SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          WASHINGTON, D.C.
                                20549

                              FORM S-8
                    REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                     THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                       CONE MILLS CORPORATION             
         (Exact Name of Issuer as specified in its charter)

   North Carolina                             56-0367025      
(State or other jurisdiction               (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)           Identification No.)

                                  
                          1201 Maple Street
                  Greensboro, North Carolina  27405          
     (Address of Principal Executive Offices)     (Zip Code)

                       CONE MILLS CORPORATION
                    EMPLOYEE EQUITY PLAN - HOURLY
                      (Full title of the plan)

                   TERRY L. WEATHERFORD, SECRETARY
                       Cone Mills Corporation
                          1201 Maple Street
                  Greensboro, North Carolina  27405 
               (Name and Address of agent for service)

                             (919) 379-6220                      
    (Telephone Number, including area code, of agent for service)

                   CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

                            Proposed   Proposed
Title of                    Maximum    Maximum
Securities                  Offering   Aggregate
to be        Amount to be   Price      Offering       Amount of
Registered    Registered    Per Share* Price*      Registration Fee

Common Stock,
par value
$.10 per        250,000      $16.25    $4,062,500     $1,400.87*
share           shares

    In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act
of 1933, this registration statement also covers an indeterminate
amount of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the employee
benefit plan described herein.

    *Pursuant to Rule 457(h), the average of the high and low
prices of the Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock
Exchange on January 13, 1994, has been used to calculate the amount
of the registration fee.

    Approximate date of sale to the public:  Upon effectiveness of
this Registration Statement.
<PAGE>                                   
    This Registration Statement on Form S-8 covers 250,000 shares
of the Common Stock, par value $.10 per share, (the "Common Stock")
of Cone Mills Corporation (the "Registrant") issuable pursuant to
the Registrant's Employee Equity Plan - Hourly (the "Plan") and an
indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to
the Plan.

                               PART II

          INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

    The Registrant is subject to the informational requirements of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), and in
accordance therewith files reports and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.  The following documents have
previously been filed by the Registrant with the Commission and are
incorporated herein by reference as of their respective dates: 

         a)  the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Registrant for the
         fiscal year ended January 3, 1993 (dated March 25, 1993),
         as amended by a Form 8, Amendment No. 1 (dated April 30,
         1993).

         b)  the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Registrant for
         the quarter ended April 4, 1993 (dated May 11, 1993); the
         Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Registrant for the
         quarter ended July 4, 1993 (dated August 16, 1993); the
         Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Registrant for the
         quarter ended October 3, 1993.

         c)  the Current Report on Form 8-K of Registrant dated
         February 8, 1993.

         d)  the description of the Common Stock of the Registrant
         set forth under "Item 1. Description of Registrant's
         Securities to be Registered" in the Registrant's Amendment
         No. 1 on Form 8 to its Registration Statement on Form 8-A
         with respect to the Common Stock, File No. 1-3634 (dated
         June 17, 1992).

    All documents that are hereafter filed by the Registrant
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange
Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which
indicates that all securities offered pursuant to the Plan have
been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference and
to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

Item 4.  Description of Securities.

    Not Applicable.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

    Certain legal matters in connection with the securities
registered hereunder are being passed upon for the Registrant by
Neil W. Koonce, Esq., Vice President and General Counsel for the
Company.
<PAGE>
Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

    Article 6 of the Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation,
as amended, provides:

                      Article 6. INDEMNIFICATION

    (a)  Indemnification in Actions Other Than Actions by the
Corporation or by a Person Suing Derivatively.  When by reason of
the fact that he is or was serving as a director, officer, employee
or agent of the Corporation or while serving in any such or like
capacity at the request of the Corporation in any other
corporation, partnership, joint venture or other enterprise, any
person is or was a party or threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (except
any action, suit or proceeding brought by the Corporation or by any
person seeking derivatively to enforce any liability of such person
to the Corporation), such person shall be indemnified or reimbursed
by the Corporation for the expenses (including attorneys' fees)
which he actually and reasonably incurred and for any liabilities
which he may have incurred in consequence of such action, suit or
proceeding, subject to the following conditions:

         (1)  If, with respect to any action, suit or proceeding,
    or with respect to any claim, matter or issue therein, such
    person is wholly successful on the merits, or if the proceeding
    involving such person is an administrative or investigative
    proceeding and does not result in his indictment or a fine or
    penalty imposed upon him, then the Corporation shall reimburse
    him for the expenses (including attorneys' fees) which he
    actually and reasonably incurred in consequence of his defense
    of or participation in such action, suit or proceeding, or of
    any claim, issue or matter therein.

         (2)  If, with respect to any action, suit or proceedings,
    or with respect to any claim, issue or matter therein, such
    person is wholly successful in his defense otherwise than
    solely on the merits, the Corporation shall reimburse him for
    the expenses (including attorneys' fees) which he actually and
    reasonably incurred, in consequence of his defense or
    participation in such action, suit or proceeding, or of any
    claim, issue or matter therein, if

              (A)  The Board of Directors, by vote of a majority of
         a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to
         such action, suit or proceeding, shall approve such
         reimbursement, or

              (B)  If no such quorum be obtainable, by vote of a
         majority of the members of the Board of Directors then in
         office, acting pursuant to a written opinion of
         independent legal counsel.  For this purpose, the General
         Counsel of the Corporation or members of his staff shall
         not be deemed to be "independent legal counsel", or
<PAGE>
              (C)  In any event, by vote of the holders of a
         majority of the shares entitled to vote at a meeting of
         the shareholders.

