American Apparel T-Shirts Canada — Custom 1301 Tees, Hoodies & ReFlex Fleece

The American Apparel ReFlex Fleece line is a collection of premium fleece garments built with sustainability at the core. Constructed from a 7.6oz blend of 70% cotton, 20% recycled polyester, and 10% polyester, these pieces deliver warmth and durability while incorporating recycled materials into every garment. For custom printing and embroidery in Canada, the ReFlex Fleece collection offers four essential styles that cover every need.

The Core Lineup

The collection includes the RF496 Crewneck Sweatshirt at $26.20, the RF498 Pullover Hoodie at $29.90, the RF497 Full-Zip Hoodie at $33.65, and the RF491 Sweatpants at $26.00. Together, they form a complete matching set that brands in Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary use to create cohesive custom collections.

Why Brands Choose ReFlex Fleece

The recycled polyester content gives brands a genuine sustainability story to tell their customers. In cities like Montreal, Ottawa, and Edmonton where eco-conscious consumers are driving purchasing decisions, offering custom-printed fleece made with recycled materials is a significant selling point. The brushed interior provides a soft hand feel, while the cotton-dominant blend ensures excellent print and embroidery results that do not crack or distort over time.

Custom Decoration Options

Screen printing and embroidery are the most popular decoration methods for the ReFlex Fleece collection. The 7.6oz fabric weight provides a stable surface for detailed embroidery work — logos, wordmarks, and multi-colour designs all stitch cleanly. For screen printing, the cotton-rich blend absorbs ink effectively, producing vibrant, long-lasting prints. Brands across Winnipeg and beyond order matching crewneck and hoodie sets with consistent branding across every piece.

Coordinated Sets for Maximum Impact

One of the biggest advantages of the ReFlex Fleece line is the ability to create full branded sets. A streetwear brand can offer a matching crewneck, hoodie, and sweatpant combo that looks cohesive and premium. Corporate clients in Toronto use the collection for executive gift packages. Music artists order matching RF498 hoodies and RF491 sweatpants for tour merchandise. The uniform fabric weight and colour consistency across all four styles makes coordination effortless.

Screen printing on American Apparel blanks is the gold standard for producing custom merchandise that looks and feels retail-quality. The combination of premium ring-spun cotton fabric and professional screen printing ink creates a finished product that stands apart from mass-produced promotional wear. T-Shirt Elephant, based in Toronto, has printed thousands of American Apparel garments for clients across Canada — from Vancouver streetwear labels to Montreal music promoters.

Why American Apparel Takes Ink So Well

The ring-spun combed cotton used in garments like the 1301 Heavyweight Tee produces a tight, smooth fabric surface that holds screen printing ink with exceptional clarity. Fine lines, small text, and detailed artwork reproduce cleanly because the fibres do not absorb ink unevenly. Both plastisol and water-based inks perform beautifully, giving you flexibility to achieve a bold raised print or a softer vintage hand feel depending on the look you want.

Best Practices for Screen Printing

For the sharpest results, T-Shirt Elephant recommends using a higher mesh count (230 or above) when printing fine detail on American Apparel cotton. The smooth fabric surface supports it. On darker garments, a proper flash cure between the underbase and top colours ensures opacity without excessive ink buildup. This keeps the print soft — a quality that customers in Calgary, Edmonton, and Ottawa notice immediately when they compare American Apparel prints to those on rougher blanks.

Ideal Order Sizes

Screen printing is most cost-effective for orders of 25 units or more. The setup cost for screens and colour separations is spread across the run, bringing the per-unit price down significantly at higher quantities. For smaller orders, consider DTG printing as an alternative. For large-scale orders — 100, 500, or 1,000 pieces — screen printing on American Apparel delivers the best combination of quality and value available in Canada.

Popular Print Styles

The most requested screen printing styles on American Apparel include oversized chest prints, left-chest logo placements, back prints with neck label hits, and sleeve prints. Vintage-inspired designs with discharge ink on dark-coloured 1301 tees are especially popular with streetwear brands in Toronto and Vancouver. Discharge ink removes the garment dye and replaces it with colour, producing a print with zero hand feel — the ink becomes part of the fabric itself.

