AS Colour 5001 vs Bella Canvas 3001 for POD
AS Colour 5001 vs Bella Canvas 3001: streetwear mid-weight vs fashion fit. Specs, fit, organic cotton, and real POD prices compared.
These two aren’t really the same shirt — and that’s the point. The AS Colour 5001 Staple is a structured mid-weight tee built for streetwear; the Bella Canvas 3001 is a lighter fashion-fit tee built to be the POD default. In AS Colour 5001 vs Bella Canvas 3001, you’re choosing between a boxier 5.3 oz streetwear blank and a lighter 4.2 oz retail tee — different weights, different silhouettes, different buyers. Here’s how they compare on specs, fit, and real pricing.
(Note: the version stocked across POD suppliers is the 5001G, AS Colour’s GOTS-certified organic Staple — same cut and weight as the standard 5001, made from organic cotton.)
Quick verdict
| If you… | Pick |
|---|---|
| Sell streetwear with a boxier, structured look | AS Colour 5001 (5001G) |
| Want a heavier, more substantial 5.3 oz tee | AS Colour 5001 (5001G) |
| Want organic / GOTS-certified cotton as a selling point | AS Colour 5001G |
| Want the lighter retail fashion fit | Bella Canvas 3001 |
| Need the lowest price and widest supplier choice | Bella Canvas 3001 |
| Need 80+ colors or sizes up to 5XL | Bella Canvas 3001 |
Side-by-side specs
| Spec | AS Colour 5001 / 5001G | Bella Canvas 3001 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 5.3 oz / 180 g/m² | 4.2 oz / 142 g/m² |
| Material | 100% combed cotton (5001G: organic, GOTS) | 100% combed ringspun cotton (heathers 52/48) |
| Fit | Regular / boxier streetwear cut | Retail / modern slim |
| Sizes (our data) | XS–3XL | XS–5XL |
| Colors (our data) | ~5 (5001G stock) | ~85 |
| Construction | Side-seamed, shoulder-to-shoulder tape, double-needle hems | Side-seamed, shoulder-to-shoulder taping |
| Price (our CSV) | ~$18.50 base | $6.49–$11.69 (avg ~$9.09) |
| Best for | Streetwear, premium drops | Fashion brands, volume POD |
The headline difference is weight and cut. At 5.3 oz the AS Colour is over a full ounce heavier than the 4.2 oz Bella, with a boxier regular fit that sits away from the body. The Bella is lighter and slimmer. That single contrast drives almost every other decision.
When AS Colour 5001 is the better pick
Streetwear silhouette. The 5001’s regular fit is boxier and more structured than Bella’s slim retail cut — it hangs the way streetwear buyers expect, especially in larger sizes worn intentionally oversized. If your brand leans street, the heavier, squarer 5001 reads correct in a way the 3001 doesn’t.
It feels substantial. At 5.3 oz / 180 gsm, the AS Colour is a noticeably heavier shirt. Buyers handling it perceive it as higher quality, and it holds shape better through wash cycles. For premium drops where the tee itself is part of the value, weight sells.
Organic cotton is a real story. The POD-stocked 5001G is GOTS-certified organic combed cotton. For brands built on sustainability, that certification is a feature you can put on the listing and charge for — Bella’s standard 3001 doesn’t carry it.
The print surface is excellent. The dense 180 gsm combed cotton gives DTG and screen printing a smooth, stable base. Heavier knit means less print show-through and a clean finish.
The trade-offs are price and selection. In our AS Colour 5001G listings the base sits around $18.50 — roughly double the Bella’s average — and the stocked color range is narrow (about five core shades). It’s a premium-cost blank with a limited POD palette.
When Bella Canvas 3001 is the better pick
Far cheaper. In our data the 3001 runs $6.49 to $11.69 with an average near $9.09 — versus ~$18.50 for the 5001G. That’s roughly a 2x base-cost difference. For any margin-sensitive store, the gap is decisive.
Lighter fashion fit. The 4.2 oz 3001 is a slim, drapey retail tee — the right call for fashion brands, soft lifestyle designs, and audiences who want a fitted look rather than a boxy one.
Color and size range win easily. The 3001 carries roughly 85 colors and runs XS–5XL in our data, versus the 5001G’s ~5 stocked colors and 3XL ceiling. If your designs need specific shades or you sell plus sizes, Bella isn’t close to losing.
It’s stocked everywhere. Bella 3001 is the most widely carried tee in POD, so you get competitive pricing and reliable stock. Compare suppliers in our supplier directory. For how the 3001 stacks up against another popular fitted tee, see our Bella 3001 vs Next Level 3600 breakdown.
Fit and fabric differences that matter
Weight is the dividing line. 5.3 oz vs 4.2 oz isn’t subtle — it’s the difference between a substantial streetwear tee and a light fashion tee. Pick the weight your buyers expect before anything else.
Fit shapes the whole product. The 5001’s boxier regular cut and the 3001’s slim retail cut produce different mockups, different sizing advice, and different customers. Don’t treat them as interchangeable blanks.
Both print well, differently. The heavier AS Colour gives a stable, opaque base ideal for bold streetwear graphics; the lighter Bella suits soft, detailed DTG fashion prints. On heathers the Bella switches to a cotton/poly blend, so confirm the color spec before promising 100% cotton.
The price gap, and whether it’s worth it
This is the comparison where price isn’t a tiebreaker — it’s a fork in the road. In our CSV the AS Colour 5001G lists at a flat ~$18.50 base, while the Bella 3001 averages ~$9.09 with a floor of $6.49. At the extremes, the AS Colour costs nearly 3x the cheapest Bella.
That gap only makes sense if the heavier weight, boxier streetwear cut, or organic certification is something your customer is actually paying for. A street brand selling a 5.3 oz organic tee at a $35–$45 retail price can absorb an $18.50 blank and still hold a healthy margin. A general-merch store printing novelty graphics cannot — the math collapses and the 3001 is the only rational choice.
So the real question isn’t “which shirt is better.” It’s “does my buyer care about weight, fit, and organic cotton enough to pay for them?” If yes, the 5001G earns its cost. If no, you’re overpaying for features your customer won’t notice.
Who should pick which
Pick the AS Colour 5001 / 5001G if:
- You sell streetwear and need the boxier, heavier silhouette
- Organic / GOTS-certified cotton is part of your brand pitch
- Your retail price is high enough to absorb a ~$18.50 base
- Your designs work within the limited stocked color range
Pick the Bella Canvas 3001 if:
- You want the lower price and the wide supplier choice
- You need a slim fashion fit, 80+ colors, or sizes up to 5XL
- You’re running volume and every dollar of base cost matters
- You want the safe, universally-stocked POD default
The bottom line
AS Colour 5001 (the 5001G organic in POD) is the heavier, boxier, organic-cotton streetwear blank — better fit and feel for street brands and premium drops, at roughly double the base cost and a narrow color range. Bella Canvas 3001 is the lighter, slimmer, far cheaper fashion default with massive color and size coverage stocked by every supplier.
Choose by what you’re selling: streetwear weight and a sustainability story point to the 5001G; price, fit range, and color depth point to the 3001. Compare current base prices for both in our product catalog, or browse the supplier directory to see who stocks each.
