[monkchild]

What's the best quality t-shirts next to American Apparel (which I believe are the top?!). I heard some guy mention something like "Canvas" or something. I had a feel on a Gildan shirt - I find the quality terrible.

 

[T-BOT]

What's the best quality t-shirts next to American Apparel (which I believe are the top?!). I heard some guy mention something like "Canvas" or something. I had a feel on a Gildan shirt - I find the quality terrible.

humm i like Gildan too for that Box T type shirt. Mrs Miller likes it too. LOL

One thing i did notice was after "aa" set the trend, peeps like Gildan started making ringer ts here in Canada. Before that, i even had a JOE up near Orphus road tell me that the reason Fruit, Gildan, Hanes etc... did not make ringer ts for sale here in Canada was because they did not sell.

I guess JOE is selling them by the truck load too our days Eh!

 

[Rodney]

What's the best quality t-shirts next to American Apparel (which I believe are the top?!)

There is no universally agreed upon "top" brand t-shirt. Everyone's idea of quality is different.

What you like about AmericanApparel shirts might be the same thing other's don't like about the brand.

What are some of the things you like about AmericanApparel, and that would help us suggest to you some alternative brands (like AlternativeApparel, Article1, TheApparelAgents, RoyalApparel, ContinentalClothing, etc)

 

[lauerja]

I've been using Delta Apparel. They are the manufacturer, have a nice selection, good quality and a decent pricing. They also let you purchase in any quantity.

 

[monkchild]

it's the softness and fit - the sleeves arent too big, not too tight, they just fit nicely on ya arm.

 

[Rodney]

it's the softness and fit - the sleeves arent too big, not too tight, they just fit nicely on ya arm.

You may want to try:

Article1
TheApparelAgents
AlternativeApparel
Continental Clothing

 

[xburner]

it's the softness and fit - the sleeves arent too big, not too tight, they just fit nicely on ya arm.

Hi! I am a newbie here. I am looking for a T-shirt with the softness of AA but bigger? AA is a bit too tight for me, but I love their softness. Is there such a alternative brand that is a looser fit and with AA softness?

 

[T-BOT]

have you tried the next size up ?

 

[Rebelesque]

Don't think I've seen Bella mentioned before. I just got a sample of Amer. App.'s women's jersey T and I loved it. But someone recommended Bella Jersey T. Any one ever compared the 2? Fit? Feel? Print?

 

[Solmu]

Don't think I've seen Bella mentioned before.

Quite a few of us are a fan of Bella (me, Rodney and Nick to name three) and tend to recommend them when people are after women's shirts specifically.

I haven't done a particularly thorough comparison, but prefer using Bella over AA for women's shirts.

 

[double6ix]

for my womens tees i use 'kavio'. tho i've never seen them mentioned here there quality is quite good. comparable to AA in my opinion. AA maybe just a tiny bit softer, but when u compare the price its kavio for me.

 

[hongkongdmz]

Are all the above mentioned t-shirts American produced?

 

[double6ix]

i think kavio is made in vietnam, from us fabric.

 

[hongkongdmz]

And yet they charge high prices....

 

[vegbyrd]

this is a great thread! thanks! i'm also a newbie starting a new company. i had heard that american apparel was the best; it is great to know that others are comparable and perhaps superior.

i am starting small and so i'm trying to find the best quality shirts at the lowest prices. i need blank tees only. i want to do girly tees, but since i'm starting out small, i have to begin with unisex tees. i thought gildan was good until i read the 1st post. my questions are as follows:

- - can i trust some of the companies that offer unisex shirts for as low as $1.50 (white tees) like blankshirtstore, shirtwholesalers, etc.? has anyone ordered shirts for this price (approximately)? if so, were they happy?
- what are the best companies with the best prices? although i prefer 100% cotton, i'm no averse to considering a good quality 50/50 unisex tee. what are the best 100% and 50/50 tees? hanes, hanes beefy, gildan, jerzees, details, etc.?

thanks a lot!

veggie

 

[T-BOT]

All the major blank brand names are all good. Depends on opinions i guess.
They all offer specials too. You just need to ask.

