Stores Like American Apparel: 12 Basics Brands That Own the Blank Tee Now
Text
About American Apparel
Founded
1989
USA
Ships to
US, Canada, worldwide (varies)
Sizes
XS-3XL
Editor-reviewed
Every recommendation read and refined by hand
Honest tradeoffs
Drawbacks listed, not hidden
No paid placements
Brands cannot pay to be ranked
The unisex fine jersey tee, the disco pant, the shiny nylon leggings, the tri-blend deep V — the pieces that turned a downtown Los Angeles factory into a wardrobe staple now live in other people's shopping carts. The blank-tee-as-canvas that every screen printer once ordered by the case? That business quietly moved to Bella+Canvas and the reborn Alternative Apparel. The high-waisted disco pant that owned every 2010s dance floor got copied everywhere and improved almost nowhere by the copies.
What's left after the multiple bankruptcies and the Gildan buyout is a website, not a scene. The factory hum, the provocative Dov Charney-era ads, the neon retail walls stacked with the same tee in thirty colors — that was the product as much as the cotton was.
The garment survived; the gravity didn't.
Today the brand is a competent basics label with a thinner catalog and none of the cultural pull, and that's precisely the gap the newer names have spent a decade filling. Here's where the tee, the leggings, and the color-drenched simplicity actually went.
What's left after the multiple bankruptcies and the Gildan buyout is a website, not a scene. The factory hum, the provocative Dov Charney-era ads, the neon retail walls stacked with the same tee in thirty colors — that was the product as much as the cotton was.
The garment survived; the gravity didn't.
Today the brand is a competent basics label with a thinner catalog and none of the cultural pull, and that's precisely the gap the newer names have spent a decade filling. Here's where the tee, the leggings, and the color-drenched simplicity actually went.
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12 brands
The 12 Best Alternatives to American Apparel
1
Uniqlo
Est. 1984
Yamaguchi, Japan
Sizes XXS-4XL
$
cheaper
Everyday basics shoppers who want reliable fit and dozens of colorways
The clearest heir to affordable, well-cut basics in a rainbow of colors. Supima cotton crewnecks and the U-line tees do what American Apparel's fine jersey did, with better consistency.
Pros
- Supima cotton tees hold shape and color
- HeatTech and AIRism give real technical range
- Huge color and size grid
Cons
- Not made in USA
- Sustainability claims are thin
- Cuts run more conservative than AA's
Visit Uniqlo
Full guide: Stores Like Uniqlo
2
Bella+Canvas
Est. 1992
Los Angeles, USA
Sizes XS-4XL
$
cheaper
Screen printers and anyone chasing the exact blank-tee feel
Recycled
Where the wholesale blank-tee business actually went. Sells the soft, retail-fit unisex tees that print shops once bought from American Apparel, and is largely made in the USA.
Pros
- Made in USA and eco-friendly dye process
- The 3001 tee is a direct fine-jersey rival
- Cheap by the case
Cons
- Primarily a wholesale/blank brand
- Limited finished retail styling
- Minimal womenswear-specific tailoring
3
Alternative Apparel
Est. 1995
Atlanta, USA
Sizes XS-3XL
≈
similar
People who loved the tri-blend softness above all
Organic
Recycled
Practically shares a vocabulary with American Apparel — soft eco-jersey tees, relaxed slouchy fits, and washed-out neutrals aimed at the same lifestyle shopper.
Pros
- Organic and recycled cotton programs
- Signature ultra-soft eco-jersey
- Relaxed slouchy fits echo AA
Cons
- Muted palette, less bold color
- Quality varies by line
- Smaller retail presence
4
Everlane
Est. 2010
San Francisco, USA
Sizes XXS-XXL
$$$
pricier
Shoppers who want basics plus supply-chain transparency
Transparent Pricing
Factory Disclosure
Fills the elevated-basics slot with transparent pricing and factory disclosure — the ethical story AA once told about its own LA factory, now told better.
