AS Colour vs Gildan: Which Is the Best Shirt for Custom Printing?
Introduction
Two of Australia’s most popular shirt brands for printing are AS Colour and Gildan. This guide compares them to help you choose the right garment for your order.
AS Colour and Gildan represent premium and budget options for custom t-shirt printing, with AS Colour excelling in quality for detailed designs and Gildan dominating high-volume affordability.
Fabric and Comfort
AS Colour uses combed cotton in midweight tees (180-220 GSM), offering smooth, breathable textures ideal for everyday wear. Gildan employs heavier open-end cotton (around 155 – 180 GSM in models like HeavyCotton Tee 5000 or Softstyle 64000), providing durability but a coarser feel. AS Colour feels softer and more structured, while Gildan suits relaxed fits.
Printing Performance
AS Colour’s smooth surface shines for DTG, photo-quality, or complex prints, holding vibrant details without defects. Gildan performs best with screen printing on bold designs, resisting shrinkage and supporting bulk plastisol or water-based inks.
Sizing and Pricing
AS Colour runs fitted (e.g., Staple Tee), with extensive colors but higher costs for small runs. Gildan offers boxy, consistent sizing across vast color ranges at lower prices, perfect for large orders.
Best Use Cases
Choose AS Colour for premium retail, events, or intricate graphics; opt for Gildan in bulk promo or streetwear. Both support screen, DTG, and embroidery, but match to project scale.
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👉 T-Shirt Printing Brisbane – Complete Services & Pricing
AS Colour: Premium Quality
AS Colour earns its premium status through superior combed cotton fabrics (180-240 GSM), delivering a smooth, durable feel that outshines budget blanks. Modern, retail-inspired cuts like the Staple Tee offer flattering fits, gender-inclusive sizing, and vibrant color palettes for everyday wear.
Engineered for printing, its high-density surface ensures crisp DTG results, embroidery durability, and colorfast dyes that maintain vibrancy. Ethical production, sustainable sourcing, and certifications appeal to value-driven brands, fostering long-term consumer loyalty.
Trusted by agencies for consistency across large orders, it elevates merch from promo giveaways to wardrobe staples.
⭐ AS Colour Best For:
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Pros:
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High quality fabric
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Consistent fit
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Excellent DTG results
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Soft feel
Cons:
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Higher price
Popular options:
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Staple Tee
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Maple Tee
Gildan: Affordable & Reliable
Gildan earns its “Affordable & Reliable” reputation through massive-scale production that drives low costs without sacrificing quality, making models like the 5000 Heavy Cotton ideal for bulk orders at budget prices. Its midweight fabrics (170-205 GSM) deliver durability, resisting shrinkage, fading, and wear after repeated washes, as confirmed by long-term users.
Seamless construction, taped necks, and consistent sizing ensure reliable printing results for screen, DTG, screen printing or embroidery across vast color ranges. Versatile for events, uniforms, or promo merch, Gildan balances value and performance for high-volume needs.
⭐ Gildan is Best For:
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Pros:
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Very affordable
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Huge size range
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Durable
Cons:
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Fabric not as premium as AS Colour
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Gildan for bulk promo items, events, or budget runs needing durability and consistent sizing – its affordable pricing and screen-print reliability shine in high volumes. Opt for AS Colour when premium feel, smooth DTG prints, or retail-quality fits matter, like branded merch or intricate designs.
Key factors: Budget (Gildan lower), print method (AS Colour for detailed/DTG), order size (Gildan scales best), and end-use (AS Colour elevates wardrobes). Test samples to match client expectations.
| Use Case | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| Funeral shirts | AS Colour or Gildan |
| Corporate uniforms | AS Colour |
| Event shirts | Gildan |
| Bulk orders | Gildan or AS Colour Staple or Maple Tees |
| Photo printing | AS Colour |
| Budget printing | Gildan |
Final Thoughts
Both brands are excellent – it depends on your purpose, budget and design.
AS Colour vs Gildan: AS Colour stands as premium due to combed cotton (180-240 GSM), smooth DTG printing, flattering fits, ethical sourcing, and vibrant retail appeal for branded merch. Gildan excels as affordable/reliable with scalable production, durable midweight fabrics (155-205 GSM), shrinkage resistance, and consistent sizing for bulk screen prints.
Choose Gildan for high-volume events/budgets; AS Colour for detailed designs/premium feel. Match to print method, order size, and use case – test samples first.
Order samples today from AS Colour or Gildan suppliers to optimize your next custom print run!
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