Bear Grips Pro ShopsBella+Canvas Triblend and CVC Tees: What Is the Actual Difference
- Triblend is a cotton, polyester, and rayon blend with a soft, heathered finish.
- CVC is a cotton-majority polyester blend built to resist shrinking and hold shape.
- Both blends print differently than 100% cotton, with a slightly softer, more vintage hand feel.
- Bear Grips carries a ringspun cotton Bella+Canvas tee, plus Next Level triblend options in the wider catalog.
Triblend and CVC are two fabric blends that show up constantly in Bella+Canvas searches, and the two terms get confused often. Here is what each one actually is, and where to find each fabric feel in the Bear Grips catalog.
What Triblend Actually Is
Triblend fabric combines cotton, polyester, and rayon. The result is a lighter weight, softer hand feel, and a subtle heathered, marled color effect that solid cotton cannot replicate. It also tends to drape more than 100% cotton, which is why it shows up so often on relaxed, athleisure-leaning tees.
What CVC Actually Is
CVC stands for Chief Value Cotton, a blend that is majority cotton with a smaller percentage of polyester, usually in a 60/40 or similar ratio. The polyester component reduces shrinkage and helps the garment hold its shape wash after wash, while still feeling close to 100% cotton.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.Triblend vs CVC Side by Side
| Triblend | CVC | |
|---|---|---|
| Composition | Cotton, polyester, rayon | Cotton-majority, polyester |
| Feel | Very soft, lightweight, drapey | Close to 100% cotton, more shape-stable |
| Look | Heathered, marled | Closer to a solid cotton look |
| Best for | Relaxed lifestyle tees | Everyday tees that need to hold shape over time |
Where to Find Each Fabric Feel in the Bear Grips Catalog
The Bella+Canvas Women's Favorite Tee is a ringspun cotton piece, not a triblend or CVC blend. For a true triblend feel, the catalog's Next Level lineup carries the Men's Premium Triblend Crew Tee and Women's Premium Triblend Racerback Tank, both $23.88-$25.88 VIP base. For a CVC-style blend, the Next Level Premium CVC Jersey Tee runs $24.88 VIP base.
Choosing Between Cotton, Triblend, and CVC
Pick 100% cotton (the Bella+Canvas Women's Favorite Tee) for the softest print surface and cleanest solid colors. Pick triblend for the lightest, most drapey feel and a heathered look. Pick CVC when the priority is a garment that holds its shape and resists shrinking over repeated washes while still feeling mostly like cotton.
Pick the Right Blend
Cotton, triblend, or CVC, all available across the Bear Grips catalog.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Is triblend softer than 100% cotton?
Generally yes, triblend tends to feel lighter and softer due to the rayon content, though it also drapes and stretches differently.
Does CVC shrink less than 100% cotton?
Yes, that is the main advantage of a CVC blend. The polyester content helps the garment resist shrinking and hold its shape.
Is the Bella+Canvas Women's Favorite Tee a triblend?
No. It is a ringspun cotton tee. For triblend, the catalog's Next Level pieces are the closest match.
Does a triblend or CVC print differently than cotton?
Both take a print slightly differently than 100% cotton, generally with a softer, more worn-in look on the finished graphic. The shop builder mockup shows how a design will look on the specific fabric before printing.
