Gildan
Clothing
Founded in Canada in 1984. Owns and operates manufacturing facilities in Rio Nance, Honduras and the Caribbean. Acquired American Apparel in 2017 and HanesBrands in 2025.

Overall

Owned CAN
Rating C+
About the Ratings
Gildan Activewear Inc
CAN

Company Assessment

(Last updated Dec 2025)
Gildan Activewear Inc
Praise
CDP Climate Change score of A-
In 2024, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change score of A-.
Source: CDP (2024)
46/100 in What Fuels Fashion?
The 2025 special edition of the Fashion Transparency Index, What Fuels Fashion? (second edition), ranked 200 of the world's largest fashion brands on disclosure of their climate and energy-related policies, practices and impacts in their own operations & supply chains. Brands owned by this company scored 46%. The average score was 14% and the highest score was 71%.
COVID Fashion Commitments
In 2020 Baptist World Aid Australia released The COVID Fashion Report, a special edition of their Ethical Fashion Report. The report is framed around six COVID Fashion Commitments that ask companies to demonstrate the steps and measures they are taking to protect and support the most vulnerable workers in their supply chains. This company showed evidence of actions that cover ALL areas of the COVID Fashion Commitments.
12/20 in Social Benchmark
The 2024 Social Benchmark assesses the world's 2,000 most influential companies on their responsibility in meeting society's fundamental expectations towards three measurement areas: respecting human rights, providing decent work, and acting ethically. This company was assessed in 2022 and received a score of 12/20. The average score was an alarmingly low 4.6/20 and the highest score was 15.5/20.
CDP Water Security score of B
In 2024, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to manage and govern freshwater resources. Responding companies are scored on six key metrics: transparency; governance & strategy; measuring & monitoring; risk assessment; targets & goals; and value chain engagement. This company received a CDP Water Security score of B.
Source: CDP (2024)
54/100 in Fashion Transparency Index
The 2023 Fashion Transparency Index reviewed 250 of the world's largest fashion brands and retailers and ranked them according to how much they disclose about their human rights and environmental policies, practices and impacts. Brands owned by this company scored 54%, signifying that it is publishing detailed supplier lists and the vast majority of policies, procedures and future goals. The average score was 26% and the highest score was 83%.
Transparency Pledge
The Apparel and Footwear Supply Chain Transparency Pledge (Transparency Pledge) helps demonstrate apparel and footwear companies' commitment towards greater transparency in their manufacturing supply chain. Transparency of a company's manufacturing supply chain better enables a company to collaborate with civil society in identifying, assessing, and avoiding actual or potential adverse human rights impacts. This is a critical step that strengthens a company's human rights due diligence. This company is fully aligned with the Transparency Pledge, thereby committing to regularly publish on its website a list naming all sites that manufacture its products.
35.4% in Nature Benchmark
The Nature Benchmark ranks 816 companies across 20 industries on their efforts to protect our environment and its biodiversity. Companies were assessed in three phases between 2022 and 2024 using three measurement areas: governance and strategy; social inclusion and community impact; and ecosystems and biodiversity. This company was assessed in 2022 and is ranked #39/816, with a total score of 35.4/100.
Low ESG Risk
Sustainalytics, a top ESG research firm, evaluates environmental, social, and governance risks for over 16,000 companies. Its ESG Risk Rating reflects how much risk a company faces in its industry and how well it manages those risks. The final score includes both unmanaged and unmanageable risks, and companies are rated on a scale from negligible (0-10) to severe (40+). This company received an ESG Risk Rating of 10.8, placing it in the "low risk" category (retrieved April 2025).
60/100 in TIME rankings
World's Most Sustainable Companies of 2025 by TIME and Statista recognises the Top 500 most sustainable companies in the world. From a selection of 5,000 of the world's largest companies, non-sustainable businesses were excluded, and the remaining companies were rated on Commitment & Ratings, Reporting & Transparency, and Environmental & Social Stewardship. This company received a total score of 60/100, ranking 393th overall.
Source: TIME (2025)
Criticism
36% in Cotton Rankings
The 2025 Cotton Rankings, published by Solidaridad, assessed the cotton sourcing of 100 fashion brands and ranked them on their efforts to source certified cotton (such as Better Cotton, organic, and recycled cotton), and compares how each brand balances its use of farm grown cotton with fossil based fibres. This company sources 36% of its cotton from certified sources, and ranked 31st for its use of cotton vs synthetics.
Information
Wage theft in Haiti
This 2013 report by the Workers Rights Consortium reveals that the majority of Haitian garment workers are being denied nearly a third of the wages they are legally due as a result of the factories' theft of their income. Wages for garment industry workers in Haiti are already among the lowest in the world. This company was named as being complicit in this wage theft. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Failure to sign International Accord
This company has been called out by the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) for not signing the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile & Garment Industry. All of the brands that have not yet signed the Accord continue to put workers' lives at risk and CCC urge them to sign on as soon as possible.
FLA Accredited
When joining the Fair Labor Association (FLA) this company committed to promoting and complying with international labor standards throughout their supply chain. The FLA does not accredit the company itself; rather, they accredit the company's labor compliance program. Being granted accreditation implies that their workplace standards program is substantially in compliance with the FLA Code.
Sustainable Apparel Coalition member
This company is a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, a multi-stakeholder initiative launched in March 2011 by a group of global apparel and footwear companies and non-profit organizations (representing nearly one third of the global market share for apparel and footwear). The Coalition's goals are to reduce the apparel industry's environmental and social impact, and to develop a universal index to measure environmental and social performance of apparel products.
Responsibility claims
This company has extensive corporate responsibility claims on its website under the headings of community engagement, environmental stewardship, empowering people and product safety.
CDP Forests score of C
In 2024, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts towards removing commodity-driven deforestation and forest degradation from its direct operations and supply chains. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Forests score of C.
Source: CDP (2024)
Modern Slavery statement
California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.
23.4% in Human Rights Benchmark
The 2023 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark assessed 55 companies in the apparel sector on their human rights performance. This company received a score of 23.4%. The overall average score was a disappointing 18.2% and the highest score was 53.4%.
BHRRC company profile
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre digital platform presents news and allegations relating to the human rights impact of over 20,000 companies. Their enhanced Company Dashboards also include financial information, key data points based on corporate policies, and scores from prominent civil society benchmarks. Follow the link and use the search function to view this company's dashboard.
32/100 in KnowTheChain Benchmark
In 2023 KnowTheChain benchmarked 65 apparel and footwear companies on their efforts to identify and tackle forced labour risks in their supply chains. This company received a score of 32/100. The average score was 21/100 and the highest score was 63/100.
50/100 in Ethical Fashion Report
Baptist World Aid Australia's '2024 Ethical Fashion Report' assessed 120 companies on their efforts to mitigate against the risks of forced labour, child labour and worker exploitation in their supply chains, as well as protect the environment from the harmful impacts of the fashion industry. Assessment criteria fall into five main categories: policy & governance, tracing & risk, auditing and supplier relationships, worker empowerment and environmental sustainability. This company received a score of 50/100. The average score was 31.3 and the highest score was 90.
38% in Gender Benchmark
In 2023 and 2024, the World Benchmarking Alliance assessed 2,000 companies on their efforts to drive gender equality and women's empowerment across their entire value chain. Companies are assessed on governance and strategy, representation, compensation and benefits, health and well-being, and violence and harassment. This company scored 38 out of 100. The average score was 15.3 and the highest score was 51.
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Company Details

