Comfort Colors 1717 vs Gildan 5000 for POD
Comfort Colors 1717 vs Gildan 5000: garment-dyed vintage tee vs the cheapest volume blank. Specs, real price bands, and which wins for your store.
The Comfort Colors 1717 vs Gildan 5000 decision comes down to one question: are you selling a vintage, garment-dyed look people will pay extra for, or moving volume at the lowest possible base cost? The 1717 is a 6.1 oz pigment-dyed heavyweight with a lived-in feel; the Gildan 5000 is a 5.3 oz classic that’s the cheapest reliable tee in most catalogs. Here’s how they actually compare on specs, price, and print behavior.
Quick verdict
| If you… | Pick |
|---|---|
| Want a faded, vintage garment-dyed aesthetic | Comfort Colors 1717 |
| Sell to fashion, hometown, or “weekend” brands at $28+ retail | Comfort Colors 1717 |
| Need the absolute lowest base cost | Gildan 5000 |
| Sell giveaways, team tees, or high-volume novelty | Gildan 5000 |
| Want pre-shrunk with near-zero shrink risk | Comfort Colors 1717 |
| Want the widest color count and supplier stock | Gildan 5000 |
What’s the difference between the 1717 and the 5000?
| Spec | Comfort Colors 1717 | Gildan 5000 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 6.1 oz / 207 g/m² | 5.3 oz / 180 g/m² |
| Fabric | 100% ring-spun cotton, garment-dyed | 100% cotton (heathers 50/50) |
| Fit | Relaxed, slightly boxy | Classic, boxy |
| Dye process | Pigment / garment-dyed (pre-shrunk, vintage tones) | Piece-dyed, standard |
| Sizes | S–3XL | XS–5XL |
| Colors | ~15 muted, faded tones | 40+ including brights |
| Price tier | Premium | Budget (lowest) |
| Best for | Vintage/retro brands | Volume & giveaways |
The two specs that drive everything else: the 1717 is heavier and garment-dyed, the 5000 is lighter and cheaper. Garment-dyed means the finished shirt is dyed after it’s sewn, which softens the fabric, pre-shrinks it, and produces the slightly uneven, washed color that the vintage look depends on. Expect mild color variation shirt to shirt — that’s the feature, not a defect.
When Comfort Colors 1717 is the better pick
You’re selling a vintage or “lived-in” aesthetic. Pigment-dyed colors like Pepper, Blue Jean, Bay, and Seafoam have that faded-from-day-one look you can’t fake on a standard tee. Hometown brands, festival merch, fishing/outdoor lines, and Etsy “comfort tee” listings lean on exactly this.
Handfeel justifies a higher price. At 6.1 oz of ring-spun cotton that’s been garment-dyed soft, the 1717 feels substantial and broken-in out of the bag. That’s what lets sellers list it at $28–$40 retail when a Gildan tee tops out around $20.
You want predictable sizing after wash. Garment-dyeing pre-shrinks the shirt, so post-wash shrinkage is minimal. Fewer “it shrank” complaints than a non-pre-shrunk tee.
Slightly relaxed fit. The 1717 runs a touch boxier and roomier than a fitted tee, which suits the oversized-comfort trend without going full oversized.
When Gildan 5000 is the better pick
Base cost is the priority. The 5000 is the cheapest dependable tee in most catalogs — in our directory its price band sits around $4.99, versus roughly $8.49 for the 1717. That ~$3.50 gap per blank compounds fast: on 1,000 units a year it’s $3,500 of margin.
You need color range and brights. Gildan offers 40+ colors including saturated reds, royals, and safety green that garment-dyed lines simply don’t carry. If your design needs a true bright, the 1717’s muted palette won’t get there.
Volume, stock, and broad sizing. Gildan is the most-stocked apparel brand in North America, runs XS–5XL, and rarely sells out. For Amazon Merch, team orders, and giveaway runs, that reliability matters more than feel.
Mainstream, value-conscious buyers. Event tees, corporate handouts, and broad novelty niches don’t pay a premium for garment-dyeing. The 5000 gives them a solid 5.3 oz shirt at the lowest cost.
How do they print and wash differently?
Garment-dyeing changes the print conversation:
- DTG on the 1717: The soft, absorbent ring-spun cotton takes DTG ink well and the muted base colors make distressed/vintage art look intentional. On lighter pigment tones you can sometimes skip a heavy white underbase and let the shirt color show through for a true retro effect.
- DTG on the 5000: Clean and reliable on whites and brights. Heather 50/50 colors can look slightly washed-out under DTG at high coverage.
- Color consistency: The 5000 is consistent unit to unit. The 1717 will vary slightly between shirts — fine for vintage looks, a problem if a customer orders two and expects an exact match.
- Wash behavior: The 1717 is pre-shrunk and fades gracefully, deepening the vintage feel. The 5000 holds its color and shape but won’t develop that character.
For DTF and screen printing the gap narrows — both accept those methods well, and the decision swings back to weight, look, and cost.
Real pricing across our directory
In our supplier directory, the Comfort Colors 1717 sits in a premium price band around $8.49 per blank, while the Gildan 5000 anchors the budget tier near $4.99. That spread — roughly $3.50 a shirt — is the whole trade-off in one number. You’re paying it for weight, garment-dyeing, and a look that supports higher retail prices.
A useful way to think about it: if your retail price is under $20, the 5000’s lower base protects your margin. If you can list at $28+, the 1717’s premium feel earns its keep. For a similar fashion-vs-budget breakdown, our Bella 3001 vs Gildan 5000 comparison walks through the same math on a lighter modern tee.
The bottom line
Buy the Comfort Colors 1717 when the vintage garment-dyed look and 6.1 oz handfeel let you charge more — it’s a premium blank that does premium work. Buy the Gildan 5000 when base cost, color range, and stock reliability matter most, which covers most volume and giveaway selling.
Compare live supplier prices for both side by side in our product catalog, or browse the full supplier directory to see who carries each one.