Gildan, Bella+Canvas, Comfort Colors – Which Blank Sells Best?

When it comes to POD blank apparel, the three names Gildan, Bella+Canvas, and Comfort Colors have practically become the “power trio” dominating the market. Each brand brings its own strengths from pricing, fabric quality, and fit, to print compatibility and target customer segments.

So, which blank performs best for POD sellers? This article will take you through each brand in detail, comparing key factors to help you choose the most suitable “secret weapon” for your Print on Demand journey.

Gildan – The “Price King” of the POD World

In the vast universe of Print on Demand (POD) blanks, there’s one name that every seller from beginners to seasoned veterans can’t ignore: Gildan. It’s the undisputed “king” when it comes to affordability, popularity, and business efficiency.

Brand Overview

Founded in 1984 in Canada, Gildan has grown from a small family business into the world’s largest blank apparel manufacturer. With a production scale reaching hundreds of millions of garments each year, Gildan truly stands as the backbone of the printing and apparel industry.

From T-shirts and hoodies to sweatshirts, Gildan dominates nearly every Print on Demand (POD) fulfillment facility worldwide. This dominance stems from a simple winning formula: low cost, easy to print, and always in stock.
For POD sellers, these three factors translate into optimized costs, minimized risks, and nearly unlimited scalability for every campaign.

Key Advantages of Gildan

Gildan’s strategy focuses on efficiency and that translates directly into competitive advantages for POD sellers:

• Lowest Base Cost in the Market: This is Gildan’s absolute edge. It offers the highest profit margin potential, making it the perfect choice for sellers who want to test new designs with minimal risk or run large-scale advertising campaigns targeting mass markets.
• Basic Fit – Easy to Sell, Easy to Style: Gildan specializes in the classic fit. While it may not be the trendiest silhouette, it’s safe, unisex, and ideal for niches like event shirts, charity tees, team uniforms, or gift shops.
• Consistent Print Durability: The fabric surface especially on the Heavy Cotton line is tightly woven and absorbs ink effectively. This ensures DTG and DTF prints have vibrant colors and long-lasting durability, even after multiple washes.
• Extremely Strong Supply Chain: Gildan almost never runs out of stock. This supply stability is crucial, especially during the Q4 sales season. Large fulfillment centers like FlashShip’s Texas Hub maintain significant Gildan inventory, ensuring your campaigns never face disruptions.

Limitations to Consider

To achieve its competitive pricing, Gildan inevitably makes a few trade-offs:

• Fabric May Feel Slightly Stiff:  Compared to premium brands like Bella+Canvas, Gildan fabrics (especially the Gildan 5000) tend to feel rougher and more rigid rather than soft and smooth.
• Traditional “Boxy” Fit: Many of Gildan’s core products are made using tubular construction (no side seams), which gives the shirts a boxy silhouette that doesn’t particularly flatter the body shape.
• Wearing Experience: For more discerning customers or those accustomed to premium apparel, Gildan may not deliver that “wow” level of softness and comfort.

Best-Selling Models

Gildan offers an extensive product catalog, but here are the four “workhorses” trusted by every POD seller:

When Should You Choose Gildan?

Gildan is the best-selling choice for you if any of the following apply:

• When testing new designs or running trend- or meme-based campaigns.
• When you need competitive pricing to maximize profit in mass-market sales.
• When your target customers care more about the design or message than premium fabric quality.
• When you’re just starting out on platforms like Etsy, Amazon, or a new Shopify store, and need a safe, high-margin blank to begin with.
  

Bella+Canvas – The “Star” of the Premium & Eco-Friendly Segment

If Gildan represents accessibility and profit optimization, then Bella+Canvas (B+C) stands as the symbol of quality, style, and progressive thinking. This is the blank apparel line for sellers who aim to build a real brand not just sell printed T-shirts.

Brand Overview

Born in Los Angeles, USA one of the world’s fashion and creative capitals Bella+Canvas operates under a simple yet powerful philosophy: “Be Different.”
It all began with one fundamental question:

“Why can’t Print-on-Demand T-shirts be as soft and well-fitted as retail fashion tees?”

That question sparked a revolution. Bella+Canvas doesn’t compete on price it competes on experience. The brand focuses on perfection in every detail: modern retail fit silhouettes, silky-soft fabrics, a strong commitment to eco-friendly production, and flawlessly smooth print surfaces. Choosing Bella+Canvas means you’re not just selling a T-shirt you’re selling a fashion product.