         (3)  If, with respect to any action, suit or proceedings,
    or with respect to any claim, issue or matter therein, such
    person is not wholly successful or is unsuccessful in his
    defense, or if the proceeding to which he is a party results in
    his indictment, or in a fine or penalty imposed upon him then
    the Corporation shall reimburse him for the expenses (including
    attorneys' fees) which he actually and reasonably incurred and
    the amount of any judgment, money decree, fine, penalty or
    settlement for which he may have become liable, in either of
    the following instances:

              (A)  The Board of Directors, by vote of a majority of
         a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to
         such action, suit or proceedings, shall have determined
         that such person acted in good faith and in a manner he
         reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
         interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any
         criminal action or proceeding, that he also had no
         reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, and
         the Corporation shall have given such information to the
         shareholders of the Corporation with respect thereto as is
         required by applicable law.

              The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by
         judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of
         guilty or nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of
         itself, create a presumption that the person did not act
         in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed
         to be in the best interests of the Corporation, or, with
         respect to any criminal action, that he had no reasonable
         cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

              (B)  A plan for such payment is submitted to the
         shareholders for action at an annual or special meeting of
         the shareholders, and the plan is approved by the holders
         of a majority of the shares entitled to vote at such
         meeting, excluding shares held directly or indirectly by
         any persons to be benefited if the plan is approved. 
         Whenever the Board of Directors is required by this
         Article to determine the facts requisite to awarding
         reimbursement or indemnification, their determination as
         to such facts shall be conclusive in the absence of fraud.

    (b)  Indemnification in Actions by the Corporation or by Any
Person Suing Derivatively.  When because of his duties or
activities while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent
of the Corporation or while serving in any such or like capacity at
the request of the Corporation in any other corporation,
partnership, joint venture or other enterprise, any person is a
party to an action, suit or proceeding by the Corporation or by any
person suing derivatively on behalf of the Corporation to establish
his liability to the Corporation arising out of his alleged
<PAGE>
dereliction of duty to the Corporation, such person shall be
entitled to reimbursement or indemnification from the Corporation
only to the extent permitted, and only pursuant to the procedure
authorized, by the General Statutes of North Carolina or otherwise
by law.

    (c)  General Provisions Relating to Indemnification Under this
Article:

         (1)  In this Article 6 the term "officer" shall include
    any dominant shareholder engaged to perform services for the
    Corporation, whether as employee or independent contractor; and
    the term "dominant shareholder" shall mean a shareholder of the
    Corporation who by virtue of his share holdings has legal
    power, either directly or indirectly or through another
    corporation or series of corporations, domestic or foreign, to
    elect a majority of the directors of the Corporation.

         (2)  In this Article 6 the term "person" shall include the
    heirs, executor, administrator, or other legal representative
    of such person.

         (3)  Expenses incurred or to be incurred by a person in
    defending or participating in any action, suit or proceedings
    referred to in subsection (a) may be paid by the Corporation in
    advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or
    proceeding if authorized by the Board of Directors in the
    specific case upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of
    such person to repay such amount, unless it shall ultimately be
    determined that he is entitled to be indemnified by the
    Corporation as authorized by this Article.

         (4)  Whenever the Corporation, whether by action of the
    Board of Directors or by the shareholders, shall reimburse or
    indemnify a director, officer, agent or employee as permitted
    by this Article, the determination shall be made with respect
    to the particular case and the particular applicant for
    indemnity or reimbursement.

         (5)  The indemnification authorized by this Article shall
    not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to indemnification
    or reimbursement which are or may hereafter be permitted by
    law.

    (d)  Insurance.  The Corporation shall have power to purchase
and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or who is
or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability
asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or
arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Corporation
would have the power, pursuant to law or pursuant to this Article,
to indemnify him against such liability.
<PAGE>
    Article XI of the Company's Bylaws, as amended, provides:

                     Article XI.  INDEMNIFICATION

    Section 11-1.  Extent.   In addition to the indemnification
otherwise provided for by law or by the Articles of Incorporation
the Corporation, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless
its directors and officers against all liability and litigation
expense, including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising out of their
status as directors or officers or their activities in any of such
capacities or in any capacity in which any of them is or was
serving, at the Corporation's request, in another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise and the
Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless its directors,
officers, and employees who are deemed to be fiduciaries of the
Corporation's employee pension and welfare benefit plans as defined
under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended ("ERISA fiduciaries"), against all liability and litigation
expense, including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising out of their
status or activities as ERISA fiduciaries; provided, however, that
the Corporation shall not indemnify a director or officer against
liability or litigation expense that he may incur on account of his
activities that at the time taken were known or reasonably should
have been known by him to be clearly in conflict with the best
interests of the Corporation, and the Corporation shall not
indemnify an ERISA fiduciary against any liability or litigation
expense that he may incur on account of his activities that at the
time taken were known or reasonably should have been known by him
to be clearly in conflict with the best interests of the employee
benefit plan to which the activities relate.  The Corporation shall
also indemnify the director, officer or ERISA fiduciary for
reasonable costs, expenses and attorneys' fees in connection with
the enforcement of rights to indemnification granted herein, if it
is determined in accordance with Section 11-2 of this Article that
the director, officer or ERISA fiduciary is entitled to
indemnification hereunder.

    Section 11-2.  Determination.  Any indemnification under
Section 11-1 shall be paid by the Corporation in any specific case
only after a determination that the director, officer or ERISA
fiduciary did not act in a manner, at the time the activities were
taken, that was known or reasonably should have been known by him
to be clearly in conflict with the best interests of the
Corporation, or the employee benefit plan to which the activities
relate, as the case may be.  Such determination shall be made (a)
by the affirmative vote of a majority (but not less than two) of
directors who are or were not parties to such action, suit or
proceeding or against whom any such claim is asserted
("disinterested directors") even though less than a quorum, or (b)
if a majority (but not less than two) of disinterested directors so
direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (c)
by the vote of a majority of all of the voting shares other than
those owned or controlled by directors, officers or ERISA
fiduciaries who were parties to such action, suit or proceeding or
against whom such claim is asserted, or by a unanimous vote of all
of the voting shares, or (d) by a court of competent jurisdiction.
<PAGE>
    Section 11-3.  Advanced Expenses.  Expenses incurred by a
director, officer or ERISA fiduciary in defending a civil or
criminal claim, action, suit or proceeding may, upon approval of a
majority (but not less than two) of the disinterested directors,
even though less than a quorum, or, if there are less than two
disinterested directors, upon unanimous approval of the Board of
Directors, be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final
disposition of such claim, action, suit or proceeding upon receipt
of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director, officer or ERISA
fiduciary to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be
determined that he is entitled to be indemnified against such
expenses by the Corporation.

