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Blog / Beginner's handbook / The Top 5 Best T-Shirt Brands

Beginner's handbook

The Best T-Shirt Brands Powered by Printful

The Best T-Shirt Brands Powered by Printful
Ketlina Sarkisjane 

By Ketlina Sarkisjane 

10 min read

One of the most popular, versatile, and essential clothing items that can be found in someone’s closet is a t-shirt. Whether graphic, plain, vintage, or branded—it’s a style that easily fits ever-changing garment trends. 

It makes sense that t-shirts are one of the bestselling print-on-demand products out there. In fact, the global t-shirt market is increasing in volume each year and has an expected growth rate of 2.8% by 2024. So, if you’re wondering when is the best time to start selling t-shirts, the answer is now.

Whether you’re interested in starting a t-shirt business or already own one, choosing the best quality t-shirts can be time-consuming and confusing, especially when it comes to choosing the right material, fit, and style. To make it easier, we selected the top 6 t-shirt brands we offer here at Printful.

With this guide, we’ll go through the best brands and the different types of blanks for t-shirt printing to help you choose the right one. Whether you’re looking for a timeless classic, a fashion-forward statement piece, or an eco-conscious choice, our selection’s got you covered.

Bella + Canvas

Bella + Canvas is one of our long-time bestseller t-shirt brands with a broad selection of products for all ages and styles. Their products are made under ethical working conditions in facilities certified by Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP). 

These quality t-shirts are made of Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, creating a smooth surface ideal for all kinds of prints. Bella + Canvas also offers the widest selection of colors from our assortment. 

Here are the 3 most popular Bella + Canva shirts based on our observations and customer preferences:

Unisex Staple Tee | Bella + Canvas 3001

This tee is a casual, everyday option loved by our customers. It’s an affordable t-shirt with soft and light fabric that has just the right amount of stretch. 

The t-shirts are available in 4 different categories: Unisex for adults, 3001Y for youth, 3001T for toddlers, and 3001B for babies—each with at least 3 different size options.

It’s a universal model that can be worn in multiple ways. Either pair it with jeans and call it a day or dress it up with an elegant blazer for a more formal look. Overall, it’s a great quality tee that feels good on and stays looking good after many washes.

a man with tattoos on his arm and arm holding his neck

Source: Printful

Women’s Relaxed T-Shirt | Bella + Canvas 6400

On days when elegant blazers and blouses are the last clothing items you reach for, our bestseller Women’s Relaxed T-shirt comes in handy. This shirt will make you feel comfortable any day, thanks to its soft and smooth fabric and relaxed fit. It comes in a vast selection of colors and 4 different size options. It’s a top-selling item that’s worth adding to any tee collection.

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Unisex Long Sleeve Tee | Bella + Canvas 3501

It’s an instant crowd favorite! This tee is an absolute must in cooler weather because of its long sleeves. It will complement any styles that are already in your closet. So, wear it with jeans for a casual look or style it with tailored pants or a skirt to look more dressed up.

The Unisex Long Sleeve Tee is made out of 100% ringspun cotton that’s lightweight and pleasant to wear. It’s a classic-fit crew neck that’s snug around the cuff, and it comes in sizes XS–2XL. Based on customer reviews, it’s one of our best t-shirts for printing—the print quality is excellent and the t-shirt designs look incredible.

a man in black shirt and shorts

Source: Printful

Stanley/Stella

This is a favorite brand among our eco-conscious customers. Stanley/Stella shirts are made from 100% organic cotton that feels soft and pleasant on the skin, and their products fully meet GOTS, OCS, GRS, and/or OEKO-TEX certification requirements. One of the main advantages of this brand is its comfort. So if you are looking for eco-friendly, comfortable, and affordable t-shirts, Stanley/Stella checks all the boxes.

Unisex Organic Cotton T-Shirt | Stanley/Stella STTU755

Another top seller loved by our customers! This is a regular-fit tee with a ribbed neckline, and in addition to the wide selection of colors, it’s one of the few t-shirts we offer up to size 5XL. Wear it and style it however you prefer—we guarantee that this t-shirt will look great on anyone. 

