The FTC Just Pushed Gildan to Free Up T-Shirt Pricing for Small Shops — What Printers Should Do

If you buy blank T-shirts for printing, embroidery or resale, a contract between your supplier and a giant distributor may have been shaping the prices you see. On October 8, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission announced that Gildan Activewear and wholesale distributor S&S Holdings amended their agreement after an FTC investigation, and the agency closed the probe.

What the FTC says happened

According to the FTC's press release, the agency opened an investigation after learning that S&S's contract with Gildan barred Gildan from offering certain pricing and discounts that it gave S&S to S&S's competitors. Gildan is a T-shirt manufacturer. S&S is a major wholesale T-shirt distributor.

The FTC examined Gildan under Section 2(a) of the Robinson-Patman Act, which covers certain price discrimination by sellers. It examined S&S under Section 2(f), which covers knowingly inducing or receiving prohibited price discrimination.

The two companies then changed their agreement. The new language states that nothing in it "restricts or restrains Gildan's discretion to set prices or offer partnership support." The FTC closed its investigation and posted a public letter from Gildan confirming the amendment.

What it did not include

The release lists no dollar amounts, fines or penalties, and it does not describe a formal court or administrative order. The resolution is the contract change and the closing of the investigation. The release also does not mention screen printers or describe any specific effect on them, so no one can promise that your own wholesale prices will fall.

Why the FTC is talking about this now

The announcement followed a settlement the prior week with Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits, described as the largest U.S. wine and spirits distributor. The FTC's release says that was the first Robinson-Patman Act case resolved by a federal enforcement agency in more than 20 years. Two actions in two weeks suggest the agency is again using a law many owners had assumed was dormant.

FTC Bureau of Competition Director Daniel Guarnera said that "Congress has prohibited unfair and discriminatory pricing practices that favor big businesses and box out small businesses." He added that the FTC "will not hesitate to enforce the law" when a large firm forces sellers to give its competitors worse prices.

What this means if you buy blanks

The practical takeaway is narrow but useful. A supplier that is free to set its own prices can, in principle, offer a better deal to buyers who ask. A contract that once held it back no longer does, at least between these two companies.

• Ask for a quote. If you buy Gildan products through any channel, ask your supplier or Gildan directly whether volume or program pricing is available to you.
• Compare distributors. Get at least two or three quotes for the same SKUs, including shipping, before your next restock.
• Document what you are offered. Keep dated quotes and invoices. If you ever believe a competitor is getting meaningfully better terms for the same goods, those records are your starting point.

A quick primer on the Robinson-Patman Act

The Act, passed in 1936, targets certain price discrimination between competing buyers of the same goods. It is complicated, and not every price difference is illegal. Volume discounts, for example, can be lawful. If you think you are being treated unfairly by a supplier, talk to an attorney rather than relying on a news summary, and consider reporting concerns to the FTC.

Protect your margins while you wait

Even if pricing improves, build your quotes on real costs. A clean profit and loss statement shows how much blank costs actually move your margin. If you resell blanks across state lines, keep your business license and resale paperwork current. Printers who run through a personal account should consider a separate business bank account so every supplier invoice is easy to track.

If you are a sole proprietor buying in volume, it may also be a good time to review whether an LLC fits your risk, since larger purchase commitments increase what you have on the line.

The bottom line

The FTC's Gildan action is small in scope: a contract change and a closed investigation, with no fines. But it signals that enforcers are watching how big distributors shape supplier pricing. If blank apparel is a major cost for your shop, use this moment to ask for better terms and get competing quotes.

Photo by Anthony Roberts on Unsplash