Pros
- Publishes cost breakdowns and factory list
- The Cotton Box Tee is a genuine staple
- Cleaner, more grown-up styling
Cons
- Pricier than AA
- Not made in USA
- Basics can feel plain
Visit Everlane
Full guide: Stores Like Everlane
5
Los Angeles Apparel
Est. 2016
Los Angeles, USA
Sizes XS-3XL
≈
similar
Loyalists who want the original DNA, factory and all
Factory Disclosure
Founded by Dov Charney himself — this is the literal continuation of the sweatshop-free, made-in-South-Central LA ethos and heavyweight cotton that defined old AA.
Pros
- Actual Charney-run LA factory
- Heavyweight 6.5oz garment-dyed tees
- Closest spiritual successor to peak AA
Cons
- Heavier fabrics won't suit fine-jersey fans
- Limited size grid
- Styling leans nostalgic
6
Champion
Est. 1919
Winston-Salem, USA
Sizes XS-3XL
$
cheaper
Fleece, hoodies, and gym-adjacent basics
Owns the collegiate-fleece and heritage-basics lane AA flirted with — the Reverse Weave hoodie and sturdy blank sweats deliver the athletic-casual staple.
Pros
- Reverse Weave fleece is a genuine classic
- Wide distribution and frequent discounts
- Durable sweats
Cons
- Mostly imported now
- Less focus on fine tees
- Logo-forward branding
7
Cotton Citizen
Est. 2013
Los Angeles, USA
Sizes XS-XL
$$$
pricier
People chasing AA's bold color in a premium tee
Made-in-LA, garment-dyed tees and sweats with the saturated, worn-in color that was AA's whole aesthetic — just pushed upmarket.
Pros
- Vivid hand-dyed color range
- Made in Los Angeles
- Buttery vintage-feel jersey
Cons
- Premium prices
- Drops sell out fast
- Narrow silhouette range
8
Pact
Est. 2009
Boulder, USA
Sizes XS-3XL
≈
similar
Basics buyers who prioritize organic cotton
Organic
Fair Trade
Carbon Neutral
Delivers the soft everyday tee and leggings in organic cotton, occupying the affordable-basics slot with real sustainability credentials AA lacks now.
Pros
- GOTS-certified organic cotton
- Fair Trade Certified factories
- Soft everyday tees and leggings
Cons
- Not made in USA
- Basic styling only
- Fits run relaxed
9
Richer Poorer
Est. 2010
San Clemente, USA
Sizes XS-XXL
≈
similar
Loungewear and soft everyday layering
Recycled
Organic
Lounge-forward basics — the recycled-cotton tees and joggers cover the soft, unisex-leaning casual pieces AA built its later catalog around.
Pros
- Recycled and organic cotton blends
- Excellent lounge and sleep basics
- Soft, durable hand-feel
Cons
- Limited structured pieces
- Smaller color range
- Not made in USA
10
Gap
Est. 1969
San Francisco, USA
Sizes XS-XXL
$
cheaper
One-stop everyday basics on a budget
The mainstream basics anchor — crewneck tees, hoodies, and denim in a broad color and size grid, at prices below AA with far wider availability.
Pros
- Very affordable with constant sales
- Broad size range and colors
- Easy returns everywhere
Cons
- Quality is inconsistent
- Imported
- Styling can feel generic
Visit Gap
Full guide: Stores Like Gap
11
Colorful Standard
Est. 2017
Copenhagen, Denmark
Sizes XS-XXL
$$$
pricier
Buyers who want AA's color-first ethos, done sustainably
Organic
Built its whole identity on the same idea AA perfected: one clean organic tee or sweat in an enormous, saturated color library.
Pros
- Huge organic-cotton color range
- Garment-dyed, rich saturation
- Ethically made in Portugal
Cons
- Made in Europe, pricier to ship
- Limited styles beyond tees and sweats
- Higher price point
12
Organic Basics
Est. 2015
Copenhagen, Denmark
Sizes XS-XL
$$$
pricier
Sustainable underwear, leggings, and layering basics
Organic
Recycled
Factory Disclosure
Covers the underwear, leggings, and layering-tee territory AA anchored, with a hard sustainability focus and clean minimal design.