    Section 11-4.  Corporation.  For purposes of this Article,
references to directors, officers or ERISA fiduciaries of the
"Corporation" shall be deemed to include directors, officers and
ERISA fiduciaries of Cone Mills Corporation, its subsidiaries, and
all constituent corporations absorbed into Cone Mills Corporation
or any of its subsidiaries by a consolidation or merger.

    Section 11-5.  Reliance And Consideration.  Any director,
officer or ERISA fiduciary who at any time after the adoption of
this Bylaw serves or has served in any of the aforesaid capacities
or any other capacity for or on behalf of the Corporation shall be
deemed to be doing or to have done so in reliance upon, and as
consideration for, the right of indemnification provided herein. 
Such right shall inure to the benefit of the legal representatives
of any such person and shall not be exclusive of any other rights
to which such person may be entitled apart from the provision of
this Bylaw.  No amendment, modification or repeal of this Article
XI shall adversely affect the right of any director, officer or
ERISA fiduciary to indemnification hereunder with respect to any
activities occurring prior to the time of such amendment,
modification or repeal.

    Section 11-6.  Insurance.  The Corporation may purchase and
maintain insurance on behalf of its directors, officers, employees
and agents and those persons who were serving at the request of the
Corporation as a director, officer, partner or trustee of, or in
some other capacity in, another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted
against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising
out of his status as such, whether or not the Corporation would
have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the
provisions of this Article or otherwise.  Any full or partial
payment made by an insurance company under any insurance policy
covering any director, officer, employee or agent made to or on
behalf of a person entitled to indemnification under this Article
shall relieve the Corporation of its liability for indemnification
provided for in this Article or otherwise to the extent of such
payment, and no insurer shall have a right of subrogation against
the Corporation with respect to such payment.

    The North Carolina General Statutes contain provisions
prescribing the extent to which directors and officers shall or may
<PAGE>
be indemnified.  These statutory provisions are set forth below:



                 CH. 55 N.C. BUSINESS CORPORATION ACT

                      Part 5.  Indemnification.

section 55-8-50.  Policy Statement and Definitions.

    (a)  It is the public policy of this State to enable
    corporations organized under this Chapter to attract and
    maintain responsible, qualified directors, officers, employees
    and agents, and, to that end, to permit corporations organized
    under this Chapter to allocate the risk of personal liability
    of directors, officers, employees and agents through
    indemnification and insurance as authorized in this Part.

    (b)  Definitions in this Part:

         (1)  "Corporation" includes any domestic or foreign
              predecessor entity of a corporation in a merger or
              other transaction in which the predecessor's
              existence ceased upon consummation of the
              transaction.

         (2)  "Director" means an individual who is or was a
              director of a corporation or an individual who, while
              a director of a corporation, is or was serving at the
              corporation's request as a director, officer,
              partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another
              foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint
              venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other
              enterprise.  A director is considered to be serving
              an employee benefit plan at the corporation's request
              if his duties to the corporation also impose duties
              on, or otherwise involve services by, him to the plan
              or to participants in or beneficiaries of the plan. 
              "Director" includes, unless the context requires
              otherwise, the estate or personal representative of a
              director.
         (3)  "Expenses" means expenses of every kind incurred in
              defending a proceeding, including counsel fees.
         (4)  "Liability" means the obligation to pay a judgment,
              settlement, penalty, fine (including an excise tax
              assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan),
              or reasonable expenses incurred with respect to a
              proceeding.
         (5)  "Official capacity" means:  (i) when used with
              respect to a director, the office of director in a
              corporation; and (ii) when used with respect to an
              individual other than a director, as contemplated in
              G.S. 55-8-56, the office in a corporation held by the
              officer or the employment or agency relationship 
<PAGE>
                        undertaken by the employee or agent on
                        behalf of the corporation.  "Official
                        capacity" does not include service for an
                        other foreign or domestic corporation or
                        any partnership, joint venture, trust,
                        employee benefit plan, or other enterprise.
         (6)  "Party" includes an individual who was, is, or is
              threatened to be made a named defendant or respondent
              in a proceeding.
         (7)  "Proceeding" means any threatened, pending, or
              completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil,
              criminal, administrative, or investigative and
              whether formal or informal.


section 55-8-51.  Authority to Indemnify.

    (a)  Except as provided in subsection (d), a corporation may
    indemnify an individual made a party to a proceeding because he
    is or was a director against liability incurred in the
    proceeding if:

         (1)  He conducted himself in good faith; and

         (2)  He reasonably believed (i) in the case of conduct in
              his official capacity with the corporation, that his
              conduct was in its best interests; and (ii) in all
              other cases, that his conduct was at least not
              opposed to its best interests; and 
         (3)  In the case of any criminal proceeding, he had no
              reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

    (b)  A director's conduct with respect to an employee benefit
    plan for a purpose he reasonably believed to be in the
    interests of the participants in and beneficiaries of the plan
    is conduct that satisfies the requirement of subsection
    (a)(2)(ii).

    (c)  The termination of a proceeding by judgment, order,
    settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of no contest or its
    equivalent is not, of itself, determinative that the director
    did not meet the standard of conduct described in this section.