Key Advantages

• Premium Fabric Quality: This is where Bella+Canvas truly shines. The brand exclusively uses 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton. “Combed” means the cotton fibers have been meticulously refined to remove impurities and short strands, leaving only the longest and finest fibers. “Ring-spun” refers to a spinning process that makes the yarn significantly softer, smoother, and more durable. The result is a T-shirt that feels exceptionally soft, lightweight, breathable, and gentle on the skin.
• Modern Slim Fit: Unlike Gildan’s boxy silhouette, B+C’s core products (such as the 3001) are side-seamed, giving them a well-structured shape that fits snugly and flatters the wearer’s figure. This is a key selling point for younger, fashion-conscious U.S. consumers especially women.
• Eco-Friendly Manufacturing: This is an invaluable brand story sellers can leverage. Bella+Canvas proudly upholds its “No Sweatshops – Eco-Friendly” commitment. Their California-based facilities meet “green” manufacturing standards, using dyeing processes that save up to seven times more water and operate with solar energy. Selling B+C means offering not just a T-shirt—but an ethical, sustainable product.
• Outstanding Printability: The tightly woven, smooth surface of B+C fabrics provides the perfect canvas for DTG printing. It allows inks to adhere beautifully, resulting in vibrant colors, crisp details, and a soft-hand feel that few other blanks can match.

Limitations

• High Base Price: Quality comes at a cost. The base price of Bella+Canvas products is typically 1.5 to 2 times higher than that of Gildan.
• Profit Margin Considerations: If you try to sell Bella+Canvas at Gildan-level pricing, your profit margin will shrink significantly. To make B+C work, you need to position your store as a premium brand and price your products accordingly.
• Slim Fit Form: While it’s a major advantage for fashion-forward customers, the fitted silhouette may not appeal to buyers who prefer loose, oversized, or more relaxed styles, especially those with larger body types.

Best-Selling Models

Bella+Canvas offers a wide and diverse catalog, but these are its core “workhorse” products trusted by most POD sellers:

When Should You Choose Bella+Canvas?

Choose Bella+Canvas when your strategy is to build a sustainable, long-term brand.

• When you want to position your store as a premium brand on platforms like Etsy or Shopify.
• When your target audience includes women, younger customers, fashion enthusiasts, and buyers who are willing to pay more for a high-end experience.
• When your goal is to maximize repeat purchases and earn 5-star reviews with comments like “super soft fabric” or “great fit.”

Comfort Colors – The Icon of Vintage & Streetwear Style

If Bella+Canvas represents premium fashion, then Comfort Colors embodies personality and character. It’s the brand that has been making waves and completely dominating the vintage, retro, and streetwear niche markets. For Gen Z in the U.S., this isn’t just a blank it’s a vibe.

Brand Overview

Comfort Colors (often referred to by its flagship model, C1717) has become a cult favorite among American youth and Etsy sellers alike. Rather than competing on softness or slim-fit cuts, Comfort Colors has paved its own path.

The brand’s defining and exclusive feature lies in its “Garment-Dye” technology.
Instead of dyeing the yarn before fabric production, Comfort Colors first completes the entire garment in white, then submerges the finished piece into dye baths and washes it. This process creates naturally faded, uneven tones that exude a distinct retro aesthetic a look no other dyeing technique can truly replicate.

Key Advantages

• Unique Vintage Color Palette: This is Comfort Colors’ greatest strength. Its exclusive color range includes irresistibly popular shades like Pepper (charcoal gray), Chalky Mint (mint green), Blue Jean (washed denim), and Ivory (off-white). These naturally faded tones are extremely popular in streetwear, aesthetic, and coastal fashion trends.
• Thick, Substantial Fabric: Unlike Bella+Canvas (4.2 oz), the C1717 boasts a 6.1 oz heavyweight fabric. It feels solid, durable, and substantial in hand. Made from 100% ring-spun cotton (same as B+C), it remains soft and comfortable despite its thickness.
• Fashion “Vibe” Appeal: Customers don’t buy the C1717 just to wear they buy it to express personality and lifestyle. It’s the perfect canvas for retro typography, vintage graphics, or outdoor/nature-inspired designs.
• Highly Trending Across Platforms: This blank is dominating trends on Etsy, Shopify, and especially TikTok. Younger buyers actively search for designs specifically printed on Comfort Colors blanks.

Limitations

• Highest Base Cost: Comfort Colors is among the most expensive blanks – often equal to or higher than Bella+Canvas. You’ll need to confidently price your products in the premium+ range ($30–$45).
  
• Design Compatibility Limits: The unique muted tones can also be restrictive. These “dusty” vintage hues don’t pair well with bright, cartoonish, or high-saturation designs that require a pure white background.
  
• Fit Variation: Because of the garment-dye and wash process, minor size variations can occur between batches. However, many sellers see this as part of the garment’s authentic vintage charm.