Pros
- Certified organic and recycled fabrics
- Strong underwear and legging range
- Transparent supply chain
Cons
- Premium pricing
- Europe-based shipping
- Narrow product mix
Closest to the original LA ethos
If what you miss is the sweatshop-free, made-in-Los-Angeles factory story and the heavyweight cotton, Los Angeles Apparel is the literal continuation — same founder, same neighborhood. Bella+Canvas keeps the US-made blank-tee business alive, and Cotton Citizen carries the garment-dyed, saturated-color aesthetic upmarket. These three keep the DNA rather than just the price point.
Best value on everyday tees
For reliable basics that cost less than AA does now, Uniqlo's Supima and U-line tees are the safest bet, with Gap close behind on constant sales and a wide size grid. Champion covers the fleece and hoodie side cheaply. All three trade the LA-factory story for consistency and availability.
Sustainable basics done properly
American Apparel's ethical halo faded after the bankruptcies; these brands earned theirs. Pact runs GOTS-organic and Fair Trade Certified, Organic Basics publishes its supply chain, and Colorful Standard and Alternative Apparel both build on organic and recycled cotton with real color range.Which Alternative Is Right for You?
Want the actual old American Apparel feeling? Los Angeles Apparel is run by the same founder in the same city with the same heavyweight cotton. Chasing the soft fine-jersey tri-blend? Alternative Apparel speaks the closest dialect. Buying blanks by the case for printing? Bella+Canvas is where that business went. If value matters most, Uniqlo and Gap undercut current AA prices with more consistency. And if you left partly because the ethics story rang hollow after Gildan took over, Pact and Organic Basics back their claims with certifications AA no longer carries. Frequently Asked Questions
QIs American Apparel still made in the USA after the Gildan takeover?
Not the way it once was. Under Gildan ownership the brand operates mainly online, and while some product retains US-made positioning, the original Los Angeles factory operation that defined it is gone. If domestic manufacturing is your priority, Los Angeles Apparel and Bella+Canvas are the more reliable made-in-USA options today.
QWhat brand makes tees most like the old American Apparel fine jersey?
Alternative Apparel's eco-jersey and Bella+Canvas's 3001 unisex tee come closest to that thin, soft fine-jersey hand-feel. For a heavier, more vintage weight, Los Angeles Apparel and Cotton Citizen deliver the garment-dyed density that peak AA also sold.
QWhere can I buy blank tees for screen printing like American Apparel used to sell?
Bella+Canvas absorbed most of that wholesale blank-tee business — its retail-fit, US-made blanks are the direct replacement. Alternative Apparel also sells blanks with the soft tri-blend feel print shops used to order from AA.
QIs there a cheaper alternative to American Apparel basics?
Yes. Uniqlo's Supima tees and Gap's crewnecks both undercut current AA pricing while offering wider size grids and frequent sales. Champion is the budget pick for fleece and hoodies.
QDid the founder of American Apparel start a new brand?
Yes — Dov Charney founded Los Angeles Apparel after leaving American Apparel, keeping the sweatshop-free, made-in-South-Central-LA model and heavyweight cotton. It's the closest thing to a spiritual successor to the brand's peak era.
Our Verdict
The Best American Apparel Alternative For You
Want the actual old American Apparel feeling? Los Angeles Apparel is run by the same founder in the same city with the same heavyweight cotton. Chasing the soft fine-jersey tri-blend? Alternative Apparel speaks the closest dialect. Buying blanks by the case for printing? Bella+Canvas is where that business went. If value matters most, Uniqlo and Gap undercut current AA prices with more consistency. And if you left partly because the ethics story rang hollow after Gildan took over, Pact and Organic Basics back their claims with certifications AA no longer carries.