Gildan Activewear, the big Canadian-based licensed sportswear company, won the auction for the brand and other assets of American Apparel for $88 million against other bidders. Amazon was considering making a bid, according to the Wall Street Journal, but did not. Gildan is not buying American Apparel's network of 110 retail stores nor its three factories, which employ 3,500 workers, but it will take over some manufacturing equipment. Gildan plans to integrate American Apparel with its own print-wear business, leveraging its manufacturing capacities and its distribution network in North America and the rest of the world. It has been investing in expanded production in Honduras, Bangladesh and, more recently, Mexico.

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