EXHIBIT 99.1

DELTA APPAREL, INC. ANNOUNCES A 2-FOR-1 STOCK SPLIT

DULUTH,  Ga.--(BUSINESS  WIRE)--August 15, 2002-- Delta Apparel, Inc. (AMEX-DLA)
announced  today that its Board of Directors  has approved a 2-for-1 stock split
of the Company's common stock.

The stock split will take the form of a 100% stock dividend to each  shareholder
of record as of September 6, 2002, with a payment date of September 20, 2002. As
a result of the stock split,  the number of  outstanding  shares of common stock
will increase to approximately 4.0 million from approximately 2.0 million.

Robert W.  Humphreys,  President and CEO of Delta  Apparel,  stated "The Board's
decision to approve a stock split  recognizes  our  accomplishments  of the past
several years as well as the significant  opportunities that are ahead of us. We
are  committed  to  actions  that can  contribute  to the  total  return  to our
shareholders,  and believe this will enhance our  liquidity  and make our common
stock more attractive to a broader range of investors."

Delta Apparel, Inc. is a vertically integrated manufacturer and marketer of high
quality knit apparel.  The Company specializes in selling undecorated  T-shirts,
golf shirts and tank tops to  distributors,  screen  printers and private  label
accounts.  Delta  Apparel has  operations  in six states,  two  company-operated
sewing  facilities  in  Honduras  and one  company-operated  sewing  facility in
Mexico. The Company employs about 3,100 worldwide.

Statements  and other  information  in this press  release that are not reported
financial   results  or  other   historical   information  are   forward-looking
statements.  These are based on Delta Apparel's expectations and are necessarily
dependent  upon  assumptions,  estimates and data that the Company  believes are
reasonable  and  accurate  but  may  be  incorrect,   incomplete  or  imprecise.
Forward-looking  statements  are also subject to a number of business  risks and
uncertainties, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from
those set forth in or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and
uncertainties  include,  among others,  changes in the retail demand for apparel
products,  the cost of raw materials,  competitive conditions in the apparel and
textile industries, the relative strength of the United States dollar as against
other  currencies,  changes in United States trade regulations and the discovery
of unknown conditions (such as with respect to environmental matters and similar
items).  Accordingly,  any  forward-looking  statements  do  not  purport  to be
predictions  of future  events or  circumstances  and may not be  realized.  The
Company  does not  undertake  to publicly  update or revise the  forward-looking
statements  even if it becomes  clear  that any  projected  results  will not be
realized.

Contact: Delta Apparel, Inc.
         Herb Mueller 678/775-6948