Personally I like "aa". Not only for the shirts but for how they have help our company grown by selling their brand.

Gildan, Alstyle, is what we get asked for alot when customers choose from the samples rack for the old style Box-t's, Camo, etc...

Alstyle has a good special on now, first quality t-shirts for $ 1.65 i think. Canadian Dollars that is.

 

[Twinge]

i am starting small and so i'm trying to find the best quality shirts at the lowest prices. i need blank tees only. i want to do girly tees, but since i'm starting out small, i have to begin with unisex tees. i thought gildan was good until i read the 1st post.

Everyone's going to have a different opinion, of course. I find Gildan shirts to be just fine; they aren't quite as soft as AA but they don't feel much different to me personally when wearing them.

can i trust some of the companies that offer unisex shirts for as low as $1.50 (white tees) like blankshirtstore, shirtwholesalers, etc.? has anyone ordered shirts for this price (approximately)? if so, were they happy?

You usually can, yes. I use S&S Activewear and unisex shirts are usually around that price. I haven't had any problems with the shirts.

I have heard mention that some of the cheaper wholesalers tend to send out 'seconds' - or the shirts that weren't good enough to be in the main group - but haven't experienced it personally.

what are the best companies with the best prices? although i prefer 100% cotton, i'm no averse to considering a good quality 50/50 unisex tee. what are the best 100% and 50/50 tees? hanes, hanes beefy, gildan, jerzees, details, etc.?

I think your best course here would be to try a few different brands and see what works best for your quality standards. I'm using Gildan Ultra and like them, and haven't had any customers complain about them. Some feel that a more well-known name like 'Hanes' will help sell their shirts, so they go with that.

One member here (I forget who it was, sorry!) checked out several and their final decision was a Jerzees shirt - the XT, if I recall correctly. It costs a bit more than the Gildan but not as much as AA, so it could be a good middle-ground choice.

 

[vegbyrd]

thanks a lot, twinge & t-bot! i'm looking at some of your suggestions. i also found some others on this site.

- i checked out s&s activewear. i couldn't find the wholesale price list, though.
- i'm checking out alstyle.
- what do you guys know about:
- starworld?
- b&b leisurewear?
- details?
- contential clothing?
- as tees?
- royal?

oh, there are others, but i'll have to go back and find the names. oh, i also have some folks looking for organic tees with non-toxic printing. any ideas?

thanks again!

veggie

 

[Twinge]

thanks a lot, twinge & t-bot! i'm looking at some of your suggestions. i also found some others on this site.

- i checked out s&s activewear. i couldn't find the wholesale price list, though.

Many wholesalers do not post their prices publicly; they are only visable to people with accounts (and generally, people with valid sales tax licenses). I believe this is so people like us can show our customers their site if we want - where they can see all the styles/etc. available - without them knowing the price we get things at.

 

[Solmu]

i had heard that american apparel was the best; it is great to know that others are comparable and perhaps superior.

American Apparel are a controversial company, with good points and bad. You can google if you care to know more.

i want to do girly tees, but since i'm starting out small, i have to begin with unisex tees.

There isn't really such a thing as unisex tees. There's clothes cut (and sized) for men, and clothes cut for women. "Unisex" is false marketing.

i thought gildan was good until i read the 1st post

They are good. They are bad. It really depends on your perspective and market.

can i trust some of the companies that offer unisex shirts for as low as $1.50 (white tees)

Yes.

(obviously whether or not you can trust an individual company will depend on that particular company - but in general being that cheap is not a warning sign)

what are the best companies with the best prices?

It mostly comes down to personal preference. My preference of the cheaper companies is Fruit of the Loom. Hanes and Gildan are also popular choices.

although i prefer 100% cotton, i'm no averse to considering a good quality 50/50 unisex tee.

Personally I really like FotL's 50/50 Best tee. But if your customers agree with you (i.e. they also prefer 100% cotton) you might as well stick with 100% cotton. It's generally slightly more expensive than 50/50, but we are talking about cents. Those cents add up, but not to that much if it means a superior shirt choice for your demographic.