Comfort Colors Brand Spotlight: Why Decorators Love These Garment-Dyed Shirts

updated by Anne Dorfman on 3/6/2026

Comfort Colors is a fan-favorite among screen printers, decorators, campus bookstores, apparel brands, and small t-shirt business owners—and for good reason. Known for its rich garment-dyed colors, ultra-soft fabrics, and relaxed vintage-inspired style, Comfort Colors shirts have become a go-to choice for custom printing, retail collections, and bulk merchandise orders. From campus apparel and lifestyle brands to event merchandise and small business clothing lines, Comfort Colors offers premium blank apparel that combines comfort, durability, and timeless style. Let’s take a closer look at the history behind the brand, what sets Comfort Colors apart from other blank apparel brands, and how you can shop and save on Comfort Colors styles at Clothing Shop Online.

The History of Comfort Colors Shirts

Established in 1975 by Barry T. Chouinard, a chemist known as “Dr. Neon,” Comfort Colors® originally began as a Northeastern company in Northfield, Vermont and then expanded to New Bedford, Massachusetts. Comfort Colors, rooted in Barry's life-long commitment to environmentalism, continues several steps to minimize not only its energy consumption, but also “responsibly treat(s) all of (its) dye effluent reusing much of the water” used to make its products.

Now part of Gildan Activewear, a Montreal-based company, Comfort Colors was acquired in 2015 for $100 million. After Chouinard passed away in 2016, Gildan shifted the brand's manufacturing to North Carolina and abroad. Today Comfort Colors' tees are made in Mexico and Honduras using USA-grown cotton, which are then garment-dyed in Vermont.

What Makes Comfort Colors Shirts Unique?

From fabrics to fit, Comfort Colors delivers premium blank apparel that elevates any project, print, or event. These features make Comfort Colors blank apparel a trusted option for screen printers, decorators, and wholesale buyers who need reliable garments for custom printing, event merchandise, and retail apparel lines. Let’s explore all the different elements that sets Comfort Colors apart from the rest.

Garment-Dyed for That Lived-In Look

Garment dyeing is a process where clothing is dyed after it has been fully constructed, giving the fabric a softer feel and vintage-washed appearance.

Unlike most brands, Comfort Colors dyes its garments after construction. This process creates a naturally faded, vintage-inspired look with subtle variations in tone that make each style feel unique. This process also creates an incredibly soft, broken-in texture that customers know and love. Overall, the garment-dye process creates apparel that look and feel worn-in, without compromising quality or structure.

Premium Ring-Spun Cotton

Most Comfort Colors t-shirts and sweatshirts are made with 100% ring-spun cotton. This premium cotton is incredibly soft while still maintaining that long-lasting durability. For decorators and printers, specifically, this premium cotton provides an excellent canvas for screen printing, embroidery, tie-dye, and more. For people building or maintaining a brand or business, this added softness and quality makes a meaningful difference at retail.

Relaxed, Unisex Fit

Comfort Colors undoubtedly offers the ideal relaxed and unisex apparel. Comfort Colors styles typically are unisex and have a slightly oversized look, which appeals to wide audiences. Comfort Colors unisex sizing also makes it a lot easier to order in bulk rather than having to figure out Youth, Womens, and Mens sizing. Due to this, Comfort Colors is especially popular for campus apparel, lifestyle brands, event merchandise, and retail collections. To learn more about unisex sizing, check out Clothing Shop Online’s (CSO) guide that breaks down all you need to know when selecting a unisex style.

Best-Selling Comfort Colors Shirts and Sweatshirts

At Clothing Shop Online, you’ll find a wide selection of Comfort Colors styles available in a variety of colors and sizes. Screen printers, decorators, and apparel brands frequently choose Comfort Colors shirts for custom printing, retail collections, and bulk merchandise orders thanks to their garment-dyed finish and premium cotton fabrics. To help narrow down your search, here are a few best-selling Comfort Colors styles that continue to be fan favorites among customers and customization professionals alike.

• Comfort Colors Garment-Dyed Heavyweight T-Shirt (Style #1717): One of CSO’s most popular styles is style #1717. This garment-dyed Comfort Colors t-shirt is one of the most popular blank shirts used by decorators and apparel brands. It’s made with 100% ring-spun cotton, has a nice, relaxed fit, and garment-dyed for that lived in feel and almost no shrinkage at home. This t-shirt is available in just about any color you can think of (67 colors to be exact) as well as sizes S-4XL.
• Comfort Colors Garment-Dyed Heavyweight Long Sleeve T-Shirt (Style #6014): Another fan-favorite style is style #6014. Perfect for customizations or everyday wear, style #6014 has a relaxed fit, topstitched, classic width, collar, and is made with that 100% ring-spun cotton customers know and love. Stock up on this high-quality long-sleeve t-shirt and choose from over 50 different colors and sizes S-3XL.
• Comfort Colors Garment-Dyed Sweatshirt (Style #1566): Check out a top-selling sweatshirt here at CSO, style #1566 from Comfort Colors. This sweatshirt is made with 3-end heavyweight fleece and 100% soft ring spun U.S. cotton. This sweatshirt also has a back neck patch for easy customization, side seams, and 1x1 rib collar, cuffs and waistband. Style #1566 is available in 15+ colors and sizes S-3XL.

Why Screen Printers and Brands Choose Comfort Colors

Screen printers, decorators, and apparel brands consistently choose Comfort Colors because of its durable construction, soft garment-dyed fabrics, and reliable print surface for custom designs. Unlike other t-shirts and sweatshirts in the market, Comfort Colors styles are durable and will stand the test of time. Comfort Colors also incorporates high-quality ring-spun cotton, which creates the perfect canvas for a variety of printing techniques. Designs on Comfort Colors apparel tend to pop because the garment itself already has character.

The combination of softness, structure, and color richness allows decorators and brands to sell confidently while delivering a product customers will want to wear again and again.

Why Comfort Colors Shirts Are Popular for Screen Printing

Comfort Colors shirts are especially popular for screen printing because their garment-dyed cotton fabric provides a soft surface that works well with many printing techniques. Screen printers and decorators often choose Comfort Colors blank shirts because the relaxed fit, heavyweight fabric, and vintage color palette help designs stand out while maintaining long-term durability.

Comfort Colors Sustainability & Responsible Manufacturing

Customers are prioritizing sustainability now more than ever. Comfort Colors continues to refine and improve its processes to deliver its customers sustainable styles without compromising quality or comfort. To learn more about Comfort Colors and its eco-friendly apparel, check out CSO’s recent article, “USA-Made & Eco-Friendly Apparel: Why It Matters and How to Choose the Right Blank Apparel.”

Shop Comfort Colors at Clothing Shop Online

Here at Clothing Shop Online, we make it incredibly easy to shop and save on all your favorite Comfort Colors t-shirts and sweatshirts. Clothing Shop Online offers a wide range of sizes and colors, unbeatable bulk discounts, and dependable inventory, so you can find and buy exactly what you’re looking for. The best part? There are no order minimum requirements. In other words, buy 1 t-shirt or buy 1,000 while enjoying CSO’s wholesale pricing. Whether you’re launching a brand, fulfilling a large event order, restocking some best-selling apparel, or simply giving your wardrobe a refresh, Clothing Shop Online has just what you need to make your projects or events a success.

Comfort You Can Count On

Comfort Colors is undeniably an industry leader and for all the right reasons. Comfort Colors effortlessly blends its high-quality fabrics with style and durability to deliver the best apparel in the market. If you’re ready to add premium, garment-dyed styles to your lineup, explore the wide selection of Comfort Colors at Clothing Shop Online and create something your customers will truly want to live in.