    (d)  A corporation may not indemnify a director under this
         section:

         (1)  In connection with a proceeding by or in the right of
              the corporation in which the director was adjudged
              liable to the corporation; or
         (2)  In connection with any other proceeding charging
              improper personal benefit to him, whether or not
              involving action in his official capacity, in which
              he was adjudged liable on the basis that personal
              benefit was improperly received by him.

    (e)  Indemnification permitted under this section in connection
    with a proceeding by or in the right of the 
<PAGE>
    corporation that is concluded without a final adjudication on
    the issue of liability is limited to reasonable expenses
    incurred in connection with the proceeding.

    (f)  The authorization, approval or favorable recommendation by
    the board of directors of a corporation of indemnification, as
    permitted by this section, shall not be deemed an act or
    corporate transaction in which a director has a conflict of
    interest, and no such indemnification shall be void or voidable
    on such ground.

section 55-8-52.  Mandatory Indemnification.

    Unless limited by its articles of incorporation, a corporation
shall indemnify a director who was wholly successful, on the merits
or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he was a
party because he is or was a director of the corporation against
reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection with the
proceeding.

section 55-8-53.  Advance For Expenses.

    Expenses incurred by a director in defending a proceeding may
be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of
such proceeding as authorized by the board of directors in the
specific case or as authorized or required under any provision in
the articles of incorporation or bylaws or by any applicable
resolution or contract upon receipt of an undertaking by or on
behalf of the director to repay such amount unless it shall
ultimately be determined that he is entitled to be indemnified by
the corporation against such expenses.

section 55-8-54.  Court-ordered Indemnification.

    Unless a corporation's articles of incorporation provide
otherwise, a director of the corporation who is a party to a
proceeding may apply for indemnification to the court conducting
the proceeding or to another court of competent jurisdiction.  On
receipt of an application, the court after giving any notice the
court considers necessary may order indemnification if it
determines:

         (1)  The director is entitled to mandatory indemnification
              under G.S. 55-8-52, in which case the court shall
              also order the corporation to pay the director's
              reasonable expenses incurred to obtain court-ordered
              indemnification; or
         (2)  The director is fairly and reasonably entitled to
              indemnification in view of all the relevant
              circumstances, whether or not he met the standard of
              conduct set forth in G.S. 55-8-51 or was adjudged
              liable as described in G.S. 55-8-51(d), but if he was
              adjudged so liable his indemnification is limited to
              reasonable expenses incurred.
<PAGE>
section 55-8-55.  Determination and Authorization of Indemnification.

    (a)  A corporation may not indemnify a director under G.S.
    55-8-51 unless authorized in the specific case after a
    determination has been made that indemnification of the
    director is permissible in the circumstances because he has met
    the standard of conduct set forth in G.S. 55-8-51.

    (b)  The determination shall be made:

         (1)  By the board of directors by majority vote of a
              quorum consisting of directors not at the time
              parties to the proceeding;

         (2)  If a quorum cannot be obtained under subdivision (1),
              by majority vote of a committee duly designated by
              the board of directors (in which designation
              directors who are parties may participate),
              consisting solely of two or more directors not at the
              time parties to the proceeding;
         (3)  By special legal counsel (i) selected by the board of
              directors or its committee in the manner prescribed
              in subdivision (1) or (2); or (ii) if a quorum of the
              board of directors cannot be obtained under
              subdivision (1) and a committee cannot be designated
              under subdivision (2), selected by majority vote of
              the full board of directors (in which selection
              directors who are parties may participate); or
         (4)  By the shareholders, but shares owned by or voted
              under the control of directors who are at the time
              parties to the proceeding may not be voted on the
              determination.

    (c)  Authorization of indemnification and evaluation as to
    reasonableness of expenses shall be made in the same manner as
    the determination that indemnification is permissible, except
    that if the determination is made by special legal counsel,
    authorization of indemnification and evaluation as to
    reasonableness of expenses shall be made by those entitled
    under subsection (b)(3) to select counsel.

section 55-8-56.  Indemnification of Officers, Employees, and Agents.

    Unless a corporation's articles of incorporation provide
otherwise:

    (1)  An officer of the corporation is entitled to mandatory
         indemnification under G.S. 55-8-52, and is entitled to
         apply for court-ordered indemnification under G.S.
         55-8-54, in each case to the same extent as a director.

    (2)  The corporation may indemnify and advance expenses under
         this Part to an officer, employee, or agent of the
         corporation to the same extent as to a director; and
<PAGE>
    (3)  A corporation may also indemnify and advance expenses to
         an officer, employee, or agent who is not a director to
         the extent, consistent with public policy, that may be
         provided by its articles of incorporation, bylaws, general
         or specific action of its board of directors, or contract.

section 55-8-57.  Additional Indemnification and Insurance.

    (a)  In addition to and separate and apart from the
    indemnification provided for in G.S. 55-8-51, 55-8-52, 55-8-54,
    55-8-55 and 55-8-56, a corporation may in its articles of
    incorporation or bylaws or by contract or resolution indemnify
    or agree to indemnify any one or more of its directors,
    officers, employees, or agents against liability and expenses
    in any proceeding (including without limitation a proceeding
    brought by or on behalf of the corporation itself) arising out
    of their status as such or their activities in any of the
    foregoing capacities; provided, however, that a corporation may
    not indemnify or agree to indemnify a person against liability
    or expenses he may incur on account of his activities which
    were at the time taken known or believed by him to be clearly
    in conflict with the best interests of the corporation.  A
    corporation may likewise and to the same extent indemnify or
    agree to indemnify any person who, at the request of the
    corporation, is or was serving as a director, officer, partner,
    trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic
    corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
    enterprise or as a trustee or administrator under an employee
    benefit plan.  Any provision in any articles of incorporation,
    bylaw, contract, or resolution permitted under this section may
    include provisions for recovery from the corporation of
    reasonable costs, expenses, and attorneys' fees in connection
    with the enforcement of rights to indemnification granted
    therein and may further include provisions establishing
    reasonable procedures for determining and enforcing the rights
    granted therein.

