American Apparel BB408W - Unisex Poly-Cotton Tank - Lapis

The American Apparel BB408W is a 3.7 oz unisex poly-cotton tank built on a 50/50 combed ring-spun cotton and polyester body. The 50/50 blend sits between a cotton tee and a performance tank: lighter and cooler than a pure cotton body, with enough cotton content that screen printing and DTF produce a clean, wearable result on the smooth face. It is the go-to blank for group runs, event programs, spirit week tanks, and fitness or studio orders where buyers want the American Apparel name and a slim, clean silhouette at a wholesale price point. The rib trim at the neckline and armholes finishes the garment neatly, the 7/8-inch double-needle bottom hem adds durability, and side seams shape the slim fit. The double-satin razor label eliminates the scratchy neck tag. Sizes run XS through 2XL across a 12-colour range that includes flat solids, dual-tone heathers, and neon heather shades for high-visibility event programs.

The 50/50 blend sets the decoration rules for the BB408W, and knowing them prevents a ruined run. DTF transfer is the most forgiving route across all 12 colours: the film bonds to the poly-cotton face at standard heat-press settings and reads consistently across the solid, heather, and neon heather shades without the dye-migration risk that full polyester carries. For screen printing, the 50/50 body requires a low-bleed polyester-blocking underbase under light inks on dark and saturated grounds, and cure temperatures want to stay at the lower end of the plastisol window to limit dye migration; the smooth face then holds a clean, full-opacity print on top. For vinyl and HTV, a light flexible transfer at a moderate temperature presses cleanly and moves with the slim body without cracking. For DTG, the 50% cotton content means pre-treatment holds and the ink bonds, but the 50% polyester reduces vibrancy versus a full-cotton body, so white underbase on the dark and deep grounds is non-negotiable and results are best on the lighter solid colours. For embroidery, the rib trim at the neck and armholes is not ideal for needle placement near the edge, but a left-chest or centre-chest design on the flat body area works well with a cut-away backing and a moderate stitch count. Discharge and sublimation are not suitable: the 50% polyester blocks a clean discharge strip, and the 50% cotton prevents sublimation dye from fully bonding.

• Brand: American Apparel
• Style: BB408W (Unisex Poly-Cotton Tank)
• Fabric: 50% combed ring-spun cotton / 50% polyester
• Weight: 3.7 oz/yd2
• Construction: Rib trim at neckline and armholes, 7/8-inch double-needle bottom hem, side-seamed, double-satin razor label
• Fit: Unisex slim fit, crew neck with rib trim
• Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL
• Colors available: 12 colours including flat solids, dual-tone heathers, and neon heather shades (check current availability on the product page)
• Ordering: available by the piece or by the case; confirm current packing per case for your colour and size before a large order
• Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry low

The one critical planning note for decorated runs on the BB408W: the heather and neon heather colours carry a higher effective polyester ratio in the yarn blend than the flat solids, which means dye migration risk is elevated on those shades. If a run mixes flat solids and heathers in the same print job, use the poly-blocking underbase across the whole batch rather than switching settings between colours mid-run. For solid-colour orders where buyers want a clean cotton discharge hand or bright DTG without an underbase, cross-shop the Bella + Canvas 6488 Women's Relaxed Jersey Tank or the Bella + Canvas B8800 Flowy Racerback Tank, both 100% cotton-face blanks better suited to discharge and full-saturation DTG. TheClothingSpace stocks the BB408W at wholesale pricing with bulk discounts that increase as case and unit quantities rise, among the lowest prices online for this style, with fast US shipping on stocked colours.

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