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“Wishlist syncs across devices. I can pin SKUs on my phone in the warehouse and add them to cart at my desk later.”
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It's the most common question in blank apparel: Comfort Colors or Bella+Canvas? They're both premium, but they're built for opposite looks. Comfort Colors 1717 is a heavyweight, garment-dyed tee with a soft, vintage, lived-in feel. Bella+Canvas 3001 is a lightweight, combed-cotton tee with a clean, fitted, retail look. Next Level 3600 sits close to the 3001 — modern fit, often a few cents cheaper.
This guide breaks down the difference in fabric, weight, fit, how each prints and dyes, and wholesale pricing — so you can choose the right base for your brand and your budget.
The single biggest difference between Comfort Colors and Bella+Canvas is weight and dye. Comfort Colors 1717 is a ~6.1 oz garment-dyed tee — heavier, roomier and softer in a broken-in, vintage way. Bella+Canvas 3001 is a ~4.2 oz combed and ring-spun tee — lighter, slimmer and cleaner, made to feel like a retail fashion shirt.
| Spec | Comfort Colors 1717 | Bella+Canvas 3001 |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric | 100% ring-spun cotton | 100% combed & ring-spun cotton |
| Weight | ~6.1 oz — heavyweight | ~4.2 oz — lightweight |
| Dye | Garment / pigment dyed (vintage wash) | Standard piece dyed |
| Fit | Relaxed, roomy, boxy | Fitted, modern, side-seamed |
| Feel | Soft, thick, lived-in | Soft, light, smooth |
| Look | Vintage, faded, boutique | Clean, crisp, retail |
| Best for | Boutique & lifestyle merch, premium drops | Fashion brands, everyday retail, resale |
A lot of buyers cross-shop the Bella+Canvas 3001 against the Next Level 3600. They are very similar — both lightweight, fitted, combed-cotton retail tees. The 3600 usually comes in a touch cheaper, while the 3001 has the widest color range in the category. The Comfort Colors 1717 is the outlier: heavier and garment-dyed for a completely different vibe.
Comfort Colors (1717) is a ~6.1 oz garment-dyed, heavyweight tee with a soft, vintage, relaxed feel. Bella+Canvas (3001) is a ~4.2 oz combed-cotton tee with a lightweight, fitted, clean retail look. Comfort Colors is heavier and more vintage; Bella+Canvas is lighter and more modern.
Both are soft in different ways. Comfort Colors is thick and broken-in soft from garment dyeing; Bella+Canvas is light and smooth-soft from combed ring-spun cotton. For a plush, heavyweight hand choose Comfort Colors; for a light, airy hand choose Bella+Canvas.
Both print well. Bella+Canvas 3001 gives a smoother, more consistent surface for fine detail and fashion prints; Comfort Colors 1717 gives a soft, vintage print that suits distressed and retro artwork on a heavier tee.
The Next Level 3600 and Bella+Canvas 3001 are very similar — both lightweight, fitted, combed-cotton retail tees. The 3600 is usually a little cheaper per piece, while the 3001 offers the widest color range in the category.
Next Level 3600 and Bella+Canvas 3001 are the value options and are best for high-volume runs. Comfort Colors 1717 costs more because it is a heavyweight, garment-dyed premium tee. Volume discounts apply automatically at checkout on all three.
| Spec | Comfort Colors 1717 | Bella+Canvas 3001 | Next Level 3600 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | ~6.1 oz | ~4.2 oz | ~4.3 oz |
| Fabric | Ring-spun cotton | Combed ring-spun cotton | Combed ring-spun cotton |
| Fit | Relaxed / boxy | Fitted / modern | Fitted / modern |
| Vibe | Vintage, heavyweight | Clean retail | Clean retail |
| Colors | Huge (pigment palette) | Widest in class | Broad |
| Price | $$ (premium) | $ | $ (often lowest) |
For screen printing and DTG, the lighter Bella+Canvas 3001 and Next Level 3600 give you the smoothest, most consistent print surface — ideal for fine detail and fashion prints. The Comfort Colors 1717 prints beautifully too, but its garment-dyed, heavier surface leans into a soft, vintage print that pairs perfectly with distressed and retro artwork.
For embroidery, the heavier Comfort Colors handles dense stitching with less puckering. All three take names, numbers and logo work well.
At Apparel Globe you can buy any of these by the piece or in bulk, with volume discounts applied automatically at checkout — no rigid case minimums. The Next Level 3600 and Bella+Canvas 3001 are the value plays for high-volume runs; the Comfort Colors 1717 carries a premium for its heavyweight, garment-dyed construction. All three ship fast from US warehouses.
Choose Comfort Colors 1717 if you want a heavyweight, garment-dyed, vintage tee for a boutique or lifestyle brand and the premium feel is the selling point.
Choose Bella+Canvas 3001 if you want a clean, modern retail fit with the widest color range for fashion brands and everyday resale.
Choose Next Level 3600 if you want that same lightweight retail feel at the lowest per-piece cost for big print runs.
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