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                                                                      EXHIBIT 23



CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the use of our report,
dated December 22, 1998, included in Oneita Industries, Inc.'s Form 10K for the
year ended September 26, 1998, and to the incorporation by reference of our
report into the Company's previously filed Registration Statements on Form S-8
(Registration No. 33-30576, 33-34778, 33-62970 and 33-75834) and Registration
Statements on Form S-3 (Registration Nos. 33-88600 and 33-70524), and to all
references to our Firm included in these Registration Statements.


/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP



Columbia, South Carolina,
January 22, 1999