Custom embroidery on American Apparel produces a premium, tactile finish that screen printing and DTG simply cannot replicate. The raised thread work adds a dimension of quality that corporate clients in Toronto, boutique brands in Vancouver, and hospitality businesses in Montreal consistently choose when they want their logo to communicate permanence and craftsmanship. Every American Apparel garment in the T-Shirt Elephant catalogue is available for embroidery with no minimum order.

Why American Apparel is Ideal for Embroidery

The heavyweight construction of garments like the 1301 at 6oz and the RF496 ReFlex Fleece at 7.6oz provides a dense, stable surface that holds embroidery stitches without bunching or puckering. Lighter-weight blanks often require additional stabilizer material, but American Apparel fabrics have enough body to support detailed stitch work right out of the box. This results in cleaner lines and a more professional finish.

Best Garments for Embroidery

The ReFlex Fleece collection is the most popular choice for embroidery. The RF498 Hoodie and RF497 Full-Zip look exceptional with an embroidered left-chest logo or centred chest wordmark. Corporate offices in Calgary and Edmonton frequently order embroidered crewnecks for team uniforms, while restaurants and hotels in Ottawa and Winnipeg choose embroidered hoodies for staff outerwear.

Design Considerations

For the best embroidery results, keep designs at a maximum stitch count of around 15,000 for chest placements. Extremely fine details — text smaller than 5mm tall, for example — may not translate cleanly into thread. Bold logos, clean wordmarks, and simple icon-based designs produce the strongest visual impact. T-Shirt Elephant digitizes every embroidery file in-house to ensure the conversion from artwork to stitch file is optimized for the specific garment.

Embroidery Pricing & Turnaround

Embroidery pricing is based on stitch count rather than colour count, which means a single-colour logo with dense fill can cost more than a multi-colour logo with simple outlines. This is different from screen printing, where each colour adds cost. For Canadian businesses ordering custom embroidered American Apparel, T-Shirt Elephant provides a free digital proof before production begins so you can see exactly how your design will look stitched onto the garment.

Direct-to-garment (DTG) printing is the ideal method for producing full-colour, photo-realistic designs on American Apparel blanks. Unlike screen printing, which requires separate screens for each colour, DTG prints directly from a digital file — making it perfect for complex artwork, gradients, and photographic images. T-Shirt Elephant offers DTG printing on all American Apparel cotton garments with no minimum order quantity, serving customers from Toronto to Vancouver and everywhere in between.

Why Cotton Content Matters for DTG

DTG ink is water-based and bonds directly to cotton fibres. The higher the cotton content, the more vibrant and durable the print. The American Apparel 1301 is 100% ring-spun cotton — making it one of the best possible blanks for DTG printing. The smooth, tightly woven surface allows the printer to lay down ink with precision, resulting in sharp detail reproduction and rich colour saturation that customers in Montreal, Calgary, and Edmonton can see and feel immediately.

When to Choose DTG Over Screen Printing

DTG printing is the right choice when your design has more than 4-5 colours, includes photographic elements, or when you need a small quantity (1 to 24 units). There are no screen setup fees, so ordering a single custom-printed American Apparel tee costs the same per unit as ordering five. This makes DTG ideal for samples, prototypes, limited editions, and one-off gifts. Brands in Ottawa and Winnipeg frequently use DTG for testing new designs before committing to a larger screen-printed run.

Print Quality & Durability

Modern DTG printers produce output that rivals screen printing in both vibrancy and wash durability. On American Apparel cotton, DTG prints maintain their colour integrity through 50 or more wash cycles when properly cured. The print has a soft hand feel — there is no raised texture like plastisol screen printing. For designs that need to feel like they are part of the fabric rather than sitting on top of it, DTG on the 1301 delivers exactly that.

File Preparation Tips

For the best DTG results, submit artwork at 300 DPI in PNG format with transparent backgrounds. CMYK colour mode is preferred, though T-Shirt Elephant can convert RGB files during pre-press. Vector files (AI, EPS, SVG) also produce excellent results and can be scaled to any print size without quality loss. Clients across Canada receive a free digital mockup before production to confirm placement, sizing, and colour accuracy on their chosen American Apparel garment.