    (b)  The authorization, adoption, approval, or favorable
    recommendation by the board of directors of a public
    corporation of any provision in any articles of incorporation,
    bylaw, contract or resolution, as permitted in this section,
    shall not be deemed an act or corporate transaction in which a
    director has a conflict of interest, and no such articles of
    incorporation or bylaw provision or contract or resolution
    shall be void or voidable on such grounds.  The authorization,
    adoption, approval, or favorable recommendation by the board of
    directors of a nonpublic corporation of any provision in any
    articles of incorporation, bylaw, contract or resolution, as
    permitted in this section, which occurred prior to July 1,
    1990, shall not be deemed an act or corporate transaction in
    which a director has a conflict of interest, and no such
    articles of incorporation, bylaw provision, contract or
    resolution shall be void or voidable on such grounds.  Except 
<PAGE>
    as permitted in G.S. 55-8-31, no such bylaw, contract, or
    resolution not adopted, authorized, approved or ratified by
    shareholders shall be effective as to claims made or
    liabilities asserted against any director prior to its
    adoption, authorization, or approval by the board of directors.

    (c)  A corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on
    behalf of an individual who is or was a director, officer,
    employee, or agent of the corporation, or who, while a
    director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, is or
    was serving at the request of the corporation as a director,
    officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another
    foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture,
    trust, employee benefit plan, or other enterprise, against
    liability asserted against or incurred by him in that capacity
    or arising from his status as a director, officer, employee, or
    agent, whether or not the corporation would have power to
    indemnify him against the same liability under any provision of
    this Chapter.

section 55-8-58.  Application of Part.

    (a)  If articles of incorporation limit indemnification or
    advance for expenses, indemnification and advance for expenses
    are valid only to the extent consistent with the articles.

    (b)  This Part does not limit a corporation's power to pay or
    reimburse expenses incurred by a director in connection with
    his appearance as a witness in a proceeding at a time when he
    has not been made a named defendant or respondent to the
    proceeding.

    (c)  This Part shall not affect rights or liabilities arising
    out of acts or omissions occurring before July 1, 1990.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.

    Not Applicable.

Item 8.  Exhibits.

    The Exhibits to this Form S-8 are listed in the accompanying
Index to Exhibits.

    In lieu of filing an opinion of counsel concerning compliance
with the requirements of ERISA or an Internal Revenue Service
("IRS") determination letter that the Plan is qualified under
Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code, the Registrant hereby
undertakes to submit the Plan and any amendment thereto to the IRS
in a timely manner and to make all changes required by the IRS in
order to qualify the Plan.

Item 9.  Undertakings.

    The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
<PAGE>
    (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration
Statement:

         (i)  To include any prospectus required by section
    10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

         (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
    arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement
    (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
    individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental
    change in the information set forth in the Registration
    Statement;

         (iii)  To include any material information with respect to
    the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the
    Registration Statement or any material change in such
    information in the Registration Statement.

         Provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do
    not apply if the information required to be included in a
    post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in
    periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to section 13
    or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that
    are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

    (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at
that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.

    (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain
unsold at the termination of the offering.

    The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for the
purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to
Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.

    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and
controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing
provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in
the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
<PAGE>
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer
or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense
of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director,
officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its
counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in
the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
<PAGE>                                   
                             SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and
has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City
of Greensboro, North Carolina on January 18, 1994.

                                      CONE MILLS CORPORATION


Date:  January 18, 1994               By:  /s/J. Patrick Danahy   
                                           J. Patrick Danahy
                                           President and Chief
                                           Executive Officer



    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
this registration statement has been signed by the following
persons in the following capacities on August 19, 1993.
<TABLE>
<S>                   <C>                        <C> 
     Signature                  Title                   Date     




                        Chairman of the Board                    
(Dewey L. Trogdon)



/s/J. Patrick Danahy   Director, President and    January 18, 1994
(J. Patrick Danahy)    Chief Executive Officer
                        (Principal Executive Officer)


/s/John L. Bakane       Director, Vice President  January 18, 1994
  (John L. Bakane)     and Chief Financial Officer
                       (Principal Financial Officer)


/s/Richard S. Vetack          Director            January 18, 1994
(Richard S. Vetack)



/s/Bud W. Willis, III         Director            January 18, 1994
(Bud W. Willis, III)
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                          <C>                 <C>
     Signature                  Title                   Date     



/s/Doris R. Bray              Director            January 18, 1994
  (Doris R. Bray)



                              Director                           
(Leslie W. Gaulden)



                              Director                           
(Jeanette C. Kimmel)



/s/Charles M. Reid            Director            January 18, 1994
 (Charles M. Reid)



/s/J. D. Holder               Controller          January 18, 1994
   J. D. Holder         (Principal Accounting
                         Officer)
</TABLE>
<PAGE>                                  

                              EXHIBITS
<PAGE>                                  
                          INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Exhibit                                                 Sequential
No.           DESCRIPTION                               Page No.  

* 4.1         Restated Articles of Incorporation of
              the Registrant effective August 25,
              1993, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the
              Registrant's report on Form 10-Q for
              the quarter ended October 3, 1993.

* 4.2         Amended and Restated Bylaws of
              Registrant, effective June 18, 1992,
              filed as Exhibit 3.5 to the
              Registrant's Registration Statement on
              Form S-1 (File No. 33-46907).