Type:
Public company
Founded:
1984
Revenue:
3.3 billion USD (2024)
Employees:
50,000 (2024)
Subsidiaries:
Gildan Brands Australia Pty Ltd
Clothing
Hanesbrands Inc
Basic apparel
Part of Sara Lee until 2006. Acquired Australia's Pacific Brands in 2016 for AU$1.1 billion, Bras N Things in 2018 for $500 million. Acquired by Gildan in 2025 for US$2.2 billion.
Hanes Australasia Ltd
Underwear and bedding
Formerly Pacific Brands. Sold its workwear division to Wesfarmers in 2014 and Brand Collective division to Anchorage Capital in 2015. In 2016 US clothing giant Hanesbrands acquired the two remaining divisions of underwear (Bonds, Berlei, etc) and bedding (Sheridan, Tontine) for $1.1 billion. Hanesbrands has since sold off Tontine and Dunlop Flooring.
Bras N Things Pty Ltd
Lingerie and active wear
Established in 1987 by Brett Blundy. Women's lingerie, sleepwear and swimwear, primarily designed and marketed under in-house labels. More than 180 stores across Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Products are designed in Australia and produced in Asia. Acquired by HanesBrands in 2018.
Sheridan Australia Pty Ltd
Textiles, furniture and homewares
Established in 1967. CHAMP Private Equity acquired the company in 2000 and moved production from Australia to China. Pacific Brands took over the company in 2005 and Hanesbrands bought Pacific Brands in 2016, including Sheridan. Added furniture and homewares to its core textiles range in 2017.

Contact Details

Address:
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Website:
www.gildancorp.com

Products / Brands

Gildan Brands Australia
Alstyle Everyday Apparel
American Apparel Everyday Apparel
Comfort Colors Everyday Apparel
Gildan Everyday Apparel
Gold Toe Underwear/Socks/Sleepwear
Hanesbrands
Bali Intimate Apparel
Hanes Underwear/Socks/Sleepwear
Knights Apparel Sportswear
Maidenform Intimate Apparel
Wonderbra Intimate Apparel
Hanes Australasia
Barely There Intimate Apparel
Berlei Intimate Apparel
Bonds Childrenswear
Bonds Everyday Apparel
Bonds Hosiery
Bonds Underwear/Socks/Sleepwear
Bonds Babywear
Bonds Hosiery
Bonds Underwear & Socks
Bonds Intimate Apparel
Bonds Menswear (casual)
Explorer Underwear/Socks/Sleepwear
Explorer Underwear & Socks
Hestia Intimate Apparel
Holeproof Underwear/Socks/Sleepwear
Holeproof Underwear & Socks
L'eggs Hosiery
Platinum Hosiery
Playtex Intimate Apparel
Razzamatazz Hosiery
Razzamatazz Hosiery
Red Robin Underwear/Socks/Sleepwear
Rio Underwear/Socks/Sleepwear
Rio Underwear & Socks
Sheer Relief Hosiery
Sheer Relief Hosiery
Voodoo Hosiery
Wicked Hosiery
Wicked Hosiery
Bras N Things
Bras N Things Intimate Apparel