American Apparel has been the blank of choice for streetwear brands since the early 2000s, and that reputation has only grown stronger. The brand's fashion-forward silhouettes, heavyweight fabrics, and cultural cachet make it the default starting point for independent labels launching in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and beyond. When a customer picks up a tee printed on a 1301 blank, they immediately recognize the quality difference.

The Streetwear Standard

In streetwear, the blank is not just a canvas — it is part of the product. Brands like Supreme, Stussy, and countless independent labels built their reputations on American Apparel blanks because the fit, weight, and fabric hand communicate quality before a customer even looks at the print. The 1301 heavyweight tee at 6oz has the structured, slightly boxy drape that defines the modern streetwear silhouette. It is not slim-fit like a fashion tee and not oversized like a promotional blank — it hits the sweet spot.

Building a Collection on American Apparel

Emerging streetwear brands in Calgary, Edmonton, and Ottawa can build an entire first collection using the American Apparel catalogue. Start with the 1301 tee for your core graphic tees, add the RF498 hoodie for your outerwear piece, and round it out with RF491 sweatpants for a complete matching set. This approach gives you a cohesive brand aesthetic across multiple product categories without sourcing from different manufacturers.

No Minimums for Emerging Brands

One of the biggest barriers for new streetwear brands is minimum order quantities. T-Shirt Elephant has no minimums on any American Apparel product. You can order a single sample hoodie or a run of 500 tees — the same quality and attention to detail applies. This allows brands in Winnipeg, Toronto, and Vancouver to test designs with small batches before investing in larger production runs. Free shipping on orders over $250 makes scaling up even more accessible.

From Drop Culture to Wholesale

Many of Canada's most successful streetwear brands started with small drops of 20 to 50 pieces on American Apparel blanks. The quality of the blank itself becomes part of your brand story. Customers notice the weight, the fit, and the feel — and they come back. T-Shirt Elephant supports brands at every stage, from first-drop prototyping to recurring wholesale-volume production, all printed right here in Canada.

American Apparel is the industry standard for band merchandise and music-related custom printing. From indie bands playing venues in Toronto and Montreal to nationally touring acts selling merch across Canada, the brand carries a credibility that fans recognize instantly. When someone buys a concert tee printed on a 1301 heavyweight tee, they are getting a garment that holds up tour after tour, wash after wash.

Why Musicians Choose American Apparel

Band merch is worn repeatedly and becomes part of a fan's identity. The 6oz heavyweight cotton of the 1301 resists the wear and tear that lighter tees cannot handle — it does not thin out, the collar does not stretch, and prints do not crack. Musicians and their managers in Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton understand that merch quality reflects on the artist. A premium blank signals that the artist cares about what they put their name on.

Tour Merch & Festival Printing

T-Shirt Elephant produces tour merchandise and festival merch on tight timelines for artists across Canada. Screen printing is the most popular method for band tees — typically one to three colours on black or dark-coloured 1301 blanks. For larger tours, we handle runs of 500 to 2,000 pieces with consistent quality across every unit. For smaller shows and local gigs in Ottawa, Winnipeg, and beyond, DTG printing allows us to produce as few as 10 to 20 shirts without screen setup costs.

Hoodies & Fleece for Merch Tables

Beyond tees, the RF498 ReFlex Fleece Hoodie is the top-selling merch hoodie for Canadian bands. At $29.90 per blank, it provides a premium product that artists can sell at $60 to $80 at the merch table — a strong margin that funds the next tour. Paired with a screen-printed or embroidered logo, the RF498 looks and feels like something you would find in a retail store, not a generic concert hoodie.

Record Labels & Merch Companies

T-Shirt Elephant works directly with independent record labels and merch companies across Canada. We offer volume pricing, consistent colour matching across reorders, and the ability to store artwork files for quick reprints when inventory runs low. Whether you are a label in Toronto managing merch for ten artists or a solo musician in Montreal printing your first batch, American Apparel blanks ensure your merch meets professional retail standards.

