If you're choosing an AS Colour tee for a team, start with two styles: the Staple Tee 5001 at 180 GSM or the heavier Classic Tee 5026 at 220 GSM. Add the Womens Maple 4001 and the Kids and Youth Staple tees and you can dress a whole team, from kids' size 2 to adult 5XL, in matching colours. Here's how the main styles compare on our listings.
The main tees compared
| Tee | Fabric, as listed | Fit | Sizes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic 5051 | 160 GSM carded cotton | Regular | XS to 5XL |
| Staple 5001 | 180 GSM combed cotton | Regular | XS to 5XL |
| Block Tubular 5050T | 200 GSM carded cotton, no side seams | Regular | S to 5XL |
| Classic 5026 | 220 GSM combed cotton | Regular | S to 5XL |
| Box 5030 | 240 GSM combed cotton | Relaxed, boxy | S to 3XL |
| Heavy Faded 5082 | 240 GSM carded cotton, garment dyed | Relaxed | XS to 3XL |
| Womens Maple 4001 | 180 GSM combed cotton | Regular | XS to 3XL |
| Womens Classic 4026 | 220 GSM combed cotton | Relaxed | XS to 3XL |
| Kids Staple 3005, Youth Staple 3006 | 180 GSM combed cotton | Regular | 2 to 6; 8 to 16 |
Marle colours in the Staple, Basic, Block, Classic, Maple and kids' tees are listed with 15% viscose. Everything else in the table is 100% cotton.
Weight and fit: what the numbers mean in practice
GSM is the fabric's weight in grams per square metre. In a tee you'll notice it as thickness and how the shirt hangs. The 160 GSM Basic is the lightest and the 240 GSM Box and Heavy Faded are the heaviest. For an everyday staff tee, the 180 GSM Staple is the middle ground. If your team wants something more solid, the 220 GSM Classic is the usual step up.
A few fit variations are worth knowing about:
- The Staple Plus 5075 is "5cm longer than the 5001 Staple Tee", for taller wearers, in Black and White.
- The Staple Curve 5076 and Womens Maple Curve 4024 have a curved hem.
- The Box 5030 has dropped shoulders and a "Shorter, boxy body", so it sits differently from the regular-fit styles.
Colour range and matching a team
The Staple 5001 lists 76 colours, the Classic 5026 lists 57 and the Womens Maple 4001 lists 52. The Kids and Youth Staple tees list 23 each, and the Basic 5051 lists 18.
Many colour names repeat across styles, which makes it easier to match men's, women's and kids' tees. Don't assume every colour is in every style, though. Orange, for example, is listed for the Staple 5001, Womens Maple 4001 and Kids Staple 3005, but not for the Classic 5026. The Box 5030 doesn't list Navy. Before you settle on a colour, check that each style you need lists it.
Printing or embroidery?
All of these tees take print and embroidery. Our Decoration Services page sets out the methods we use, and our embroidery or printing guide explains how to choose between them.
As a general guide:
- Every tee in the table lists screen printing among the methods it's suited to, so a front or back print is an option on all of them.
- A dense stitched logo can pull a thin fabric out of shape, so if you want an embroidered chest logo, the 220 GSM Classic or Womens Classic gives the stitching a firmer base. On a 160 or 180 GSM tee, keep a stitched logo small and not too dense, or ask us whether a print would suit it better.
- The garment-dyed Heavy Faded 5082 listing adds: "We recommend using a blocker when printing on any faded or stone washed garments." If you've picked a faded tee, mention it when you send your artwork.
These are rules of thumb. Your logo's size and detail matter as much as the tee.
Need hi vis?
The Block Safety Tee 5050F is the hi vis tee in our AS Colour range. Its listing states that Safety Orange and Safety Yellow are "tested by NZWTA, Class F + hi-vis certification AS/NZS 1906.4", and that Safety Pink is "not hi-vis certified". AS/NZS 1906.4 is a standard for the hi vis material, not the hi vis garment standard (AS/NZS 4602.1:2011, since replaced by AS 4602.1:2024), so check which one your site asks for. It's a 200 GSM poly-cotton tee. Talk to us before choosing a decoration method for hi vis.
Browse our AS Colour collection, including hoodies, crews and caps. We can print or embroider any of these blanks for your business, club, school or event. When you're ready, send us your logo, styles and sizes through our custom workwear enquiry form.