This particular shirt has received a lot of positive reviews from our customers. Not only do they highlight the comfiness, quality, and vivid colors, but also the heavyweight material that maintains its shape and drapes well on the body.

Accentuate the great fit of this shirt with a trendy graphic design or typography. For inspiration, take a look at current t-shirt design trends, or try our Design Maker and explore the best fonts for t-shirts.

two women smiling and wearing t-shirts

Source: Printful

Organic Cotton Kids T-Shirt | Stanley/Stella STTK909

Who’s the best advocate for comfort? That’s right—kids! And this Organic Cotton Kids T-shirt has received a 5-star rating from our customers, so there’s no doubt they love it. There are 5 different solid colors available that can be complemented with any t-shirt design. And since kids love softness, organic is the way to go. 

a man standing on a white cube

Source: Printful

Women’s Fitted Eco Tee | Stanley/Stella STTW032

This is a tailored t-shirt that’s ideal for those who prefer a more form-fitting look and shorter sleeves. It’s a classic staple clothing piece offered in sizes S–2XL and 4 different colors: white, black, and 2 shades of grey—the perfect base colors for eye-catching designs. Like other Stanley/Stella shirts, the fabric of this shirt is 100% organic cotton.

a woman wearing a grey shirt

Source: Printful

Comfort Colors

Another brand that offers quality t-shirts produced with respect for our planet is Comfort Colors. The brand is involved in each step of their garment production: they source the cotton, spin the yarn, knit, dye, and cut the fabric, then sew the clothes.

Their clothing is dyed using OEKO-TEX-certified low-impact, salt-free pigment dyes, which distinguishes their products from the other brands on this list. But because of the dyeing technique, loose pigments may remain on the surface of the t-shirts after washing. To avoid staining other clothes, it’s advisable to wash Comfort Colors garments either separately or with similar-colored clothing. These pigment-dyed t-shirts can also gradually develop a softer shade, creating a vintage look.

Check out our post on How to Make Vintage T-Shirts for tips and tricks on creating retro-themed designs

Unisex Garment-Dyed Heavyweight T-Shirt | Comfort Colors 1717

Everyone’s going to fall in love with this shirt the first time they wear it. It’s a durable piece that offers the highest quality for its price point. The material of this t-shirt is 100% ring-spun cotton, that’s soft and silky to the touch. It comes in 15 colors and sizes S–3XL.

What distinguishes it from the other shirts on this list is that the material is more heavy-weight and the sleeves are longer and wider. This creates a structured fit that’s especially ideal for streetwear styles. For an oversized look we recommend sizing up. 

a man wearing a black shirt

Source: Printful Reviews

Unisex Garment-Dyed Pocket T-Shirt | Comfort Colors 6030

How can you spice up a simple tee? Add a pocket! It’s still a casual t-shirt look that’ll go well with any style. This t-shirt comes in sizes S to 2XL in 11 muted colors that will make your designs pop. The fabric of this shirt is 100% ring-spun cotton, which is comfy and breathable. 

Create a design that accentuates the front pocket or let your imagination run wild with a large design on the back. If you need some help with inspo, take a look at some fun t-shirt design ideas.

a man with curly hair wearing a black shirt and blue jeans

Source: Printful

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Cotton Heritage

The t-shirt quality of this brand is outstanding! Cotton Heritage is also a WRAP-certified brand that offers premium quality pieces with more than a decade of expertise. A leader in ethical sourcing and manufacturing, they specialize in durable, comfortable, and printable clothing production to elevate your t-shirt brand in the competitive fashion industry.

The fabric used for Cotton Heritage t-shirts is soft-washed, which means any loose fibers are removed, making the shirts feel super smooth and soft. This also means superior quality material for different kinds of printing techniques. The t-shirts come with a tear-away tag that can easily be removed.

Men’s Premium Heavyweight Tee | Cotton Heritage MC1086

This t-shirt will elevate any style. The material is more on the heavy-weight side, and what differentiates this shirt from other casual t-shirts is the longline fit. It’s amazing for anyone who prefers a looser style that’s ideal for comfort and movement.

