Exhibit 99.1

HAMPSHIRE GROUP, LIMITED
STOCK SYMBOL:    HAMP                       FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:         CHARLES W. CLAYTON
PHONE:           (864) 231-1211
FACSIMILE:       (864) 225-4421

            HAMPSHIRE GROUP, LIMITED ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

Anderson,   South  Carolina,  May  9,  2005....Hampshire  Group,  Limited  today
announced  results for the first  quarter  ended  April 2, 2005.  Net sales were
$58,077,000  compared with $54,397,000 for the same period in the prior year, an
increase of 7%. Net income from  operations  was $748,000,  or $0.18 per diluted
share,  compared with $147,000,  or $0.03 per diluted share in the first quarter
of 2004.

The increases in sales and net income in the quarter are primarily  attributable
to the related separates  business.  In addition,  the net income comparison was
affected by $1.2 million charge ($720,000 after taxes) for incremental  custom's
charges for the first quarter of 2004. Because of the seasonality of the sweater
business,  which  accounts  for well over half of the  Company's  annual  sales,
results in the first quarter are not indicative of results for the full year.

Commenting on the first quarter,  Ludwig  Kuttner,  Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer, stated, "We are pleased to have been able to increase sales in what has
continued to be an extremely difficult retail  environment.  As we have reported
many times, our outstanding  team has a consistent focus on offering  attractive
merchandise to consumers while  supporting  retailers with quality products that
provide good margins."

Hampshire Group,  Limited is a diversified  apparel company,  believed to be the
largest  supplier of women's and men's  sweaters in North  America and a leading
supplier of women's related separates.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Cautionary Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains  forward-looking  statements,  within the meaning of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that reflect the Company's
current  views with respect to future  events.  Such  statements  are subject to
certain  risks and  uncertainties  which  could cause  actual  results to differ
materially  from those  projected.  Readers  are  cautioned  not to place  undue
reliance  on these  forward-looking  statements  which speak only as of the date
hereof.   The  Company   undertakes   no   obligation   to   republish   revised
forward-looking  statements to reflect  events or  circumstances  after the date
hereof or to reflect the occurrences of unanticipated  events.  Readers are also
urged to review and  consider  carefully  the  various  disclosures  made by the
Company in its Form 10-K and other Securities and Exchange  Commission  filings,
which  advise  interested  parties of the  factors  that  affect  the  Company's
business.





                            HAMPSHIRE GROUP, LIMITED
                         COMPARATIVE SUMMARY OF EARNINGS
                      (in thousands, except per share data)

                                                    April 2,      April 3,
QUARTER ENDED                                         2005         2004
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               
Net sales                                              $58,077       $54,397

Income from operations                                    $994          $119

Net income                                                $748          $147

Net income per share:                   Basic            $0.18         $0.04
                                        Diluted          $0.18         $0.03

Weighted average shares                 Basic            4,103         4,077
  outstanding:                          Diluted          4,125         4,204