Tees Brands Decoded: How to Choose the Best T-Shirt for Custom Printing

When it comes to branded merchandise, few items carry as much visual impact as a well-made, professionally printed t-shirt. Whether you’re kitting out a corporate team in Sydney, creating uniforms for a Brisbane event crew, or ordering merchandise for a Melbourne trade show, the brand of blank tee you choose matters far more than most people realise. The fabric weight, fit, colour range, and printability of different tees brands can dramatically affect the finished result — and ultimately, how your brand looks on the street, in the office, or at your next big event.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know about selecting the right t-shirt brand for custom decoration, so you can make confident, informed decisions before you place your next order.

Why the Choice of Tees Brands Actually Matters

It’s easy to assume that a t-shirt is just a t-shirt. But anyone who has worked with promotional apparel before knows that not all blanks are created equal. The brand and style you choose affects:

• Print quality — heavier, ring-spun cotton holds screen print inks more cleanly and produces sharper results
• Colour consistency — premium tee brands maintain tighter dye-lot consistency, which is critical for PMS colour matching across a large order
• Longevity — a well-constructed tee with quality stitching won’t pill, shrink excessively, or fade after a few washes
• Fit and wearability — a shirt people actually enjoy wearing is a shirt that keeps your brand in circulation longer

If you’re partnering with a decorator for screen printing services for promotional products in Sydney, they’ll often have a preferred shortlist of blanks they work with regularly. That’s worth paying attention to.

The Most Popular Tees Brands Used in Australian Custom Apparel

The Australian promotional apparel market draws on a mix of internationally recognised blank tee brands, many of which are available through local distributors. Here’s a breakdown of the most commonly used options and what they’re best suited for.

AS Colour

Without question, AS Colour is the dominant premium blank tee brand in Australia. Founded in New Zealand and now with a significant Australian presence, AS Colour has become the go-to choice for brand-conscious clients who want a fashion-forward silhouette and excellent print results.

Their flagship style — the Staple Tee — is a medium-weight, 100% cotton ring-spun shirt that sits beautifully flat for screen printing and DTG (direct-to-garment) decoration. It’s popular with creative agencies, tech startups, and hospitality businesses across Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. The colour range is exceptional, with consistent dyeing across seasons.

Best for: Premium corporate merchandise, retail-quality event tees, brand ambassador apparel
Typical MOQ: 6–12 pieces per design for screen printing; 1 piece for DTG
Price range: Mid to premium

Gildan

Gildan is the workhorse of the promotional t-shirt world, and for good reason. Affordable, consistent, and available in an enormous range of colours and sizes, Gildan is a strong choice for high-volume orders where budget is the primary concern.

The Gildan 5000 (180gsm, 100% cotton) and the softer Gildan Softstyle range are widely used for events, charity walks, school fundraisers, and community organisations. The heavier Ultra Cotton range is a solid choice when you need durability for outdoor or physical activities.

Best for: Schools, sporting clubs, fundraising events, trade show giveaways
Typical MOQ: 24–36 pieces for screen printing
Price range: Budget to mid

Biz Collection / BizCare

For workwear environments and corporate settings that need a more structured, polished look, Biz Collection is a popular Australian brand. Their polo shirts and t-shirts are designed to hold up in high-use environments and look professional in both embroidered and screen-printed applications. They’re particularly popular in Perth and Queensland mining and resources sectors.

Best for: Corporate teams, hospitality uniforms, trade staff
Typical MOQ: 12–24 pieces
Price range: Mid

Continental Clothing / Earth Positive

For organisations with a sustainability focus, Earth Positive (part of Continental Clothing) offers GOTS-certified organic cotton tees that are increasingly sought after by councils, charities, and environmental organisations. If you’re sourcing organic cotton marketing giveaways in Australia, these are well worth considering.

Best for: Not-for-profits, eco-conscious events, government sustainability campaigns
Price range: Mid to premium

Next Level Apparel

Next Level Apparel tees have gained significant traction in Australia over the past few years, particularly for fashion-forward applications. Their tri-blend and CVC (Cotton/Viscose/Polyester) fabrics produce an incredibly soft hand feel and drape beautifully on the body. They’re especially popular for music events, boutique fitness brands, and hospitality uniforms where style matters as much as function.

Best for: Retail-style merch, premium events, branded fashion lines
Price range: Mid to premium

Decoration Methods and Which Tees Work Best

Choosing the right blank is only half the equation — you also need to consider how you’re decorating it.

