AS Colour Shirts for Custom Branding: The Complete Australian Buying Guide

When Australian businesses and organisations set out to create custom branded apparel, one name consistently rises to the top of the conversation: AS Colour. Known for their premium-weight fabrics, contemporary fits, and exceptional printability, AS Colour shirts have become the go-to choice for organisations that want their branded merchandise to actually get worn — not stuffed in a drawer. Whether you’re a Sydney tech startup kitting out a new team, a Brisbane charity running an awareness campaign, or a Melbourne event agency producing staff uniforms for a major conference, understanding how to make the most of the AS Colour shirt range is well worth your time.

What Makes the AS Colour Shirt Range Stand Out?

Not all blank apparel is created equal, and anyone who has worked in the branded merchandise space for any length of time will tell you that the quality of the base garment matters enormously. AS Colour, founded in New Zealand and now widely distributed across Australia, has built a reputation on a few key principles: consistent sizing, heavyweight cotton, and a retail-inspired aesthetic that people genuinely want to wear.

Fabric Weight and Construction

Most AS Colour t-shirts are constructed from 180gsm or heavier combed cotton, which gives them a noticeably more substantial feel compared to cheaper promotional blanks. The combed cotton process removes short fibres and impurities, resulting in a smoother, more durable fabric that holds its shape wash after wash. For organisations that want their branded shirts to last beyond one season — think staff uniforms, school merchandise, or event crew apparel — this quality of construction is a genuine differentiator.

Fit and Sizing Consistency

One of the most common complaints with bulk apparel ordering is inconsistent sizing. AS Colour addresses this with precise, graded sizing that runs true across their range. Their cuts tend toward a modern, slightly fitted silhouette, which appeals to younger demographics and corporate teams alike. They offer both relaxed and fitted options across their staple and premium lines, so there’s flexibility depending on your audience.

For organisations ordering across a wide size range — say, a Perth council ordering shirts for a team event — this consistency makes size selection much easier and reduces the likelihood of costly re-orders due to fit issues.

Colour Range and Consistency

AS Colour shirts are available in an impressive array of colours, and importantly, those colours are consistent from batch to batch. This matters greatly when you’re reordering branded merchandise across multiple years or need to match apparel to specific brand guidelines. If your brand palette includes a specific navy, forest green, or burgundy, there’s a strong chance you’ll find a close match within the AS Colour range without needing custom dyeing.

That said, it’s always worth requesting physical samples or swatches before committing to a large order, particularly for colour-sensitive applications. Our guide to ordering product samples before your bulk run walks through why this step is so important.

Decoration Methods Best Suited to AS Colour Shirts

Choosing the right decoration method is just as important as choosing the right shirt. The AS Colour shirt range is particularly well-suited to several key techniques, each with its own strengths depending on your design and quantity.

Screen Printing

Screen printing remains the most popular method for decorating AS Colour shirts at volume. The tight, smooth weave of the cotton provides an ideal surface for ink adhesion, producing vibrant, long-lasting prints with crisp edges. Screen printing is typically cost-effective at higher quantities — generally 50 pieces or more — where the setup costs (usually charged per colour, per position) are spread across the run.

If you’re a Gold Coast events company producing crew shirts for a music festival or a Canberra government department ordering staff shirts for a community engagement event, screen printing on AS Colour blanks delivers excellent results at a competitive per-unit cost. For more detail on how this process works, see our beginner’s guide to screen printing for branded apparel.

Direct to Film (DTF) and Digital Printing

For smaller quantities or designs with complex gradients and many colours, direct to film (DTF) printing has become an increasingly popular alternative. DTF transfers can be applied to AS Colour shirts with excellent colour accuracy, and because there are no screens to set up, it’s well-suited to short runs of even 10–20 pieces. This makes it a practical option for startups, small nonprofits, or event organisers who need a limited number of premium-quality shirts without committing to large minimums.

Embroidery

While embroidery is more commonly associated with polo shirts and caps, it can work beautifully on heavier AS Colour styles — particularly their heavier staple tees and crew necks. Embroidered chest logos give apparel a premium, corporate feel that screen-printed equivalents sometimes can’t match. It’s particularly popular with real estate agencies, professional services firms, and hospitality businesses that want a polished, elevated look. Our comparison of embroidery versus screen printing explains when each method is the better choice.

Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV)

Heat transfer vinyl is another viable option for AS Colour shirts, especially for simple one or two-colour designs or where individual personalisation (such as names or numbers) is required. It’s widely used for sporting clubs and school groups across Australia, where each garment may need a unique identifier.

Understanding Minimum Order Quantities and Pricing

One of the first questions organisations ask when planning a branded apparel order is: how many do I need to buy? The answer varies depending on the decoration method.

