Bella+Canvas, Gildan and Hanes Color Comparisons

By ShirtSpace | Feb 29, 2024 |  Updated Mar 05, 2024

We get it – color is tricky. Let us make life easier for you. In this article, we take a deep dive into the colors offered by three of our most popular brands – Bella+Canvas, Gildan and Hanes. But not only that. We also have included three downloadable PDF color charts of each brand’s color selection. That way, you can compare side-by-side to find the perfect tropical shade of blue or a tomato red that’s not too orange. 

Cracking the Color Code: Bella+Canvas, Gildan, and Hanes Color Comparisons

There are multiple reasons why colors can be difficult to nail down correctly. Let’s explore some of the most common reasons people struggle with color when shopping for wholesale tee shirts and other blank apparel. 

Why Color Comparison is Challenging 

Human Anatomy

Some people see color differently than the average person. From color blindness to tetrachromacy, there are several reasons that could account for people seeing colors in different ways. Science has even determined that women tend to see the world in warmer colors, being able to differentiate between red shades better than men. 

Device Screen Variations

Color comparisons come with their own set of obstacles. Not only could a color look different across devices, but it can also differ in real life from what you see on the screen altogether.


Example of color discrepancy between devices

Settings like “night shift” mode, adjustments in the light source (white light vs. yellow), and decreased screen brightness can all drastically impact color appearance. 

Product Photography Variations

To add another layer of complexity, product photography within a brand isn’t always consistent. For example, Carolina Blue might be consistent for all styles that come in that color across a brand, but the photography might not align perfectly. A Hanes Athletic Red 5280 and 5180 of the same color might be identical in color in person. Still, variables during the product photoshoot, such as lighting and editing choices, could make these two reds look very different on screens. 

Color and Naming Variations

Another challenge when selecting colors is differing names. For example, Gildan's Cornsilk is very close to Hanes' Yellow Meringue, yet Dark Chocolate is a color featured by both brands, but the Gildan Dark Chocolate is visibly darker. Or, for another example, Gildan's Paragon is similar to Hanes' Iced Mocha, with names that imply very different colors but are almost identical. Both of these names are correct, but it is hard to find what you need sometimes, with vastly different name variations.

Finding Dupes

A conundrum you might find yourself in is a scenario where a brand’s color is out of stock. This is when it’s helpful to have resources available to compare colors across brands to find the closest match when you’re in a pinch. Luckily, we have created some resources to compare and contrast colors from some of our most popular brands! Read on to learn more!

Bella+Canvas Shirt Colors

Shirts pictured: Bella+Canvas 3001CVC Unisex Heather CVC T-Shirt and Bella+Canvas 3001C Unisex Jersey T-Shirt. 

With over 300 shades offered by Bella+Canvas, there is the ultimate variety of classic colors and trendy, unique shades. The difference doesn’t just come with color, either – texture comes into play. For example, there is a difference between the green shades Kelly and Heather Kelly. The heathered version often appears lighter due to the varying colors of threads that make up CVC fabric – the same goes for triblends. Another notable Bella+Canvas option is the Heather Prism color collection. These colors are reminiscent of pastel opalescent hues.

The Bella+Canvas tees with the most comprehensive color selection are the 3001C and the 3001CVC. Originally both under the style code 3001C, the heathered options became so popular, Bella+Canvas decided to split the t-shirt into two style codes, with the 3001CVC featuring all heathers and the 3001C featuring only solids. 

Bella+Canvas shirts pictured

Bella+Canvas, as a brand, takes color seriously. When it comes to season, these are some of the most popular seasonal colors from Bella+Canvas, included in the chart below. But don’t forget that there are a treasure trove of stadard colors, like classic red, royal blue and pink, and neutrals like black, white and grays to round out your collection. With so many Bella+Canvas t-shirt colors to choose from, it’s almost impossible to pick just one! Luckily, there is such a variety of colors, you can have a stash for each season. Choose fresh pastels for spring, bright and juicy colors as we move into summer, colors that mimic the changing scenery of autumn, and rich, dark colors for the winter months.

DOWNLOADABLE BELLA+CANVAS COLOR CHART

Gildan Shirt Colors

Shirts pictured from left to right: Gildan G670 Men's Softstyle CVC T-Shirt in Amethyst, Dune Mist, Gunmetal, Dusty Rose, Maroon Mist, Ring Spun Sport Gray, Navy Mist, Pitch Black, Red Mist, Steel Blue, Cactus, Plumrose, Royal Mist, Slate

Gildan is a crowd favorite due to its affordability, sustainable business practices, great fit and color selection, of course!

Gildan t-shirt colors cover all the basics, with every color in the rainbow – from warm colors like red, orange and yellow, to cool shades of blue, green and purple. Not sure which color to choose, a dark black or bright white will provide contrast for bright and vibrant designs!

Top Gildan tees, like the G5000, G2000 and G8000, all feature an extensive color palette, where you will indeed find just the color you were looking for to match your brand, team, or personal color style.

The ever-popular G500 has the most color options, just over 70, to be exact. This includes all your favorites! Some popular Gildan colors unique to the brand include Cornsilk, Pistachio, Heather Galapagos Blue, Heather Radiant Orchid, Coral Silk, and Paragon. 

But we also can’t mention Gildan’s color options without bringing up the G640 Softstyle t-shirt, which features 64 color offerings, although Gildan has many more in total – over 150! Remember that this stat is constantly changing, as Gildan regularly develops new colors with new trends and customer demand. But back to the G640 Softstyle tee – this is the shirt for you if you like heathered fabric, as it has the most heather options out of any Gildan tee. 

Plus, Gildan tees are great for decorating using various methods, including heat pressing with HTV, DTG printing, embroidery and more! The Gildan 2000 tee that we mentioned before (also known simply as the G200) even features a special white “color” labeled as “prepared for dye.” This option allows tie-dyers to skip the critical step of soaking in soda ash before they tie and dye clothing.

Gildan mini tee swatches in a variety of Gildan signature colors. 

DOWNLOADABLE GILDAN COLOR CHART

Hanes T-Shirt Colors

Shirts Pictured: Long-sleeve Hanes 5286 long-sleeve tee in a discontinued color, and its short-sleeve counterpart, the Hanes 5280 in Athletic Gold (right)

Hanes is a classic blank apparel brand trusted among the masses due to its heavy presence in the wholesale and retail markets. Regarding color selection, Hanes has over 100 colors in their inventory, making it a great brand to use if you have a specific color family in mind. Opt for one of Hanes’ many gray shades, a natural brown, or even neon safety colors for those that require high-vis gear for work or on-road activities. 

The Hanes 5280 has the most colors of all the Hanes tees, but the Beefy-T is a close second. The 5280 is Hanes’ go-to, classic tee with a boxy fit and an incredibly low price. Hanes colored t-shirts are perfect for sports teams, branded business or organization merch, or even your personal wardrobe! There are a variety of color options, like classic black and standard white, but also Hanes color t-shirts for those who like something more attention-grabbing. Choose what works best for you! 

So what colors stand apart when it comes to Hanes offerings? We love Wow Pink for Breast Cancer charities and events. Both Stonewashed Green and Stonewashed Blue are the perfect spring pastels, with a bit of a dusty tone. And Athletic Gold is a unique yellow that we can see many sports fanatics going wild over. 

Shirts pictured: Hanes 5280 Adult Essential Short Sleeve T-Shirt in Maroon, Wow Pink, Charisma Coral, Navy, Teal, Aquatic Blue, Kelly Green, Lime, Gold.

DOWNLOADABLE HANES COLOR CHART

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