Gildan's Community Investment is About Setting Roots Where it Operates
Gildan is a leading global company, producing active wear for the Canadian and US screen-print markets, but it's not a household name. It should be. Headquartered in Montreal, once the centre of textile and fashion industry in Canada, with approximately 30,000 employees worldwide, the company has a strong presence in countries such as Honduras, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Bangladesh and Haiti. As a "vertically-integrated manufacturer," Gildan products begin with yarn spinning facilities and include sewing, distribution centres and sales offices. The company has direct control over most of its supply chain, thereby enabling better oversight of the environmental and social performance throughout the manufacturing process.
Gildan has impressive accomplishments in employee engagement (including working conditions), operational sustainability, and sustainable sourcing. However, it is the company's community involvement, which is a story worth sharing. Gildan works as part of the communities where it operates, leaning on employees' knowhow and input to drive projects that aim to elevate quality of life.
Building community relations starts with employees
One of the reasons Gildan has likely seen positive community engagement is due to the common practice of building a local management team. According to the company's website the rationale is quite simple: "We have always placed emphasis on putting in place well-educated and highly motivated local management teams as the most effective way to develop and implement best practices in our manufacturing facilities." Over 60% of global director level and up positions represent local management.