Screen Printing

The most cost-effective decoration method for runs of 24+ pieces, screen printing works best on tighter-knit, heavier-weight cotton tees. AS Colour, Gildan, and Biz Collection all perform excellently here. For multi-colour designs, ensure your supplier offers spot colour or PMS matching capability. You can learn more in our guide to UV printing technology for custom promotional merchandise to understand how digital printing methods compare.

Embroidery

Embroidery adds a premium, textured finish that works beautifully on polo shirts and heavier tees. Avoid thin or tri-blend fabrics for embroidery — they can pucker and distort under the needle tension. Biz Collection polos and AS Colour’s heavier styles are well suited.

DTG (Direct-to-Garment) Printing

DTG allows full-colour, photographic-quality prints on single items, making it ideal for low-MOQ orders. However, it performs best on 100% cotton white or light-coloured tees. Pre-treated dark garments are possible but add time and cost to the process.

Heat Transfer and Sublimation

Heat transfer vinyl is popular for small runs and names/numbers on sports tees. Sublimation, on the other hand, requires 100% polyester blanks and produces vibrant, all-over prints — ideal for sporting clubs and events needing full-colour impact.

Budgeting for Branded T-Shirts: What to Expect

Pricing varies considerably across tee brands and decoration methods. Here’s a rough guide for Australian businesses planning a custom tee order in 2026:

Brand Tier	Blank Cost (per unit)	Screen Print Setup Fee	Print Cost (per unit, 1 colour)
Budget (Gildan)	$4–$8	$50–$80 per colour/screen	$3–$6
Mid (Next Level, Biz Collection)	$10–$18	$50–$80 per colour/screen	$3–$6
Premium (AS Colour)	$16–$28	$50–$80 per colour/screen	$3–$6

Setup fees are typically a one-off cost per colour in the design, so multi-colour artwork will increase upfront costs. This is why volume matters — the more units you order, the more efficiently setup fees are amortised across the order.

If you’re comparing custom tees against other branded merchandise options, it’s worth reading about unique corporate gifts in Australia and how promotional apparel fits within a broader gifting strategy.

Practical Tips for Ordering Custom Tees in Australia

Beyond choosing the right brand, here are some practical considerations to keep your project on track:

Request a blank sample before committing. Most Australian distributors can provide physical samples of blank tees so you can check the weight, fit, and colour in person before placing a large order.

Confirm size breakdowns carefully. A common mistake is underestimating the spread of sizes needed. In corporate environments, factor in a good range from XS through to 3XL — especially for events where attendees self-select sizes.

Allow adequate turnaround time. Standard screen-printed orders typically take 10–15 business days from artwork approval. Rush orders are possible but attract premium pricing. If you’re ordering for an event, aim to lock in artwork and stock confirmation at least 4–6 weeks out.

Check stock availability early. Popular AS Colour styles can sell out of certain colours, particularly during peak seasons (end of year, back-to-school, Anzac Day events). Plan ahead or have alternative colourways confirmed as a backup.

Understand your artwork requirements. Vector files (AI or EPS format) are preferred for screen printing. If you’re unsure about file types, explore how decoration methods like sublimation and UV printing work to understand what formats different techniques need.

For events or conferences where you’re also sourcing complementary items, consider pairing your branded tees with custom branded tote bags, promotional earbuds, or reusable shopper bags to build a cohesive merchandise package.

Tees as Part of a Broader Branded Merchandise Strategy

A branded t-shirt is rarely a standalone decision. For most organisations, it’s one component of a broader merchandise mix. Pairing apparel with complementary items — like wholesale personalised mugs or sustainable branded bags for corporate social responsibility — helps create a more memorable and consistent brand experience for your team, customers, or event attendees.

It’s also worth keeping an eye on shifts in the promotional products industry more broadly. The promotional product industry consolidation and merger trends are reshaping how suppliers operate, which can affect stock availability, pricing, and turnaround times for popular tee brands. Staying informed means fewer surprises when it’s time to reorder.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways for Choosing the Right Tees Brands

Navigating the world of tees brands doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right information and a clear understanding of your project needs, you can choose a blank that delivers great print results, wears well, and represents your brand with confidence.

Here’s a quick summary of what to keep in mind:

• Match the brand to the application — premium tees like AS Colour suit corporate and retail-style merch; budget blanks like Gildan are ideal for high-volume events and fundraisers
• Decoration method drives fabric choice — screen printing favours heavier cottons; DTG works best on 100% cotton; sublimation requires polyester
• Plan your budget across blank cost, setup fees, and print costs — volume is your best friend for reducing per-unit costs
• Request samples and confirm stock early — particularly for popular colourways that sell out during peak periods
• Think beyond the tee — branded apparel works best as part of a wider merchandise strategy that includes complementary products and a consistent brand aesthetic