Custom American Apparel 1301 American Apparel - Unisex Heavyweight Cotton T-Shirt
From $6.95 · ★ 4.8 (869+ Google reviews this year)
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What Our Customers Say
Excellent quality of the T-shirts. Ordered 3 T-shirts with an image and text. The quality of the image was really good and was very pleased.
Definitely will use this website again. Fast and the picture i chose came out amazing 👏 🤩 well done guys!
I ordered a custom hat for my husband’s birthday and it is amazing! Thank you for the great quality print and great service!
I loved the t-shirt I had printed up for my granddaughter’s birthday.
The t-shirt is high quality and the print is perfect.
Highly Recommend! This was our first time ordering shirts and Jason walked me through the whole process and was patient enough to provide me with shirt options and his honest opinions of which would suit my needs better. Communication was quick, prices were great, and quality is amazing.
Excellent service and great quality!! Also fast service !
I ordered two shirts, white printing on black for the first and black printing on white for the other. The shirts look very good. Sharp and clean. The shirts themselves seem of decent quality.
Many thanks to T shirt elephant. They rushed my order and offered delivery so I could get my summer camp t shirts on time! The t shirts themselves were fun to design and looked great, but the customer service saved the day!
Our experience with T-Shirt Elephant was excellent. The product came just as we were expecting and arrived quicker than we thought it would.
Great quality. Fast and friendly service. Will definitely order again.
I uploaded a favorite photo of mine and had 2 T-Shirts made and they were spectacular. One was a gift for my son and one for myself. We both LOVE them...
I liked the ease of use and that they were able to accommodate my small, personalized order. I was really happy with the fit and quality, and the image came out perfectly. Will definitely use T-Shirt Elephant again!
Reasonable prices, good selection and value. I am happy with my products!
Good products, good service. I like the Gildan youth t-shirts, thick soft 100% cotton. The web interface for uploading and specifying your design is quick and clear. i’m a repeat customer. Recommended.
Great quality items and fast delivery!
Uploading my design and choosing colors was very easy. The shirts were made and shipped in a pinch for our softball playoffs.
Really happy with the results!
Product ordered came looking just as we were hoping. The website is easy to use and the shipping was faster than expected. Will likely come back again in the future.
I had some shirts printed for my business and they came out great! I am very happy with the quality and my experience with this company. I will definitely order again! Thanks!
I contacted the owner in a panic for a rush order and they were amazing. Perfect quality product, delivered ahead of schedule. 10/10 will be using their service again.
Came out exactly as ordered, very happy with the quality. 10/10 would use again.
Beautiful quality shirts and easy customization of the graphics.
The quality of the products is excellent. Highly recommended!
Looks great! If only I'd ordered the correct size, my bad! Ordering another!
My first time ordering with T-Shirt Elephant, and have to say that I am very pleased and impressed. Website was easy to use to design my shirts and the delivery of my 100+ shirts arrived exactly when promised. I ordered the American Apparel T-shirt and am very impressed by the quality of the shirts themselves, as they have a nice weight, and by the printing which was spot on. Everyone that I give a shirt to is immediately impressed by the quality. Thank you T-Shirt Elephant, fantastic job!
Product Description
American Apparel 1301 Heavyweight Cotton T-Shirt — Premium Streetwear-Quality Custom Tee
The American Apparel 1301 is a true heavyweight cotton t-shirt built for customers who want a premium, fashion-forward blank tee. At 6.0 oz of 100% ringspun cotton, it has a thick, substantial feel that's become the standard for streetwear brands, independent designers, and anyone who wants their custom t-shirts to feel like a retail product — not a cheap giveaway.
This is the shirt you choose when quality perception matters. Printed in Canada with no minimums, 10-day turnaround, and free shipping on orders over $250.
Fabric & Construction
- 100% ringspun combed cotton — ultra-smooth hand feel with a dense, premium weight
- 6.0 oz / 203 GSM — true heavyweight construction that drapes and holds structure beautifully
- Ringspun combed cotton yarn — finer, tighter twist produces a smoother surface and softer feel than open-end cotton
- Side-seamed construction — shaped fit that follows the body naturally, eliminating the boxy look of tubular shirts
- Double-needle stitching on sleeves and bottom hem for reinforced durability
- Ribbed crewneck collar — durable rib knit that holds its shape without stretching
- Shoulder-to-shoulder taping — reinforced neck seam for durability and comfort
- Preshrunk — minimal shrinkage after washing
Fit & Sizing
- Unisex modern fit — slightly more generous than slim fit, but not boxy. Hits the sweet spot between relaxed and tailored
- Available in XS through 3XL
- Runs true to standard American Apparel sizing — customers familiar with the brand can order their usual size
- For an oversized/streetwear aesthetic, size up one or two
Why the American Apparel 1301 is the Go-To for Premium Custom Tees
- Streetwear-grade quality — the same heavyweight construction used by independent clothing brands, streetwear labels, and premium merch lines
- Superior hand feel — ringspun combed cotton feels dramatically different from standard cotton — customers notice immediately
- Side-seamed construction — eliminates the centre twist that plagues tubular shirts, maintaining a clean silhouette wash after wash
- Thick enough to feel premium — at 6.0 oz, it has substance and structure that says "this is a quality shirt," not a thin promotional tee
- Excellent opacity — the heavyweight fabric prevents show-through, even on white and light colours
- Fashion-forward colour palette — curated colours that appeal to design-conscious customers, not just the standard basics
American Apparel 1301 vs Gildan 5000 — When to Upgrade
- Weight: The 1301 is 6.0 oz vs the 5000's 5.3 oz — noticeably thicker and more substantial
- Cotton quality: The 1301 uses ringspun combed cotton; the 5000 uses standard cotton. The difference in softness is immediately obvious
- Construction: The 1301 is side-seamed (shaped fit); the 5000 is tubular (straight cut)
- Perception: The 1301 feels like a retail purchase; the 5000 feels like a solid custom tee
- Price: The 1301 costs more, but the quality premium justifies it for merch, retail, and corporate gifts
- Recommendation: Choose the Gildan 5000 for maximum value on bulk orders. Choose the 1301 when you want your custom tees to feel like a retail product worth keeping.