American Apparel has become the premium choice for corporate custom apparel in Canada. Companies in Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary that want their branded clothing to actually get worn — not shoved in a drawer — choose American Apparel because employees and clients genuinely enjoy wearing it. The fashion-forward fit and heavyweight quality elevate corporate merchandise from forgettable to something people reach for on weekends.

Beyond the Standard Corporate Tee

Most corporate branded apparel ends up as a dust rag. The reason is simple: the blanks are cheap, the fit is poor, and nobody wants to be seen in a boxy, thin promotional tee. American Apparel changes that equation. The 1301 heavyweight tee has the same fit and quality as retail clothing. When a tech company in Toronto or a financial firm in Montreal hands an employee an American Apparel tee with their logo, it gets worn — and that means more brand impressions.

Embroidered Executive Gifts

For executive gifting and premium corporate packages, embroidered ReFlex Fleece is the standout choice. The RF496 Crewneck with a clean embroidered logo makes an impressive gift for clients, partners, and senior team members. Companies in Edmonton, Ottawa, and Winnipeg order these for onboarding kits, holiday gifts, and corporate retreats. The sustainability angle — recycled polyester content — aligns with ESG messaging that modern corporations prioritize.

Team Uniforms & Company Culture

Startups and creative agencies across Canada use American Apparel as the foundation for team apparel programs. Unlike traditional uniform suppliers, American Apparel offers garments that employees are proud to wear in and out of the office. A well-designed company hoodie on an RF498 blank becomes a piece of company culture, not just a uniform. This is especially valuable for companies competing for talent in cities like Toronto and Vancouver.

Event & Conference Merchandise

Trade shows, conferences, and corporate events are another area where American Apparel elevates the experience. Instead of handing out disposable promotional tees, companies can distribute premium custom-printed 1301 tees that attendees will actually keep and wear. At $6.95 per blank, the price difference compared to a $3 promotional tee is marginal — but the impression it creates is dramatically different. T-Shirt Elephant produces conference merch for events across Canada with fast turnaround and free shipping on orders over $250.

American Apparel vs Bella+Canvas is one of the most common comparisons in the custom printing industry, and for good reason — both brands occupy the premium blank tier. Customers in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal frequently ask T-Shirt Elephant which brand is the better choice for their project. The answer depends on the specific look, feel, and use case you are targeting.

Weight & Construction

The most immediate difference is fabric weight. The American Apparel 1301 is a 6oz heavyweight tee — substantial, structured, and built for a vintage streetwear feel. The Bella+Canvas 3001, by contrast, is a 4.2oz midweight tee with a softer, more drapey hand. If you want a shirt that feels thick and premium in the hand, the 1301 wins. If you want a lighter, softer tee for everyday casual wear, the Bella+Canvas 3001 is the go-to.

Fit & Silhouette

American Apparel runs with a slightly boxier, streetwear-aligned fit that drapes naturally without clinging. Bella+Canvas tends to be more fitted through the body with a slightly longer length. For streetwear brands in Calgary and Edmonton, the American Apparel silhouette is generally preferred. For retail-style fashion brands in Ottawa and Winnipeg that want a slimmer profile, Bella+Canvas may be the better starting point.

Print Performance

Both brands produce excellent print results, but the differences matter. The 100% cotton, heavyweight surface of the 1301 provides a denser canvas for screen printing — ink sits more prominently and colours pop with greater intensity, especially with plastisol ink. Bella+Canvas blends (CVC and tri-blend options) produce a softer print feel but can show slight colour variation due to the polyester content. For DTG printing, the 1301's pure cotton content delivers superior ink absorption and colour vibrancy.

Brand Perception & Heritage

American Apparel carries a heritage and cultural cachet that Bella+Canvas does not match. Founded in 1989 with its "Ethically Made — Sweatshop Free" ethos, American Apparel is a brand that consumers recognize and associate with quality. For custom merchandise where the blank brand matters to the end customer — streetwear, band merch, premium corporate gifts — that recognition adds value. Browse the full American Apparel collection to compare options side by side.

