Exhibit 23




             CONSENT OF McGLADREY & PULLEN, LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITOR



We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in Cone Mills  Corporation's
Registration  Statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 33-31979;  33-51951; and 33-51953) of
our report dated May 1, 2002  appearing  in this Annual  Report on Form 11-K for
The  401(k)  Program  (Hourly)  of Cone  Mills  Corporation  for the year  ended
December 31, 2001.




MCGLADREY & PULLEN, LLP


Greensboro, North Carolina

June 25, 2002