Best Print Methods for the American Apparel 1301
- Screen Printing — exceptional results. The ringspun cotton surface produces the sharpest, most vibrant screen prints. The heavyweight fabric handles multi-colour and oversized prints without any warping or distortion.
- DTG (Direct-to-Garment) — outstanding on 100% cotton. The smooth, dense surface absorbs ink deeply for rich, photographic-quality prints with incredible colour depth. The premium choice for small-batch merch.
- DTF (Direct-to-Film) — works beautifully on all colours. The heavyweight fabric means transfers sit smoothly without stiffness.
- Embroidery — the 6.0 oz fabric provides a rock-solid base for embroidered logos. No puckering, no distortion.
- Heat Transfer / Vinyl — excellent adhesion on the smooth ringspun surface.
Popular Uses for Custom American Apparel 1301 T-Shirts
- Streetwear & Fashion: Independent clothing brands, limited edition drops, capsule collections, pop-up shop inventory
- Band & Artist Merch: Tour merch, album release tees, artist collaborations — the quality fans expect when buying merch
- Corporate Premium: Executive gifts, client appreciation, VIP event merch, premium employee swag
- Retail & E-Commerce: Online clothing stores, Etsy shops, print-on-demand — the shirt customers will re-order
- Creative & Art: Art prints, gallery merchandise, designer collaborations, photography merch
- Events: Premium conference merch, VIP packages, charity auction items
Related Styles
- Gildan 5000 Heavy Cotton T-Shirt — the value leader at 5.3 oz with 68+ colours
- Gildan 2000 Ultra Cotton T-Shirt — another heavyweight option at 6.0 oz
- Gildan 6400 Softstyle T-Shirt — lighter weight ring spun cotton for a softer feel
Care Instructions
- Machine wash cold with like colours
- Tumble dry on low heat
- Do not bleach
- Do not iron directly on print or decoration
- Inside-out washing recommended for printed garments
- Ringspun cotton softens further with each wash
Specifications at a Glance
- Brand: American Apparel
- Style: 1301
- Fabric: 100% Ringspun Combed Cotton
- Weight: 6.0 oz / 203 GSM
- Fit: Unisex Modern
- Sizes: XS - 3XL
- Colours: 20+
- Construction: Side-seamed
- Collar: Ribbed crewneck
- Stitching: Double-needle sleeves and hem
- Shoulder: Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
Order Custom American Apparel 1301 T-Shirts from T-Shirt Elephant
T-Shirt Elephant is Canada's leading custom apparel printer. We stock the full American Apparel 1301 colour range and offer:
- No minimum order — order 1 shirt or 10,000
- 10-day standard production — rush available
- Free shipping on orders over $250 across Canada
- Free digital proof before production
- Screen printing, DTG, DTF, embroidery — all methods available
- Printed in Canada — supporting Canadian business since 2010
Technical Specifications
Key Features
- Premium quality construction
- Wide range of colors available
- Perfect for custom printing
- Comfortable fit for all-day wear
- Durable for repeated washing
- Ideal for screen printing and embroidery
Compatible Print Methods
Perfect For
This versatile product is perfect for custom printing and embroidery projects of all sizes.
American Apparel 1301 FAQ
Common questions about the American Apparel 1301 American Apparel - Unisex Heavyweight Cotton T-Shirt
Yes! The American Apparel 1301 American Apparel - Unisex Heavyweight Cotton T-Shirt is excellent for screen printing. Its smooth surface and cotton blend provide crisp, vibrant prints that last wash after wash.
The American Apparel 1301 is available in sizes from S to 5XL (size availability may vary by color). Check the size chart above for exact measurements.
Absolutely! We have NO minimum order requirement. Order 1 shirt or 1,000 - we treat every order with the same care and quality.
Machine wash cold inside-out, tumble dry low. Avoid ironing directly on the print. Following these steps will keep your American Apparel 1301 looking great for years.
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