It comes in sizes S–4XL and 7 different colors. The colors Charcoal Heather and Carbon Grey are a blend of 60% cotton and 40% polyester, but the rest are made of 100% ring-spun cotton. Wear it on its own or style it with an overshirt (bright flannel anyone?) for an effortlessly stylish look.

a man wearing a baseball cap and a red and black plaid shirt

Source: Printful Reviews

Women’s High-Waisted Tee | Cotton Heritage OW1086

The more options, the better! For a little more variety in styles, Printful also offers this Cotton Heritage women’s tee that’s cropped above the waist. Its earth-tone colors and cropped fit make it look amazing paired with anything high-waisted. Made of 100% combed and ring-spun cotton, the tee is ultra soft and smooth against the skin and allows for freedom of movement.

a woman posing for a picture

Source: Printful

Next Level Apparel

“Feeling good also means wearing good” —that’s this brand’s motto. Next Level Apparel is another WRAP-certified clothing brand that offers several eco-friendly garments and styles, made using ethical and sustainable practices.

Next Level Apparel is highly regarded by those who sell custom t-shirts because of their quality, trendy fits. Their products have tear-away tags, so the t-shirts are a complete blank canvas for your designs and branding. Check out some of their popular styles below.

Men’s Fitted T-Shirt | Next Level 3600

This is a shirt that’ll feel and look good on everyone. It’s lightweight and form-fitting and has more of an athletic fit. The fabric is 100% pre-shrunk cotton and the material is breathable and easily gives into movement. This shirt comes in sizes XS–3XL and 8 different colors. The Heather Grey color is a blend of 90% cotton and 10% polyester, making it less likely to wrinkle.

Wear it with activewear or style it with jeans or slacks on days when comfort is the priority. And, if you’re planning to sell custom athleisure shirts, you definitely need to put your logo on this one.

P.S. Here’s our step-by-step t-shirt design and logo placement guide. You’re welcome!

a screenshot of a shirt

Source: Printful Reviews

Men’s Fitted Long Sleeve Shirt | Next Level 3601

The same but different. Besides the custom long sleeve shirts, the quality, feel, and material are the same as for the Next Level 3001 model. A classic long-sleeve crew neck offered in sizes S–2XL and 3 neutral colors (black, dark gray, and white), it’s the perfect addition to any closet.

Long-sleeve t-shirts are great for everyday wear either as layering pieces or on cooler days, so get your best designs ready—this shirt is sure to get good use by anyone who owns it.

a man in a black shirt

Source: Printful

Men’s Premium Cotton T-Shirt | Printful Original

Last but not least, here’s a tee that’s exclusively designed and manufactured by Printful. It’s our Men's Premium Cotton T-shirt. Similar to other top t-shirt brands, we offer a classic, regular-fit tee that provides comfort and a flattering look, without that tight-fitting feeling.

It’s made out of 100% cotton with extra-long staple fibers, which means that the shirt won’t fade, wrinkle, or pill as products made from short-staple fabrics would. It comes in sizes XS–5XL and the colors black and white—the perfect canvas to add designs that pop.

The t-shirt feels super soft and lux to the touch, and has stretch that allows for freedom of movement. But due to its slight elasticity, the shirt can shrink during the first wash, so it’s advisable to size up from your regular size.

Because of how it’s made, this premium t-shirt is one of those t-shirts that feels high-end and will look sleek on anyone. 

two men standing in a room

Source: Printful

Tee-ing up for success

We hope this guide gave you some clarity and helped save you time surfing catalogs for exactly what you’re looking for. Hopefully by now you’ve chosen the right t-shirt for your print-on-demand business from 6 of the top t-shirt brands in our collection. 

If you’re still uncertain, remember to consider your budget, target audience, and the designs that’ll set you apart from competitors.

We wish you tee-riffic sales ahead!

author

By Ketlina Sarkisjane  on Nov 22, 2023

Ketlina Sarkisjane 

Guest author

Ketlina is a freelance content writer. She's passionate about digital marketing and has experience working as a social media manager. In her free time, she enjoys going on long walks with her dog while listening to her favorite podcasts. 

Ketlina is a freelance content writer. She's passionate about digital marketing and has experience working as a social media manager. In her free time, she enjoys going on long walks with her dog while listening to her favorite podcasts.