GIL Gildan Activewear Inc

Gildan Activewear Inc. (TSX: GIL)(NYSE: GIL) today announced that President and CEO, Glenn J. Chamandy, has advised the Company that, between February 13, 2009 and February 23, 2009, he purchased an additional 1,602,400 shares at prices ranging from US$6.85 to US$7.38, bringing his total holdings to 10,056,000 shares or approximately 8.3% of Gildan's total common shares outstanding.

Profile

Gildan is a vertically-integrated marketer and manufacturer of quality branded basic apparel. The Company is the leading supplier of activewear for the screenprint channel in the U.S. and Canada. It is also a leading supplier to this market in Europe, and is establishing a growing presence in Mexico and the Asia-Pacific region. The Company sells T-shirts, sport shirts and fleece in large quantities to wholesale distributors as undecorated "blanks", which are subsequently decorated by screenprinters with designs and logos. Consumers ultimately purchase the Company's products, with the Gildan label, in venues such as sports, entertainment and corporate events, and travel and tourism destinations. The Company's products are also utilized for work uniforms and other end-uses to convey individual, group and team identity. The Company is also a leading supplier of private label and Gildan branded socks primarily sold to mass-market retailers. In addition, Gildan has an objective to become a significant supplier of men's and boys' underwear and undecorated activewear products to mass-market retailers in North America.

Contacts: Gildan Activewear Inc. Laurence G. Sellyn, Executive Vice-President, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer 514-343-8805 lsellyn@gildan.com Gildan Activewear Inc. Patrice Ouimet, Vice-President, Corporate Development and Enterprise Risk Management 514-340-8933 pouimet@gildan.com Gildan Activewear Inc. Benoit Leroux, Director, Corporate Development 514-343-8898 bleroux@gildan.com