For most clothing brands, the premium blank to start with is a 5.3 oz midweight cotton tee with a clean fit, and the Stanley/Stella Creator 2.0 is our first pick there. Streetwear brands usually do better with a heavier boxy tee such as the Stanley/Stella Asher or AS Colour Heavy Tee. For the lightest, softest shirt, look at the Bella+Canvas 3001, and for a washed vintage look, the Comfort Colors 1717.
French Press Custom is an official Stanley/Stella dealer in Santa Fe Springs, serving Los Angeles and Orange County, and we print every blank in this guide. Get an exact price for your quantity and print in our quote calculator.
What makes a blank tee premium for a clothing brand?
A premium blank comes down to four things: combed or ring spun cotton with a smooth, even face, a weight that matches the look you want, a cut that reads as retail rather than promotional, and colors and sizes you can reorder for years. Certifications matter more each year too, because brands put them on the product page.
Which premium blank tees are worth comparing in 2026?
These ten tees cover what clothing brands ask us for most, from a 4.2 oz retail tee to an 8.3 oz boxy heavyweight. All are 100% cotton in solid colors. The Stanley/Stella styles are organic cotton, and the other brands' tees here are conventional cotton.
| Tee | Fabric | Weight | Yarn | Fit | Sizes | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanley/Stella Creator 2.0 | Organic ring spun combed cotton | 5.3 oz/yd² | 24 singles | Medium | XXS to 5XL | 52 |
| Stanley/Stella Sparker 2.0 | Organic carded cotton, loose knit | 6.3 oz/yd² | 16 singles | Relaxed | XXS to 3XL | 22 |
| Stanley/Stella Freestyler | Organic open end cotton | 7 oz/yd² | 16 singles | Relaxed | XXS to 3XL | 20 |
| Stanley/Stella Asher | Organic ring spun combed cotton | 8.3 oz/yd² | 22 singles | Oversized | XXS to 3XL | 6 |
| Bella+Canvas 3001 | Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton | 4.2 oz/yd² | 32 singles | Retail | XS to 5XL | 96 |
| Bella+Canvas 3010 | Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton | 6 oz | 20 singles | Relaxed, drop shoulder | XS to 3XL | 25 |
| Comfort Colors 1717 | Ring-spun cotton, garment dyed | 6.1 oz/yd² | 20 singles | Relaxed | S to 4XL | 68 |
| AS Colour Staple (5001) | Combed cotton | 5.3 oz, 180 GSM | 28 singles | Regular | XS to 5XL | 33 |
| AS Colour Classic (5026) | Combed cotton | 6.5 oz, 220 GSM | 22 singles | Regular | S to 5XL | 38 |
| AS Colour Heavy (5080) | Carded cotton | 8.2 oz, 280 GSM | 26 doubles | Relaxed, boxy | S to 5XL | 14 |
Stanley/Stella specs are from the Stanley/Stella product API. Bella+Canvas and Comfort Colors specs are from the S&S Activewear catalog descriptions. AS Colour specs are from the AS Colour product API. Other brands' color counts are the colors in our catalog. Some heathers are blends: 3001 Ash is 99/1 cotton/poly, 3010 Athletic Heather is 90/10, and AS Colour heathers and marles are 15% viscose.
Every Stanley/Stella style above lists GOTS organic, OEKO-TEX organic garment, PETA-Approved Vegan and Fair Wear in its product data. The S&S description of the 1717 lists OEKO-TEX Standard 100, US grown BCI cotton and a Fair Labor Accredited maker.
Heavyweight vs midweight blank: which should a brand choose?
Choose a midweight, about 5.3 oz, for a clean everyday tee, layering, a wide size run and detailed prints. Choose a heavyweight, 6 to 8.3 oz in this guide, when the shirt itself is the statement: more structure, a boxier drape and a thicker hand. Most streetwear brands land in the heavyweight group.
The suppliers' labels match: Stanley/Stella calls the Creator 2.0 its "iconic unisex midweight tee," and AS Colour lists the Staple as mid weight. The tees labeled heavyweight here are the Sparker 2.0, Asher, Bella+Canvas 3010, Comfort Colors 1717, and AS Colour Classic and Heavy.
| If your brand wants | Look at |
|---|---|
| A clean, modern everyday tee | Creator 2.0, AS Colour Staple |
| The lightest, softest retail feel | Bella+Canvas 3001 |
| A relaxed heavyweight | Sparker 2.0, Bella+Canvas 3010 |
| Boxy and heavy | Asher, AS Colour Heavy |
| A washed, vintage color | Comfort Colors 1717, Creator 2.0 Vintage |
What is the best blank t-shirt for a streetwear brand?
