Gildan Activewear crushed all comers in the custom t-shirt market closing out 2009 with a 65% share. The Gildan rise to market dominance is one of the greatest corporate stories in the last 15 years. Prior to Gildan’s rise to fame Fruit of the Loom was the dominant player in the custom t-shirt market. Beset by hard times, the traditionally solid underwear maker became an after-thought for most companies that make customized t-shirts. Lower margins and management that was asleep at the wheel relegated FOL to the bottom of the barrel. Product became scarce and consumers didn’t demand the product. When Fruit was absorbed into the Berkshire Hathaway family run by Warren Buffet, many insiders thought better days were ahead. Apparently not even Buffett himself could save this monolith. Fruit has tried to make a comeback with new offerings but the damage has been done. With a meager 4% share of the custom tshirt market in 2009 Fruit is truly a has-been.

Gildan saw the crack in the door and blew the competition away with a better quality custom t-shirt, with better colors than all of the other names in the business.  Our Gildan custom t-shirts are always on sale.

Call customer service for the best advice at 800-709-2380.

02/03/2010