American Apparel

Wholesale American Apparel Blank Apparel

American Apparel is one of the more recognizable names in the fashion-blank apparel segment — known for retail-inspired cuts, premium fabric constructions, and builds that translate well to custom printing and embroidery. The catalog at Bulkthreads covers heavyweight and super-heavyweight tees, CVC blend styles, women's fashion cuts, fleece, and specialty builds, all at wholesale pricing with automatic volume discounts applied at checkout.

T-Shirts and Core Styles

The 1301 Unisex Heavyweight Cotton Tee is a clean, substantial cotton build that holds up well to heavy ink coverage and carries a retail-quality hand feel consistent with the American Apparel aesthetic. The 9001 Super Heavyweight Tee steps up further in fabric weight — a thicker, chunkier build that has found a consistent audience in streetwear-adjacent decoration runs and oversized-print applications. For a softer construction, the 5389 Sueded Cloud Jersey Tee uses a brushed, sueded finish that gives it a noticeably different hand from a standard cotton tee — a premium-feeling fabric suited to lifestyle and retail-adjacent brand applications.

CVC Blends, Women's Styles, and Fleece

American Apparel's CVC lineup is a consistent choice among decorators who want a soft, slightly heathered finish without moving to a full triblend. The 2006CVC Unisex CVC V-Neck and 2004CVC Unisex CVC Henley both offer the softer hand and subtle heather that the CVC construction produces, in silhouettes that work well for both screen printing and embroidery. For women's styles, the BR210 Women's Baby Rib Cropped Tee and 102 Women's Fine Jersey Boxy Tee bring current silhouettes — the BR210 in a fitted crop and the 102 in a relaxed, boxy cut — that fit fashion-forward and lifestyle-oriented decoration well. On the fleece side, the RF497 ReFlex Fleece Full-Zip Hoodie and RF496 ReFlex Fleece Crewneck are worth considering for orders where a premium layering piece is needed alongside the core tee styles.

For buyers comparing American Apparel to other fashion-blank brands, Bulkthreads also carries Bella+Canvas, Next Level Apparel, and Allmade. All styles ship same day via UPS Ground and typically arrive in 1–3 business days. Automatic volume discounts apply at checkout across all order sizes — no codes required — and free returns are included on every order.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes American Apparel different from other fashion-blank brands?

American Apparel is known for a retail-leaning aesthetic — cuts that are slightly more fashion-forward than standard wholesale blanks, with fabrics that tend to emphasize softness and hand feel over raw cost efficiency. The brand occupies a similar market position to Bella+Canvas and Next Level, though American Apparel's silhouettes and fabric constructions have their own character. The 9001 Super Heavyweight and 5389 Sueded Cloud Jersey are styles with limited direct equivalents in other wholesale brand catalogs, which is part of what keeps American Apparel relevant for certain decoration markets even as competition in the fashion-blank segment has grown.

What is the difference between the American Apparel 1301 and 9001?

Both are 100% cotton unisex tees, but the 9001 Super Heavyweight runs noticeably thicker and heavier than the 1301. The 1301 is a clean heavyweight tee suited to a wide range of decoration applications. The 9001 is a more specialized garment — its weight and structure appeal specifically to streetwear-adjacent brands and decoration runs where an oversized, substantial shirt is part of the aesthetic. The 9001 tends to command a higher per-unit cost and is better suited to orders where the shirt itself is a significant part of the product, rather than a vehicle for a logo.

What is a CVC fabric and how does it print?

CVC stands for chief value cotton — a cotton-dominant blend (typically 60% cotton/40% polyester, though ratios vary) that produces a slightly heathered, softer finish than a 100% cotton tee. The cotton content gives it a natural, breathable feel; the polyester content reduces shrinkage and adds a subtle heathered appearance to the fabric. CVC tees take screen printing well, with ink sitting slightly differently on the blended surface than on a pure cotton — generally producing a softer, slightly more vintage-looking print. For embroidery, CVC fabrics work reliably with appropriate backing to stabilize the knit surface under the hoop.

How does American Apparel compare to Bella+Canvas for fashion-blank decoration?

Both brands target the fashion-forward wholesale segment and are regularly compared by decorators. Bella+Canvas tends to have a broader style and color catalog, with the 3001C as one of the most widely stocked fashion blanks in the market. American Apparel's strengths are in specific constructions that don't have close Bella+Canvas equivalents — the sueded jersey, the super heavyweight, and the CVC henley — and in a brand identity that resonates with certain retail and streetwear audiences. For most general decoration runs, either brand is a reasonable choice; the decision typically comes down to specific style needs and the end customer's brand associations.

Do American Apparel orders at Bulkthreads qualify for volume discounts?

Yes. Automatic volume discounts apply at checkout across all American Apparel styles — no codes required. All orders ship same day and typically arrive in 1–3 business days, with free returns on every order.