The Verdict

Choose American Apparel when you want heavyweight construction, streetwear credibility, bold print results, and brand name recognition. Choose Bella+Canvas when you want a lighter, softer tee with a slimmer fit and blended fabric options. T-Shirt Elephant carries both brands and can print samples on each so you can compare them in person before committing to a full production run.

If you are comparing American Apparel vs Gildan for your next custom apparel order, the differences are significant. Although Gildan acquired American Apparel in 2017, the two brands occupy very different tiers of the blank apparel market. Understanding where each excels will help you choose the right fit for your project, whether you are outfitting a Toronto startup or a Vancouver music festival.

Fabric Weight & Feel

The American Apparel 1301 is a 6.0 oz heavyweight cotton tee that feels dramatically softer and more substantial than the Gildan 5000, which comes in at 5.3 oz. The 1301 uses a tighter ring-spun cotton knit that produces a smoother hand feel and holds up better wash after wash. Gildan's Heavy Cotton line is reliable but noticeably coarser to the touch — a difference your customers in Calgary, Montreal, and Ottawa will notice immediately.

Cut & Silhouette

American Apparel is known for a fashion-forward, fitted silhouette that sits closer to the body without being restrictive. Gildan blanks tend toward a boxy, relaxed cut that prioritizes affordability over style. For brands that care about how their merchandise looks on people — not just on hangers — American Apparel is the clear winner. Teams in Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Halifax consistently choose American Apparel when image matters.

Print Quality

The tighter weave and smoother surface of American Apparel blanks produce sharper, more vibrant prints with screen printing, DTG, and heat transfer methods. Gildan's open-end spun cotton creates a slightly rougher canvas that can cause fine details to blur. If your design features gradients, small text, or photographic elements, American Apparel delivers noticeably better results.

When Gildan Makes Sense

Gildan remains an excellent choice for high-volume, budget-conscious orders where cost-per-unit is the primary concern — large event giveaways, construction crews, or disposable promotional items. But when your brand reputation is on the line, the American Apparel 1301 at just $6.95 delivers a premium feel that punches well above its price point. Browse the full American Apparel collection to see the complete range available for custom printing across Canada.

American Apparel has built its reputation on a simple promise: "Ethically Made — Sweatshop Free." For Canadian organizations that take corporate responsibility seriously, this commitment is not just marketing — it is backed by third-party certifications, transparent sourcing, and measurable sustainability initiatives. When you order custom American Apparel through T-Shirt Elephant, you are aligning your brand with one of the apparel industry's strongest ethical track records.

Sweatshop-Free Manufacturing

Every American Apparel garment is produced under fair labour conditions with living wages, safe working environments, and no forced overtime. The brand pioneered ethical manufacturing in the blank apparel space long before it became an industry talking point. Organizations in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal that prioritize ethical sourcing consistently choose American Apparel for this reason.

OEKO-TEX Certified Dyes

American Apparel uses OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified dyes, which means every colorway has been independently tested and verified free of harmful chemicals. This certification covers over 100 substances known to be detrimental to human health. For schools, daycares, healthcare organizations, and anyone producing garments that will be worn against the skin all day, this certification provides genuine peace of mind.

Recycled Materials in ReFlex Fleece

The ReFlex Fleece collection — including the RF498 Hoodie, RF496 Crewneck, and RF491 Sweatpants — incorporates recycled polyester into a 70/20/10 cotton/recycled polyester/polyester blend. This diverts plastic waste from landfills while delivering a soft, pill-resistant fleece that performs beautifully in Canadian winters from Winnipeg to Halifax.

U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol

American Apparel sources cotton through the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, which sets measurable sustainability goals for water use, soil health, greenhouse gas emissions, and land management. This means the raw materials in your custom printed 1301 tees are grown with environmental stewardship as a priority — not an afterthought. For Canadian businesses filing ESG reports or pursuing B Corp certification, American Apparel provides a supply chain you can stand behind with confidence.

