Exhibit 23

               Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

We consent to the  incorporation  by reference in this Annual Report (Form 10-K)
of  Burlington  Industries,  Inc. and  Subsidiary  Companies of our report dated
November  1,  1996,  included  in the 1996  Annual  Report  to  Shareholders  of
Burlington Industries, Inc.

Our  audits  also  included  the  financial  statement  schedule  of  Burlington
Industries,  Inc. and Subsidiary  Companies listed in the accompanying  index to
financial  statements.  This  schedule is the  responsibility  of the  Company's
management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits. In
our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to above, when considered
in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole,  presents fairly
in all material respects the information set forth therein.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration  Statement
(Form S-3 No.  33-95350)  of  Burlington  Industries,  Inc.  and in the  related
Prospectus  of  our  report  dated  November  1,  1996,   with  respect  to  the
consolidated  financial  statements  incorporated  herein by  reference  and our
report included in the above  paragraph with respect to the financial  statement
schedule  included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) of  Burlington  Industries,
Inc.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements
(Form S-8 No.  33-49894)  pertaining  to the  Burlington  Industries,  Inc. 1992
Equity Incentive Plan and the Burlington Industries,  Inc. Equity Incentive Plan
and (Form S-8 No. 333-9501) pertaining to the Burlington  Industries,  Inc. 1995
Equity  Incentive  Plan of  Burlington  Industries,  Inc.  of our  report  dated
November  1,  1996,  with  respect  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements
incorporated  herein by reference and our report included in the above paragraph
with respect to the financial  statement schedule included in this Annual Report
(Form 10-K) of Burlington Industries, Inc.

/s/Ernst & Young LLP


Greensboro, North Carolina
December 16, 1996