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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.2

                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

   
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in Amendment
No. 1 to the Registration Statement (Form S-4 No.333-58855) and related Joint
Proxy Statement/Prospectus of Dan River Inc. for the registration of 4,800,000
shares of its common stock and to the incorporation by reference therein of our
report dated February 4, 1998, with respect to the consolidated financial
statements of Dan River Inc. incorporated by reference in its Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended January 3, 1998 and related financial statement
schedule included therein, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
    

                                          /s/ Ernst & Young LLP
                                          ---------------------------
                                          Ernst & Young LLP
   
Greensboro, North Carolina
August 17, 1998