only Bella+Canvas have polyester/rayon blends– these are great light t-shirts that work well for low-intensity exercise. These blends also extend to the ladies’ and kids versions, so you have everyone’s needs catered to.
The Verdict:
A draw between these two. We prefer Next Level’s CVC, Bella+Canvas’ tri-blend, and the sueded versions are too close to call.
Sustainability
All three of these brands are adamant that their manufacturing is done ethically, both on a human level, and environmentally. The truth is that they all sell low-cost clothing, which isn’t the most sustainable practice in itself, but they do all make an effort to do it in the most environmentally friendly way possible, and employ practices which use less water.
Conclusion
Comfort Colors is the outlier here. They make fewer products, and are limited by only using cotton, which also restricts their use for printing. Besides screen printing, 100% cotton isn’t the best material to print on. Screen printing is probably the best method if you’re printing lots, but otherwise it isn’t the most cost-effective.
We love the feel of their t-shirts though, and their natural-looking color scheme, made with its proprietary dying process– Pigment Pure. The 6300 is also our favorite unisex t-shirt out of all the brands.
Next Level vs Bella+Canvas
These two are almost identical, which works against Next Level in many ways, as Bella+Canvas generally comes out on top when there is a minor difference. There’s one difference where it doesn’t though– price. These two are very similar, and the exact price will depend on your location and supplier, but Next Level is generally a shade cheaper. Next Level t-shirts are also a little more fitted, which you may or may not prefer.
Final Advice
For earthy, casual t-shirts, get them from Comfort Colors. If you want a more modern look, or more variety, go with either Next Level or Bella+Canvas. The former is a little cheaper, and the latter a little more expensive, but you won’t be disappointed with either of these blank apparel heavyweights.
For all your blank apparel, accessories, and promotional products, you can rely on Wordans for unparalleled variety. With our customization tool, you can also add any designs you like in no time. Take a look at our Instagram, @wearewordans, to see everything in action.