For screen printing on AS Colour shirts, most Australian decorators work with a minimum of 12–24 pieces per design and colour, though some offer lower minimums for an additional cost. Setup fees — typically $25–$60 per colour per screen — are a fixed cost that gets amortised across the order, so your per-unit price drops significantly as quantities increase. A run of 50 shirts will nearly always be cheaper per piece than a run of 20, even after factoring in the additional garment cost.

DTF and digital methods often have lower MOQs, sometimes as few as 5–10 pieces, making them accessible for smaller teams or pilot projects. Embroidery typically requires digitising your logo first (a one-off setup cost of around $30–$80 depending on complexity), after which subsequent orders carry only the per-piece embroidery cost.

For a deeper dive into how pricing structures work across different order sizes, our guide to bulk pricing tiers for custom apparel is a helpful resource.

Selecting the Right AS Colour Style for Your Application

The AS Colour range spans a wide variety of garment styles, from simple staple tees through to hoodies, long-sleeves, polos, and tanks. Choosing the right style for your application will significantly affect both the visual impact of your branding and how well the garment is received by recipients.

Staple Tee and Heavy Tee

The AS Colour Staple Tee is arguably their most iconic product and the one most commonly used for custom branding. It’s a 180gsm, combed cotton regular-fit t-shirt that strikes the right balance between quality and affordability. The Heavy Tee steps up to 200gsm for a more substantial garment, which feels more premium in the hand and is well-suited to organisations that want their branded shirts to feel like a genuine wardrobe item rather than a promotional giveaway.

Crew Neck Sweats and Hoodies

For cooler climates or winter events — think Adelaide or Hobart conferences, or outdoor activations in Melbourne’s unpredictable weather — AS Colour’s fleece range offers the same quality proposition as their tees. Branded hoodies have become increasingly popular as corporate gifts and staff merchandise, particularly for tech companies and creative agencies looking to build team culture.

Polo Shirts and Workwear

AS Colour also offers polo shirts that are appropriate for more formal corporate or hospitality environments. For organisations needing something between casual tee and formal shirt, the polo provides a professional appearance while still allowing bold logo placement. See our guide to choosing between polo shirts and t-shirts for staff uniforms for a more detailed breakdown.

Artwork Requirements and Getting Your Design Print-Ready

A common source of delay in custom apparel orders is artwork that isn’t print-ready. To get the best result on an AS Colour shirt, your designer or in-house team should prepare files according to a few key principles.

Vector files (AI or EPS format) are preferred by most decorators for screen printing, as they can be scaled without loss of quality. For DTF or digital printing, high-resolution raster files (300dpi or higher at print size) are generally acceptable. Pantone (PMS) colour references help ensure accurate colour matching, particularly for brand-sensitive applications. Our artwork preparation guide for custom apparel orders covers these requirements in detail.

Most reputable decorators will provide a digital proof for approval before production begins — always review this carefully, as changes after approval may incur additional fees.

Practical Ordering Tips for Australian Organisations

Order samples first. Before committing to a bulk run, request a blank garment sample in your chosen size and colour. AS Colour samples are widely available through Australian decorators and distributors.
Plan for 10–15% extra. It’s common to order a small buffer above your confirmed headcount to account for last-minute additions, sizing changes, or replacements.
Build in lead time. Allow at least 10–15 business days for screen-printed orders, longer during peak periods (end of year, school term starts). Rush services are available but typically attract a premium.
Consolidate your order. If different departments or groups need shirts simultaneously, consolidating into one order often unlocks better per-unit pricing.
Store your setup fees. If your decorator charges screen setup fees, ask whether they retain the screens for future reorders — this can reduce costs on subsequent runs significantly.

For more on managing the end-to-end process, our step-by-step guide to placing a custom apparel order in Australia is a practical starting point.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways for Ordering AS Colour Shirts

The AS Colour shirt range has earned its place as a staple in Australian branded merchandise for good reason — consistent quality, excellent printability, and a contemporary aesthetic that recipients are proud to wear. Whether you’re ordering for a corporate team, a community event, or a long-running staff uniform program, making informed decisions about decoration methods, quantities, and artwork preparation will ensure you get the best possible result.

Here are the key points to remember:

AS Colour shirts are premium-quality blanks with consistent sizing, heavyweight cotton, and excellent colour range — ideal for organisations that prioritise longevity and presentation.
Screen printing is the most cost-effective method for larger runs (50+ pieces), while DTF and digital options suit smaller quantities or complex multi-colour designs.
Minimum order quantities and setup fees vary by decoration method — understanding these upfront helps you budget accurately and avoid surprises.
Artwork preparation is critical — submit vector or high-res files with PMS colour references to ensure your print quality matches your brand standards.
Plan ahead and order samples before committing to large quantities, especially if colour accuracy or fit is particularly important for your application.