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                                                                     Exhibit 5.1



June 16, 1999



Springs Industries, Inc.
205 North White Street
Fort Mill, SC   29715

Re:  Springs Industries, Inc. - Registration Statement on
     Form S-8 relating to 1,750,000 shares of Class A Common Stock

Gentlemen:

I am General Counsel of Springs Industries, Inc., a South Carolina corporation
(the "Company"), and have acted as counsel for the Company in connection with
the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration
Statement") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Securities Act of 1933 relating to the registration of 1,750,000 shares of the
Company's Class A Common Stock, par value $.25 per share (the "Shares"), that
may be issued pursuant to the Springs Industries, Inc., 1999 Incentive Stock
Plan (the "Plan").

In connection with this opinion, I have examined and relied upon such records,
documents, certificates, and other instruments as in my judgment are necessary
or appropriate to form the basis for the opinions hereinafter set forth. In such
examination, I have assumed the genuineness of signatures on original documents
and the conformity to such original documents of all copies submitted to me as
certified, conformed, or photographic copies and, as to certificates of public
officials, I have assumed the same to have been properly given and to be
accurate. As to matters of fact material to this opinion, I have relied upon
statements and representations of representatives of the Company and of public
officials.

The opinions expressed herein are limited in all respects to the federal laws of
the United States of America and the laws of the State of South Carolina, and no
opinion is expressed with respect to the laws of any other jurisdiction or any
effect which such laws may have on the opinions expressed herein. This opinion
is limited to the matters stated herein, and no opinion is implied or may be
inferred beyond the matters expressly stated herein.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, I am of the opinion that upon the
issuance of the Shares as provided in the Plan, the Shares will be validly
issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit to the Registration
Statement and to the reference to my name under the caption "Interest of Named
Experts and Counsel" in the Registration Statement.

Sincerely yours,


/s/C. Powers Dorsett

C. Powers Dorsett





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