Getting the sizing right is one of the most important decisions when ordering custom American Apparel for your team, event, or brand. American Apparel is known for a fashion-forward, fitted cut that differs from the boxy silhouettes common in the wholesale blank market. Here is everything you need to know to order with confidence from anywhere in Canada.

The 1301 Heavyweight Tee Fit

The American Apparel 1301 runs true to size with a modern, fitted cut. It is not as tight as the classic American Apparel 2001 was, but it is noticeably slimmer through the torso and shorter in length than a Gildan or Fruit of the Loom equivalent. If your team in Toronto or Calgary prefers a looser fit, consider sizing up one size. The 1301 is available in S through 3XL, covering the full range for group orders.

Unisex vs Gender-Specific Sizing

The 1301 is a unisex garment, meaning it follows men's sizing standards. Women who prefer a more tailored look typically size down one from their usual unisex size. For mixed-gender orders — common for corporate teams in Vancouver, Ottawa, and Edmonton — we recommend ordering a size sample set first. T-Shirt Elephant has no minimums, so you can order individual sizes to test before committing to a full run.

ReFlex Fleece Sizing

The ReFlex Fleece collection follows a similar modern fit. The RF498 Hoodie and RF496 Crewneck have a slightly relaxed body compared to the tee, but the sleeves remain trim. The RF491 Sweatpants feature an elastic waistband with drawcord, offering forgiving fit through the waist with a tapered leg.

Tips for Group Orders

When ordering for a large group — whether it is a Montreal tech company, a Winnipeg sports league, or a Halifax nonprofit — collect sizes using American Apparel's specific size chart rather than asking people to guess. The fitted cut means a "large" in American Apparel will feel different from a "large" in other brands. T-Shirt Elephant's team can help you navigate sizing for bulk orders across Canada, ensuring everyone on your roster gets a garment that fits and flatters.

The fabric quality of American Apparel is what separates it from budget-tier blanks. From the ring-spun cotton in the 1301 Heavyweight Tee to the recycled-blend fleece in the ReFlex collection, every garment is engineered for softness, durability, and a premium hand feel. Here is a detailed look at the fabrics, weights, and construction methods that make American Apparel the preferred choice for custom printing across Canada.

1301 Heavyweight Cotton — 6.0 oz Ring-Spun

The American Apparel 1301 is built from 6.0 oz 100% ring-spun combed cotton. Ring-spinning produces a finer, stronger yarn by continuously twisting and thinning cotton fibres, resulting in a fabric that is noticeably softer and smoother than the open-end spun cotton used in most budget tees. The combing process removes short fibres, leaving only the longest strands for a pill-resistant, ultra-smooth surface that takes ink beautifully. Teams in Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary order the 1301 specifically because the print quality is visibly superior.

ReFlex Fleece — 7.6 oz Recycled Blend

The ReFlex Fleece collection uses a 7.6 oz, 70/20/10 cotton/recycled polyester/polyester blend. This three-fibre construction combines the softness of cotton with the durability and pill-resistance of polyester, while the recycled component reduces environmental impact. The brushed interior provides warmth without bulk — ideal for layering during Canadian winters in Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Ottawa. Products in this line include the RF498 Hoodie, RF496 Crewneck, RF497 Full-Zip Hoodie, and RF491 Sweatpants.

Construction Details

American Apparel garments feature double-needle stitching at the hem and sleeves for reinforced durability, and shoulder-to-shoulder taping to prevent stretching at the neckline. The 1301 uses a tubular construction for a clean, side-seam-free body. ReFlex Fleece pieces include ribbed cuffs and waistbands that retain their shape through repeated washes — critical for branded uniforms and merchandise that needs to look sharp over months of wear.

Why Fabric Matters for Custom Printing

A smoother, tighter-knit fabric produces sharper, more vibrant prints because the ink sits on top of the fibres rather than sinking into a rough, uneven surface. This is why screen printers, DTG operators, and heat transfer specialists across Canada — from Montreal print shops to Halifax custom apparel studios — prefer American Apparel blanks for premium work. The investment in better fabric pays off in a finished product that looks and feels noticeably superior.