Best-Selling Models

The C1717 model is the undisputed “king,” but the brand also offers other products that share the same DNA:

When Should You Choose Comfort Colors?

Choose Comfort Colors when you want to sell a style, not just a product.

• When you’re targeting vintage, retro, streetwear, outdoor, or lifestyle niches (e.g., beachwear, camping, or aesthetic quote tees).
• When you want to create a distinct identity for your store and increase your average order value (AOV).
• When your target customers are Gen Z shoppers in the U.S. those who love individuality, authenticity, and follow TikTok/Pinterest trends.

Overall Comparison: Quick Evaluation of the Three Leading Brands

To give you a clear and direct overview, here’s a head-to-head comparison between the three core models: Gildan 5000, Bella+Canvas 3001, and Comfort Colors C1717.

Which Blank Should POD Sellers Choose?

After breaking down Gildan, Bella+Canvas, and Comfort Colors in detail, the answer isn’t “Which blank is the best?” it’s “Which blank is the best fit for YOU.” Here’s a quick guide to help you make the right decision:

For Beginner Sellers

Top Choice: Gildan (e.g., Gildan 5000, Gildan 18000)

For new sellers, the top priority is to minimize risk and maximize profit margin.
Gildan is the perfect starting point thanks to its lowest base cost in the market.

You can confidently launch multiple campaigns to test markets, validate design ideas, and identify your “golden niche” without worrying about budget burn.

Once you’ve built a stable cash flow and understand your target audience, consider expanding into premium lines like Bella+Canvas or Comfort Colors to elevate your brand value and customer experience.

For Brand-Focused Sellers (Brand Builders)

Top Choice: Bella+Canvas (e.g., B+C 3001)

If your goal is to build a sustainable love brand, Bella+Canvas is your strategic weapon. When positioning your store around fashion, lifestyle, minimalism, or eco-friendly values, fabric quality and wearing experience become the ultimate differentiators.

A Bella+Canvas T-shirt with its ultra-soft texture, modern retail-fit silhouette, and authentic “green” brand story can easily earn you countless 5-star reviews. This is one of the most effective ways to boost repeat purchase rates and build a loyal customer base willing to pay premium prices.

For Creative or Niche-Oriented Sellers (Niche/Creative Sellers)

 Top Choice: Comfort Colors (e.g., C1717)

Comfort Colors is the “goldmine” for sellers with strong aesthetic instincts and a deep understanding of U.S. youth culture. If your store focuses on vintage, streetwear, outdoor, or typography-inspired designs, this blank is truly irreplaceable.

Designs such as “Retro Hiking Club,” “Sunset Lovers,” or “Coastal Mood” paired with the signature garment-dyed tones of the C1717 create high-trend products that allow you to price at a premium and stand out effortlessly on platforms like Etsy and TikTok.

Smart Strategies for POD Sellers in 2025

Professional sellers don’t rely on just one blank they combine all three strategically:

• Diversify Your Catalog: Use Gildan 5000 for low-cost testing campaigns, Bella+Canvas 3001 for your main best-selling designs, and Comfort Colors 1717 for premium niche collections.
• Increase AOV Through Upselling: Add an upgrade option that allows customers to “upgrade” to Bella+Canvas or Comfort Colors blanks for an additional +$3–$5. This strategy both increases profit margins and satisfies more quality-conscious customers.
• Optimize Operational Costs: Choose a fulfillment partner (such as FlashShip.net) that stocks all three blank lines in the same warehouse. This helps you avoid split shipments, reduce logistics costs, and ensure that every product in an order is shipped out together, saving time, money, and improving the buyer experience.

In the rapidly growing Print on Demand (POD) industry, choosing the right blank apparel doesn’t just impact product quality it also determines customer experience and overall business performance.

Gildan, Bella+Canvas, and Comfort Colors each bring their own strengths:

• Gildan is ideal for cost-optimized, high-volume campaigns.
• Bella+Canvas suits brands focused on quality and sustainability.
• Comfort Colors is the perfect choice for shops pursuing vintage or niche fashion aesthetics.

There is no single “best” blank for everyone only the one that best aligns with your business strategy. What truly matters is understanding your target audience, defining your brand positioning, and choosing a reliable fulfillment partner who ensures print quality, fast turnaround, and excellent post-purchase service. FlashShip is proud to be a U.S.-standard fulfillment partner, offering a full range of Gildan, Bella+Canvas, and Comfort Colors blanks to meet every production and domestic shipping need. If you’re looking for a smart, scalable, and high-profit POD fulfillment solution for the U.S. market, contact FlashShip today to begin your journey toward sustainable and profitable POD success.