* 4.3         Note Agreement dated as of August 13,
              1992, between Cone Mills Corporation
              and The Prudential Insurance Company
              of America, with form of 8% promissory
              note attached, filed as Exhibit 4.01
              to the Registrant's report on Form 8-K
              dated August 13, 1992.

* 4.4         Credit Agreement dated as of August
              13, 1992, among Cone Mills
              Corporation, the banks listed therein
              and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of
              New York, as Agent, with form of note
              attached, filed as Exhibit 4.02 to the
              Registrant's report on Form 8-K dated
              August 13, 1992.

* 4.5         Specimen Class A Preferred Stock
              Certificate, filed as Exhibit 4.5 to
              the Registrant's Registration
              Statement on Form S-1 (File No.
              33-46907).

* 4.6         Specimen Common Stock Certificate,
              effective June 18, 1992, filed as
              Exhibit 4.7 to the Registrant's
              Registration Statement on Form S-1
              (File No. 33-46907).

* 4.7         Registration rights agreement dated as
              of March 30, 1992, among the
              Registrant and the shareholders listed
              therein, filed as Exhibits 4.8 to the
              Registrant's Registration Statement on
              Form S-1 (File No. 33-46907).
<PAGE>
Enhibit                                                 Sequential
No.                                                     Page No.
4.8           Supplemental Retirement Program of
              Registrant as amended and restated
              effective September 1, 1993.

4.9           The 401(k) Program (formerly the
              Supplemental Retirement Program) as
              amended and restated effective
              January 1, 1994.

5             Opinion of Neil W. Koonce, Esq.,
              General Counsel of the Registrant
              regarding legality of issuance of
              Common Stock.

23.1          Consent of Neil W. Koonce, Esq.
              contained in the Opinion, filed as
              Exhibit 5 hereto.

23.2          Consent of Robinson, Bradshaw &
              Hinson, P.A.

23.3          Consent of McGladery & Pullen,
              independent auditor.


                  

*Incorporated by reference to the statement or
report indicated.

<PAGE>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "EMPLOYEE EQUITY PLAN - HOURLY", "secsgml_size_bytes": 46113}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CONE MILLS CORP", "cik": "0000023304", "assigned-sic": "2211", "irs-number": "560367025", "state-of-incorporation": "NC", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "033-51953", "film-number": "94501850"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1201 MAPLE ST", "city": "GREENSBORO", "state": "NC", "zip": "27405", "phone": "9193796220"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1201 MAPLE STREET", "city": "GREENSBORO", "state": "NC", "zip": "27405"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          WASHINGTON, D.C.
                                20549

                              FORM S-8
                    REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                     THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                       CONE MILLS CORPORATION             
         (Exact Name of Issuer as specified in its charter)

   North Carolina                             56-0367025      
(State or other jurisdiction               (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)           Identification No.)

                                  
                          1201 Maple Street
                  Greensboro, North Carolina  27405          
     (Address of Principal Executive Offices)     (Zip Code)

                       CONE MILLS CORPORATION
                    EMPLOYEE EQUITY PLAN - HOURLY
                      (Full title of the plan)

                   TERRY L. WEATHERFORD, SECRETARY
                       Cone Mills Corporation
                          1201 Maple Street
                  Greensboro, North Carolina  27405 
               (Name and Address of agent for service)

                             (919) 379-6220                      
    (Telephone Number, including area code, of agent for service)

                   CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

                            Proposed   Proposed
Title of                    Maximum    Maximum
Securities                  Offering   Aggregate
to be        Amount to be   Price      Offering       Amount of
Registered    Registered    Per Share* Price*      Registration Fee

Common Stock,
par value
$.10 per        250,000      $16.25    $4,062,500     $1,400.87*
share           shares

    In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act
of 1933, this registration statement also covers an indeterminate
amount of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the employee
benefit plan described herein.

    *Pursuant to Rule 457(h), the average of the high and low
prices of the Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock
Exchange on January 13, 1994, has been used to calculate the amount
of the registration fee.

    Approximate date of sale to the public:  Upon effectiveness of
this Registration Statement.
This Registration Statement on Form S-8 covers 250,000 shares
of the Common Stock, par value $.10 per share, (the "Common Stock")
of Cone Mills Corporation (the "Registrant") issuable pursuant to
the Registrant's Employee Equity Plan - Hourly (the "Plan") and an
indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to
the Plan.

                               PART II

          INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

    The Registrant is subject to the informational requirements of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), and in
accordance therewith files reports and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.  The following documents have
previously been filed by the Registrant with the Commission and are
incorporated herein by reference as of their respective dates: 

         a)  the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Registrant for the
         fiscal year ended January 3, 1993 (dated March 25, 1993),
         as amended by a Form 8, Amendment No. 1 (dated April 30,
         1993).

         b)  the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Registrant for
         the quarter ended April 4, 1993 (dated May 11, 1993); the
         Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Registrant for the
         quarter ended July 4, 1993 (dated August 16, 1993); the
         Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Registrant for the
         quarter ended October 3, 1993.

         c)  the Current Report on Form 8-K of Registrant dated
         February 8, 1993.

         d)  the description of the Common Stock of the Registrant
         set forth under "Item 1. Description of Registrant's
         Securities to be Registered" in the Registrant's Amendment
         No. 1 on Form 8 to its Registration Statement on Form 8-A
         with respect to the Common Stock, File No. 1-3634 (dated
         June 17, 1992).

    All documents that are hereafter filed by the Registrant
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange
Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which
indicates that all securities offered pursuant to the Plan have
been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference and
to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

Item 4.  Description of Securities.