Custom American Apparel is the go-to choice for organizations across Canada that refuse to compromise on quality. From tech startups to touring bands, the brand's combination of ethical manufacturing, premium fabrics, and a modern fit attracts a wide range of customers. Here is who orders the most — and why.

Tech Companies & Startups

Software companies, SaaS startups, and tech firms in Toronto, Vancouver, and Waterloo are among the heaviest users of custom American Apparel. Developer conference swag, onboarding kits, and company merch stores demand a tee that employees actually want to wear outside the office. The 1301 Heavyweight Tee delivers that effortlessly. Nobody stuffs a premium American Apparel tee into the back of a drawer — it becomes a wardrobe staple.

Bands, Artists & Music Festivals

Merchandise is a primary revenue stream for independent musicians, and American Apparel is the industry standard for band merch. The fitted silhouette photographs well on stage and at merch tables, the soft fabric encourages impulse purchases, and the print quality does justice to complex album artwork. Music festivals in Montreal, Calgary, and Halifax rely on American Apparel blanks for their official merchandise programs.

Restaurants, Breweries & Hospitality

Staff uniforms need to look sharp, feel comfortable during long shifts, and survive commercial laundering. The RF496 Crewneck and 1301 Tee are popular with craft breweries in Vancouver, restaurants in Toronto, and coffee shops in Ottawa. The modern fit ensures staff look polished without the stiff, boxy appearance of cheaper alternatives.

Nonprofits & Social Enterprises

Organizations with a social mission naturally gravitate toward American Apparel's "Ethically Made — Sweatshop Free" commitment. Fundraiser tees, volunteer uniforms, and awareness campaign merchandise all benefit from the brand's ethical credentials. It is difficult to promote social responsibility while wearing a garment produced under exploitative conditions — American Apparel eliminates that contradiction entirely.

E-Commerce & Streetwear Brands

Independent clothing brands across Canada use American Apparel as their preferred blank for print-on-demand and small-batch production. The fashion-forward cut and premium feel allow emerging designers in Edmonton, Winnipeg, and beyond to compete with established labels on quality. T-Shirt Elephant's no-minimum ordering makes it easy to test new designs without committing to large inventory runs. Browse the full American Apparel lineup to find the right blank for your brand.

One of the most common questions we receive is how much custom American Apparel costs in Canada. The answer is more affordable than most people expect. T-Shirt Elephant offers competitive wholesale pricing on the full American Apparel lineup, with no minimums and transparent per-garment costs. Here is a breakdown of current pricing for the most popular styles.

Current Blank Pricing

The following prices reflect the base garment cost before printing. Custom printing costs are calculated based on your design complexity, number of colours, and print locations. Use our online designer to get an instant quote for your complete order.

Volume Discounts

Larger orders unlock better per-unit pricing on printing. Whether you are ordering 12 tees for a Toronto startup or 500 hoodies for a Calgary corporate event, T-Shirt Elephant scales pricing to reward volume. Free shipping on orders over $250 further reduces the total cost for medium and large orders shipping anywhere in Canada.

Premium Quality at Accessible Prices

At $6.95 per blank, the American Apparel 1301 offers exceptional value for a 6.0 oz ring-spun heavyweight tee. Comparable fashion blanks from brands like Bella+Canvas and Next Level typically run higher for similar weight and construction. The ReFlex Fleece line — starting at $26.00 for the RF491 Sweatpants — delivers premium fleece with recycled materials at a price point that works for both small businesses in Ottawa and large organizations in Vancouver.

Get an Instant Quote

Use T-Shirt Elephant's online designer tool to upload your artwork, select your sizes and quantities, and receive a complete price breakdown instantly. No waiting for email quotes, no hidden fees, and no minimums. Organizations in Montreal, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Halifax, and every city across Canada can order with full pricing transparency from start to finish.

T-Shirt Elephant ships custom American Apparel to every province and territory in Canada. Based in Toronto, we have streamlined our production and shipping process to deliver high-quality custom printed garments on reliable timelines — whether your order is heading to downtown Vancouver or rural New Brunswick.

