Exhibit 5.1

[Letterhead of Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP]

December 18, 2019

Delta Apparel, Inc.

322 South Main Street

Greenville, South Carolina 29601

Re:    Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Delta Apparel, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on the date hereof. The Registration Statement relates to the proposed offer and sale by the Company by the Company from time to time of the following securities: (a) shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”); (b) one or more series of shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Preferred Stock”); (c) one or more series of debt securities (the “Debt Securities”); (d) warrants to purchase debt securities, common stock or preferred stock (the “Warrants”); and (e) units comprised of two or more of the foregoing securities (the “Units”). Collectively, the Common Stock, the Preferred Stock, the Debt Securities, the Warrants and the Units are referred to herein as the “Securities.” The Securities may be offered separately or together with other Securities, in separate series, in amounts, at prices, and on terms to be set forth in supplements to the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement (collectively, the “Prospectus”). The Registration Statement provides that if so indicated in the Prospectus, the Debt Securities and the Preferred Stock may be convertible or exchangeable into other securities or property, including Common Stock and Preferred Stock.

The Debt Securities will be issued pursuant to one or more indentures between the Company and the trustee party thereto (collectively, the “Indentures”), the Warrants will be issued in one or more series pursuant to one or more warrant agreements (collectively, the “Warrant Agreements”) between the Company and the warrant agent party thereto, and the Units will be issued pursuant to one or more unit agreements (collectively, the “Unit Agreements”) between the Company and the unit agent party thereto.

This opinion is delivered to you pursuant to Item 16 of Form S-3 and Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the 1933 Act. This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the 1933 Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issuance of the Securities.

As the Company’s counsel, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, each as amended to date, and minutes and records of the corporate proceedings of the Company relating


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December 18, 2019

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to the filing of the Registration Statement and the issuance of the Securities, as provided to us by the Company, certificates of public officials and of representatives of the Company, and statutes and other instruments and documents, as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed. In rendering this opinion, we have relied upon certificates of public officials and representatives of the Company with respect to the accuracy of the factual matters contained in such certificates.

In connection with such examination, we have assumed: (a) the genuineness of all signatures and the legal capacity of all signatories; (b) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies; (c) that each of the Debt Securities, the Indentures, the Warrant Agreements, or the Unit Agreements constitutes the enforceable obligation of the parties thereto other than the Company; and (d) the proper issuance and accuracy of certificates of public officials and representatives of the Company.

Based on and subject to the foregoing, and subject to completion of all corporate action required to be taken by the Company to authorize each proposed issuance of Securities (including the due reservation of any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock upon conversion or exchange of any other Securities), and having regard for such legal considerations as we deem relevant, it is our opinion that:

1.    With respect to Debt Securities to be issued under one or more Indentures, when (a) the related Indenture and the applicable supplement thereto, if any, has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the trustee thereunder and (b) the Debt Securities have been executed, issued, delivered and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement against the receipt of requisite consideration therefor provided for therein, the Debt Securities will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company.

2.    With respect to Common Stock, when the shares of Common Stock are authorized by all requisite actions on the part of the Company and issued and delivered in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement against the receipt of requisite consideration therefor provided for therein, such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

3.    With respect to Preferred Stock, when (a) the Articles of Amendment of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation setting forth the terms of the Preferred Stock to be issued have been duly authorized by all requisite actions on the part of the Company and duly filed with the office of the Secretary of State of Georgia, (b) the shares of Preferred Stock have been issued and delivered in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement against the receipt of requisite consideration therefor provided for therein, the shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

4.    With respect to Common Stock or Preferred Stock to be issued upon conversion of the Debt Securities or Preferred Stock, when (a) if applicable, the Articles of Amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation setting forth the terms of the Preferred Stock to be issued has been duly authorized by all requisite actions on the part of the Company and duly


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filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Georgia and (b) such Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, has been issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the applicable Debt Securities or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, such shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

5.    With respect to the Warrants, when (a) a Warrant Agreement relating to the Warrants has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and each party thereto, (b) the terms of the Warrants have been established in accordance with the Warrant Agreement and (c) the Warrants have been executed and delivered in accordance with the related Warrant Agreement and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement against the receipt of requisite consideration therefor provided therein, the Warrants will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company.

6.    With respect to the Units, when (a) a Unit Agreement relating to the Units has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and each party thereto, (b) the terms of the Units have been established in accordance with the Unit Agreement, (c) the Units and have been executed and delivered in accordance with the related Unit Agreement and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement against the receipt of requisite consideration therefor provided therein, the Units will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company.

7.    With respect to Common Stock or Preferred Stock to be issued upon exercise, exchange or otherwise pursuant to the terms of the Warrant Agreements or Unit Agreements, when (a) if applicable, the Articles of Amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation setting forth the terms of the Preferred Stock to be issued has been duly authorized by all requisite actions on the part of the Company and duly filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Georgia and (b) such Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, has been issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the applicable Warrant Agreement or Unit Agreement, as the case may be, against the receipt of requisite consideration therefor provided for therein, such shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

The opinions set forth above in paragraphs 1, 5, and 6 are each subject to (a) the effect of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, arrangement or similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors’ generally, including the effect of statutory or other laws regarding fraudulent transfers or preferential transfers, and (b) general principles of equity, including concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. We express no opinion regarding the effectiveness of (i) any waiver of stay, extension or usury laws or of unknown future rights; or (ii) provisions relating to indemnification, exculpation or contribution, to the extent such provisions may be held unenforceable as contrary to federal or state securities laws.

This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Georgia, and we are expressing no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction.


Delta Apparel, Inc.

December 18, 2019

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This opinion is rendered as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to advise you of any changes in applicable law or any other matters that may come to our attention after the date hereof.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to any reference to the name of our firm in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP