8-K

UNITED STATESSECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSIONWASHINGTON, D.C. 20549FORM 8-KCURRENT REPORT PURSUANTTO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THESECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934DATE OF REPORT (Date of earliest event reported): January 12, 2009Delta Apparel, Inc.(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

	Georgia
	(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
1-15583		58-2508794
(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

2750 Premiere Parkway, Suite 100, Duluth, Georgia	30097
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

	(678) 775-6900
(Registrant's Telephone Number Including Area Code)

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below)

⃞ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

⃞ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

⃞ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

⃞ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 2.02.     Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On January 12, 2009, Delta Apparel, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release containing a preliminary discussion of the Company’s results of operations for the fiscal quarter ended December 27, 2008 and confirming the Company’s earnings guidance for the fiscal year ending June 27, 2009.  The press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information in this Form 8-K and the Exhibit attached hereto shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01.     Financial Statements and Exhibits.

          (d)  Exhibits.

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press release issued by Delta Apparel, Inc. on January 12, 2009

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

		DELTA APPAREL, INC.
Date:	January 12, 2009	/s/ Deborah H. Merrill
		Deborah H. Merrill
		Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press release dated January 12, 2009

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Delta Apparel Announces Preliminary Second Quarter 2009 Results

– Company Reports Second Quarter Revenue of Approximately $73 Million –

– Second Quarter Diluted EPS in Range of $0.05 to $0.06 –

DULUTH, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--January 12, 2009--Delta Apparel, Inc. (NYSE Alternext US: DLA) today announced preliminary financial results for the second quarter ended December 27, 2008 and updated its business outlook.

The Company currently expects second quarter revenues to be approximately $73 million, which would be an increase of approximately $4 million, or 6.0%, from the prior year’s second quarter. Earnings for the quarter ended December 27, 2008 are expected to be approximately $0.05 to $0.06 per diluted share. The Company reversed a portion of its tax valuation allowance on its state operating loss carryforwards, which will contribute approximately $0.04 per diluted share to its earnings for the quarter.

Robert W. Humphreys, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Although market conditions are less than ideal, our diversified channels of distribution and broad product offerings are resulting in sales and earnings growth for our Company over the prior year. Demand for undecorated basic tees slowed as the quarter progressed and this trend could continue into the second half of the year. We remain cautious about the retail conditions in the marketplace, but believe we are still positioned to achieve our sales and earnings goals for fiscal 2009.”

Fiscal 2009 Guidance

For the fiscal year ending June 27, 2009, the Company reiterates its expectation for net sales to be in the range of $340 million to $360 million and earnings to be in the range of $0.70 to $0.90 per diluted share. This compares to fiscal year 2008 sales of $322.0 million and a loss of ($0.06) per diluted share, inclusive of ($0.39) of costs associated with the textile restructuring plan.

The Company remains concerned about the general slowdown of the U.S. economy and consumer demand for apparel. The difficult retail climate has led to higher than normal bankruptcy rates by apparel retailers. This, coupled with weaker consumer demand, is an ongoing concern for the Company. In determining its expectations for fiscal year 2009, the Company believes it has taken into consideration these heightened risk factors; however, significant further deterioration in the economy may negatively impact the Company’s ability to achieve its expectations.

Mr. Humphreys concluded, “Despite the near-term economic challenges, we remain confident that we are building a strong platform for growth in each of our business segments and believe the competitive position and operational capabilities of our business remain healthy for the future.”

The Company plans to report fiscal 2009 second quarter results on Friday, January 30, 2009 before the market opens.

About Delta Apparel, Inc.

Delta Apparel, Inc., along with its wholly-owned subsidiaries, M. J. Soffe, LLC and Junkfood Clothing Company, is an international apparel design, manufacturing, sourcing and marketing company that features a diverse portfolio of high quality branded and private label activewear apparel. The Company specializes in selling a variety of casual and athletic products through almost every distribution channel for these types of apparel. Its products are sold to specialty and boutique shops, upscale and traditional department stores, mid-tier retailers, sporting goods stores, screen printers, and private label accounts. In addition, certain products are sold to college bookstores and to the U.S. military. Its products are also available direct to consumers on its websites at www.soffe.com, www.junkfoodforever.com, and www.deltaapparel.com. The Company's operations are located throughout the United States, Honduras, El Salvador, and Mexico, and it employs approximately 6,700 people worldwide. Additional information about the Company is available at www.deltaapparelinc.com.

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 our expectations and are necessarily dependent upon assumptions, estimates and data that we believe 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. The risks and uncertainties include, among others, the general U.S. and international economic conditions; changes in consumer confidence, consumer spending, and demand for apparel products; the ability of our brands and products to meet consumer preferences within the prevailing retail environment; the tightening of credit markets and our ability to operate and grow our business with our existing financing arrangements; the financial difficulties encountered by our customers and higher credit risk exposure; the competitive conditions in the apparel and textile industries; changes in environmental, tax, trade, employment and other laws and regulations; the uncertainty of raw material and energy prices; the relative strength of the United States dollar as against other currencies; and other risks described from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, any forward-looking statements do not purport to be predictions of future events or circumstances and may not be realized. We do not undertake publicly to update or revise the forward-looking statements even if it becomes clear that any projected results will not be realized.

CONTACT:
Company Contact:
Delta Apparel
Deborah Merrill, 864-232-5200 x6620
Chief Financial Officer
or
Investor Relations Contact:
Brendon Frey, 203-682-8200
Integrated Corporate Relations