DELTA APPAREL, INC. COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF M.J. SOFFE CO.

DULUTH,  Ga.--(BUSINESS  WIRE)--October 3, 2003--Delta Apparel,  Inc. (AMEX-DLA)
reports today that it has completed the previously announced  acquisition of all
of the outstanding capital stock of M. J. Soffe Co.

Delta Apparel also announces today that it has entered into $78.5 million
aggregate revolving credit facilities with Congress Financial. After the
purchase of M. J. Soffe, the Company will have an aggregate of approximately
$59.5 million outstanding under the revolving lines of credit with approximately
$19.0 million of aggregate credit availability.

M. J. Soffe was founded in 1946 and has a long history of profitability and
growth in the branded activewear market. For the twelve months ended December
31, 2002 Soffe had sales of approximately $100 million and served four distinct
channels of distribution. The Soffe brand is well recognized at specialty
sporting goods stores and department stores. In addition to these retail
channels, Soffe also supplies college bookstores and has a long history of
producing activewear products for the U.S. Military. M. J. Soffe Co. employs
about 1,400 in the United States.

Delta Apparel, Inc. is a vertically integrated manufacturer and marketer of high
quality knit apparel. Apart from the M. J. Soffe operations, the Company
specializes in selling undecorated T-shirts, golf shirts and activewear tops to
screen printers, private label accounts and distributors; has operations in six
states, two company-operated sewing facilities in Honduras and one
company-operated sewing facility in Mexico; and employs about 3,200 worldwide.

Contact: Delta Apparel, Inc.
Herb Mueller      678/775-6900