    Not Applicable.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

    Certain legal matters in connection with the securities
registered hereunder are being passed upon for the Registrant by
Neil W. Koonce, Esq., Vice President and General Counsel for the
Company.
Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

    Article 6 of the Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation,
as amended, provides:

                      Article 6. INDEMNIFICATION

    (a)  Indemnification in Actions Other Than Actions by the
Corporation or by a Person Suing Derivatively.  When by reason of
the fact that he is or was serving as a director, officer, employee
or agent of the Corporation or while serving in any such or like
capacity at the request of the Corporation in any other
corporation, partnership, joint venture or other enterprise, any
person is or was a party or threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (except
any action, suit or proceeding brought by the Corporation or by any
person seeking derivatively to enforce any liability of such person
to the Corporation), such person shall be indemnified or reimbursed
by the Corporation for the expenses (including attorneys' fees)
which he actually and reasonably incurred and for any liabilities
which he may have incurred in consequence of such action, suit or
proceeding, subject to the following conditions:

         (1)  If, with respect to any action, suit or proceeding,
    or with respect to any claim, matter or issue therein, such
    person is wholly successful on the merits, or if the proceeding
    involving such person is an administrative or investigative
    proceeding and does not result in his indictment or a fine or
    penalty imposed upon him, then the Corporation shall reimburse
    him for the expenses (including attorneys' fees) which he
    actually and reasonably incurred in consequence of his defense
    of or participation in such action, suit or proceeding, or of
    any claim, issue or matter therein.

         (2)  If, with respect to any action, suit or proceedings,
    or with respect to any claim, issue or matter therein, such
    person is wholly successful in his defense otherwise than
    solely on the merits, the Corporation shall reimburse him for
    the expenses (including attorneys' fees) which he actually and
    reasonably incurred, in consequence of his defense or
    participation in such action, suit or proceeding, or of any
    claim, issue or matter therein, if

              (A)  The Board of Directors, by vote of a majority of
         a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to
         such action, suit or proceeding, shall approve such
         reimbursement, or

              (B)  If no such quorum be obtainable, by vote of a
         majority of the members of the Board of Directors then in
         office, acting pursuant to a written opinion of
         independent legal counsel.  For this purpose, the General
         Counsel of the Corporation or members of his staff shall
         not be deemed to be "independent legal counsel", or
(C)  In any event, by vote of the holders of a
         majority of the shares entitled to vote at a meeting of
         the shareholders.

         (3)  If, with respect to any action, suit or proceedings,
    or with respect to any claim, issue or matter therein, such
    person is not wholly successful or is unsuccessful in his
    defense, or if the proceeding to which he is a party results in
    his indictment, or in a fine or penalty imposed upon him then
    the Corporation shall reimburse him for the expenses (including
    attorneys' fees) which he actually and reasonably incurred and
    the amount of any judgment, money decree, fine, penalty or
    settlement for which he may have become liable, in either of
    the following instances:

              (A)  The Board of Directors, by vote of a majority of
         a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to
         such action, suit or proceedings, shall have determined
         that such person acted in good faith and in a manner he
         reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
         interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any
         criminal action or proceeding, that he also had no
         reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, and
         the Corporation shall have given such information to the
         shareholders of the Corporation with respect thereto as is
         required by applicable law.

              The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by
         judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of
         guilty or nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of
         itself, create a presumption that the person did not act
         in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed
         to be in the best interests of the Corporation, or, with
         respect to any criminal action, that he had no reasonable
         cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

              (B)  A plan for such payment is submitted to the
         shareholders for action at an annual or special meeting of
         the shareholders, and the plan is approved by the holders
         of a majority of the shares entitled to vote at such
         meeting, excluding shares held directly or indirectly by
         any persons to be benefited if the plan is approved. 
         Whenever the Board of Directors is required by this
         Article to determine the facts requisite to awarding
         reimbursement or indemnification, their determination as
         to such facts shall be conclusive in the absence of fraud.

    (b)  Indemnification in Actions by the Corporation or by Any
Person Suing Derivatively.  When because of his duties or
activities while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent
of the Corporation or while serving in any such or like capacity at
the request of the Corporation in any other corporation,
partnership, joint venture or other enterprise, any person is a
party to an action, suit or proceeding by the Corporation or by any
person suing derivatively on behalf of the Corporation to establish
his liability to the Corporation arising out of his alleged
dereliction of duty to the Corporation, such person shall be
entitled to reimbursement or indemnification from the Corporation
only to the extent permitted, and only pursuant to the procedure
authorized, by the General Statutes of North Carolina or otherwise
by law.

    (c)  General Provisions Relating to Indemnification Under this
Article:

         (1)  In this Article 6 the term "officer" shall include
    any dominant shareholder engaged to perform services for the
    Corporation, whether as employee or independent contractor; and
    the term "dominant shareholder" shall mean a shareholder of the
    Corporation who by virtue of his share holdings has legal
    power, either directly or indirectly or through another
    corporation or series of corporations, domestic or foreign, to
    elect a majority of the directors of the Corporation.

         (2)  In this Article 6 the term "person" shall include the
    heirs, executor, administrator, or other legal representative
    of such person.

         (3)  Expenses incurred or to be incurred by a person in
    defending or participating in any action, suit or proceedings
    referred to in subsection (a) may be paid by the Corporation in
    advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or
    proceeding if authorized by the Board of Directors in the
    specific case upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of
    such person to repay such amount, unless it shall ultimately be
    determined that he is entitled to be indemnified by the
    Corporation as authorized by this Article.

         (4)  Whenever the Corporation, whether by action of the
    Board of Directors or by the shareholders, shall reimburse or
    indemnify a director, officer, agent or employee as permitted
    by this Article, the determination shall be made with respect
    to the particular case and the particular applicant for
    indemnity or reimbursement.

         (5)  The indemnification authorized by this Article shall
    not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to indemnification
    or reimbursement which are or may hereafter be permitted by
    law.

