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. of our report dated October 30, 1997, included in
the 1997 Annual Report to Shareholders of Burlington Industries, Inc.

Our  audits  also  included  the  financial  statement  schedule  of  Burlington
Industries,  Inc. 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  October  30,  1997,   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  Statement
(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. 333-09501) pertaining to the Burlington Industries,  Inc. 1995
Equity Incentive Plan of Burlington Industries, Inc. of our report dated October
30, 1997, 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 12, 1997