GIL

Gildan Activewear Inc.

A maker of everyday basics, Gildan produces T-shirts, sweatshirts, and socks sold under its own brands like American Apparel and GOLDTOE, and supplies blank apparel used by screen printers worldwide. It grew out of a Montreal children's-wear business when brothers Glenn and Greg Chamandy bought a knitting mill in 1984. The name Gildan combines the first names of two of the company's salesmen, Gilbert and Danny.