For streetwear, a heavy, boxy, pre-shrunk tee usually suits the look. The Stanley/Stella Asher, an 8.3 oz oversized heavyweight, is our pick when organic cotton matters. The AS Colour Heavy Tee is the closest match at 8.2 oz, with dropped shoulders and sizes to 5XL. Lighter relaxed options are the Sparker 2.0 and Bella+Canvas 3010.
- Asher. Pre-shrunk and panel washed, with blind stitching at the cuffs and hem.
- Sparker 2.0. A loose-knit, pre-shrunk 6.3 oz heavyweight in 22 colors.
- Blaster 2.0. An oversized mock neck tee at 5.9 oz, for a silhouette that stands apart from a crew neck.
- Freestyler. 7 oz with what Stanley/Stella calls a dry hand feel.
When does another blank fit better than Stanley/Stella?
Another blank fits better when your brand needs the lightest possible tee, a very large color range, a garment-dyed look in many colors, or a heavyweight above 3XL. Stanley/Stella's strengths, organic cotton and named certifications, are not every brand's priority.
- Bella+Canvas 3001 for a 4.2 oz retail fit in 96 colors. See Creator 2.0 vs Bella+Canvas 3001.
- Comfort Colors 1717 for a garment-dyed heavyweight in 68 colors, where the Creator 2.0 Vintage has 7. See Creator 2.0 vs Comfort Colors 1717.
- AS Colour Staple if your brand already uses AS Colour's regular fit. See Creator 2.0 vs AS Colour Staple.
- AS Colour Heavy or Classic for a heavyweight in 4XL and 5XL.
How do these blanks print?
All ten are 100% cotton in solid colors, so all take screen printing, DTG and embroidery. A fine yarn like the 3001's 32 singles gives a smooth face for detail, and heavier fabric gives a dense left chest logo more to hold. For discharge, we test a shirt from your run first, because dyes release differently.
More on methods: why Stanley/Stella blanks print well, DTG on Stanley/Stella, and screen print vs DTG vs DTF vs embroidery.
Our take
As an official Stanley/Stella dealer, for a brand's core tee we reach for the Creator 2.0 first: organic cotton, 52 colors, XXS to 5XL, and certifications you can name on a product page. For a streetwear drop, the Asher or Sparker 2.0. When a brand needs 96 colors, a garment-dyed palette or a 5XL heavyweight, we print the 3001, 1717 or AS Colour Heavy without hesitation. Browse every style on our Stanley/Stella hub, check fits on the size chart, or see the Creator 2.0 on Stanley/Stella's site.
Ordering from Los Angeles or Orange County
- Where we are. 14130 Rosecrans Ave, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, serving Los Angeles and Orange County. Pickup is free, or we ship by UPS or FedEx anywhere in the US.
- Minimums. DTG none, DTF 12, embroidery 24, screen printing 36 pieces per design.
- Timing. About 2-3 weeks after art approval. Rush available depending on the schedule. Tell us your date.
- Contact. Mon-Fri 8am-4pm PT, (562) 407-3800, sales@frenchpresscustom.com.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best premium blank tee for a clothing brand?
It depends on the look. For a clean core tee, the Stanley/Stella Creator 2.0 is our first pick. For the lightest feel, the Bella+Canvas 3001. For vintage, the Comfort Colors 1717. For heavy and boxy, the Stanley/Stella Asher or AS Colour Heavy Tee.
What is the difference between a heavyweight and a midweight blank?
Weight and structure. The midweights here are about 5.3 oz and drape cleanly. The tees labeled heavyweight run from 6 oz (Bella+Canvas 3010) to 8.3 oz (Stanley/Stella Asher) and feel thicker, with a boxier shape.
What is the heaviest Stanley/Stella tee?
The Asher, at 8.3 oz/yd² in organic ring spun combed cotton, per Stanley/Stella's product data. It is an oversized fit in XXS to 3XL.
Can I sample a blank before a full run?
Yes. DTG has no minimum at our shop, so you can print one shirt on each blank you are considering before a screen printed run of 36 pieces or more.
Who prints premium blanks for clothing brands in Los Angeles?
French Press Custom in Santa Fe Springs, an official Stanley/Stella dealer, prints all four brands in this guide for Los Angeles and Orange County brands. Turnaround is about 2-3 weeks after art approval.
