Gildan

Gildan Activewear is a Canadian manufacturer of undecorated activewear and socks, founded in 1984 and listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges. It acquired American Apparel in 2017 and HanesBrands in a deal completed in December 2025.

What is Gildan?

Gildan Activewear is a publicly traded manufacturer that makes blank T-shirts, hoodies and fleeces for screen printers and wholesalers, plus athletic, casual and dress socks. It was founded in 1984 by brothers Glenn and Greg Chamandy with the purchase of a knitting mill in Montreal, and went public in 1998.

Products and positioning

Gildan is primarily a business-to-business supplier of undecorated apparel, sold to wholesalers and screen printers in the United States and Canada, with socks sold to US retailers. It also makes socks for Under Armour and New Balance. Manufacturing is in Honduras, Haiti and the Caribbean.

Acquisitions

• Anvil (2012)
• Doris Hosiery (2014)
• Comfort Colors (2015)
• PEDS Legwear (2016)
• American Apparel (2017, US$88 million)
• HanesBrands (announced August 2025, US$2.2 billion in the source reviewed, completed 1 December 2025)

Leadership

Vince Tyra was appointed chief executive effective 12 February 2024, amid a shareholder dispute over the dismissal of Glenn Chamandy. The sources reviewed do not confirm the current position, so 2026 leadership is not stated.

Why it matters

With HanesBrands, Gildan combines two of the largest North American volume apparel suppliers, which is significant for the basics and promotional apparel markets.

Frequently asked questions

Who owns Gildan?

Gildan is a publicly traded company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the NYSE, so it has no single parent group.

Where is Gildan from?

Gildan is from Canada. It was founded in 1984 by Glenn and Greg Chamandy with the purchase of a knitting mill in Montreal.

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