Standard Production & Delivery

Our standard production timeline is 10 business days from artwork approval to shipment. Once your custom American Apparel order leaves our Toronto facility, delivery times vary by destination: Ontario and Quebec orders typically arrive within 2-3 business days, while shipments to Alberta, British Columbia, and the Maritime provinces take 4-7 business days. Orders to Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and northern destinations may require an additional 1-2 days.

Rush Production Available

Need your order faster? T-Shirt Elephant offers rush production in as few as 5-7 business days for time-sensitive projects. Whether you have a product launch in Montreal, a trade show in Calgary, or a corporate event in Ottawa that snuck up on you, our rush service ensures your custom 1301 tees or RF498 hoodies arrive on time.

Free Shipping on Orders Over $250

All orders over $250 ship free anywhere in Canada. This threshold is easy to reach — even a modest order of 25 printed American Apparel 1301 tees will typically qualify. For orders under $250, shipping is calculated at checkout based on weight and destination. We use trusted Canadian carriers to ensure your custom apparel arrives safely and on schedule.

Cities We Ship To Most

While we ship to every corner of Canada, our highest-volume shipping destinations include Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Halifax, Hamilton, and Kitchener-Waterloo. Businesses, schools, nonprofits, and event organizers in these cities trust T-Shirt Elephant for reliable delivery of premium custom American Apparel. No matter where you are located, our no-minimum ordering means you can order as few as one garment or as many as a thousand — and we will get it to your door across Canada.

T-Shirt Elephant carries the complete American Apparel product lineup available for custom printing and shipping across Canada. From the iconic heavyweight tee to the full ReFlex Fleece collection, here is every product you can customize with your logo, artwork, or design — all with no minimums and free shipping on orders over $250.

The Flagship — 1301 Unisex Heavyweight Cotton T-Shirt

The American Apparel 1301 is the foundation of the lineup. At 6.0 oz, 100% ring-spun combed cotton, it is the heaviest and softest tee in American Apparel's current range. The modern fitted cut, double-needle hem, and shoulder-to-shoulder taping make it the preferred blank for brands, bands, and businesses from Toronto to Vancouver. Priced at just $6.95, it delivers premium quality at an accessible price point. Available in a wide range of colours and sizes S through 3XL.

ReFlex Fleece Hoodie — RF498

The American Apparel RF498 is a 7.6 oz pullover hoodie made from a 70/20/10 cotton/recycled polyester/polyester blend. It features a lined drawstring hood, kangaroo pocket, and ribbed cuffs and waistband. The brushed fleece interior provides warmth without excess bulk — perfect for Canadian weather in Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg. Priced at $29.90.

ReFlex Fleece Crewneck Sweatshirt — RF496

The American Apparel RF496 uses the same 7.6 oz ReFlex Fleece blend in a classic crewneck silhouette. Ribbed cuffs and waistband, brushed interior, and a clean neckline make this ideal for corporate uniforms, school spirit wear, and branded merchandise. A favourite among organizations in Montreal, Ottawa, and Halifax. Priced at $26.20.

ReFlex Fleece Full-Zip Hoodie — RF497

The American Apparel RF497 offers the same premium ReFlex Fleece construction as the RF498, but with a full-length zipper for easy layering. Split kangaroo pockets, a lined hood with drawstring, and ribbed trim complete the package. At $33.65, it is the most versatile outerwear option in the American Apparel lineup — equally at home on a Vancouver film set or a Toronto office campus.

ReFlex Fleece Sweatpants — RF491

The American Apparel RF491 rounds out the ReFlex Fleece collection with 7.6 oz sweatpants featuring an elastic waistband with drawcord, side pockets, and a tapered leg. These are popular for matching sets with the RF498 or RF496, creating cohesive branded uniforms for gyms, athletic teams, and hospitality staff across Canada. Priced at $26.00.

Browse the Full Collection

Ready to explore every colour and size option? Visit the complete American Apparel collection on T-Shirt Elephant to see live inventory, start designing with our online tool, and place your order with no minimums. We ship custom printed American Apparel to every city and town across Canada — from St. John's to Victoria and everywhere in between.