    (d)  Insurance.  The Corporation shall have power to purchase
and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or who is
or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability
asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or
arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Corporation
would have the power, pursuant to law or pursuant to this Article,
to indemnify him against such liability.
Article XI of the Company's Bylaws, as amended, provides:

                     Article XI.  INDEMNIFICATION

    Section 11-1.  Extent.   In addition to the indemnification
otherwise provided for by law or by the Articles of Incorporation
the Corporation, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless
its directors and officers against all liability and litigation
expense, including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising out of their
status as directors or officers or their activities in any of such
capacities or in any capacity in which any of them is or was
serving, at the Corporation's request, in another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise and the
Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless its directors,
officers, and employees who are deemed to be fiduciaries of the
Corporation's employee pension and welfare benefit plans as defined
under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended ("ERISA fiduciaries"), against all liability and litigation
expense, including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising out of their
status or activities as ERISA fiduciaries; provided, however, that
the Corporation shall not indemnify a director or officer against
liability or litigation expense that he may incur on account of his
activities that at the time taken were known or reasonably should
have been known by him to be clearly in conflict with the best
interests of the Corporation, and the Corporation shall not
indemnify an ERISA fiduciary against any liability or litigation
expense that he may incur on account of his activities that at the
time taken were known or reasonably should have been known by him
to be clearly in conflict with the best interests of the employee
benefit plan to which the activities relate.  The Corporation shall
also indemnify the director, officer or ERISA fiduciary for
reasonable costs, expenses and attorneys' fees in connection with
the enforcement of rights to indemnification granted herein, if it
is determined in accordance with Section 11-2 of this Article that
the director, officer or ERISA fiduciary is entitled to
indemnification hereunder.

    Section 11-2.  Determination.  Any indemnification under
Section 11-1 shall be paid by the Corporation in any specific case
only after a determination that the director, officer or ERISA
fiduciary did not act in a manner, at the time the activities were
taken, that was known or reasonably should have been known by him
to be clearly in conflict with the best interests of the
Corporation, or the employee benefit plan to which the activities
relate, as the case may be.  Such determination shall be made (a)
by the affirmative vote of a majority (but not less than two) of
directors who are or were not parties to such action, suit or
proceeding or against whom any such claim is asserted
("disinterested directors") even though less than a quorum, or (b)
if a majority (but not less than two) of disinterested directors so
direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (c)
by the vote of a majority of all of the voting shares other than
those owned or controlled by directors, officers or ERISA
fiduciaries who were parties to such action, suit or proceeding or
against whom such claim is asserted, or by a unanimous vote of all
of the voting shares, or (d) by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Section 11-3.  Advanced Expenses.  Expenses incurred by a
director, officer or ERISA fiduciary in defending a civil or
criminal claim, action, suit or proceeding may, upon approval of a
majority (but not less than two) of the disinterested directors,
even though less than a quorum, or, if there are less than two
disinterested directors, upon unanimous approval of the Board of
Directors, be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final
disposition of such claim, action, suit or proceeding upon receipt
of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director, officer or ERISA
fiduciary to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be
determined that he is entitled to be indemnified against such
expenses by the Corporation.

    Section 11-4.  Corporation.  For purposes of this Article,
references to directors, officers or ERISA fiduciaries of the
"Corporation" shall be deemed to include directors, officers and
ERISA fiduciaries of Cone Mills Corporation, its subsidiaries, and
all constituent corporations absorbed into Cone Mills Corporation
or any of its subsidiaries by a consolidation or merger.

    Section 11-5.  Reliance And Consideration.  Any director,
officer or ERISA fiduciary who at any time after the adoption of
this Bylaw serves or has served in any of the aforesaid capacities
or any other capacity for or on behalf of the Corporation shall be
deemed to be doing or to have done so in reliance upon, and as
consideration for, the right of indemnification provided herein. 
Such right shall inure to the benefit of the legal representatives
of any such person and shall not be exclusive of any other rights
to which such person may be entitled apart from the provision of
this Bylaw.  No amendment, modification or repeal of this Article
XI shall adversely affect the right of any director, officer or
ERISA fiduciary to indemnification hereunder with respect to any
activities occurring prior to the time of such amendment,
modification or repeal.

    Section 11-6.  Insurance.  The Corporation may purchase and
maintain insurance on behalf of its directors, officers, employees
and agents and those persons who were serving at the request of the
Corporation as a director, officer, partner or trustee of, or in
some other capacity in, another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted
against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising
out of his status as such, whether or not the Corporation would
have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the
provisions of this Article or otherwise.  Any full or partial
payment made by an insurance company under any insurance policy
covering any director, officer, employee or agent made to or on
behalf of a person entitled to indemnification under this Article
shall relieve the Corporation of its liability for indemnification
provided for in this Article or otherwise to the extent of such
payment, and no insurer shall have a right of subrogation against
the Corporation with respect to such payment.

    The North Carolina General Statutes contain provisions
prescribing the extent to which directors and officers shall or may
be indemnified.  These statutory provisions are set forth below:

                 CH. 55 N.C. BUSINESS CORPORATION ACT

                      Part 5.  Indemnification.

section 55-8-50.  Policy Statement and Definitions.

    (a)  It is the public policy of this State to enable
    corporations organized under this Chapter to attract and
    maintain responsible, qualified directors, officers, employees
    and agents, and, to that end, to permit corporations organized
    under this Chapter to allocate the risk of personal liability
    of directors, officers, employees and agents through
    indemnification and insurance as authorized in this Part.

    (b)  Definitions in this Part:

         (1)  "Corporation" includes any domestic or foreign
              predecessor entity of a corporation in a merger or
              other transaction in which the predecessor's
              existence ceased upon consummation of the
              transaction.

         (2)  "Director" means an individual who is or was a
              director of a corporation or an individual who, while
              a director of a corporation, is or was serving at the
              corporation's request as a director, officer,
              partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another
              foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint
              venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other
              enterprise.  A director is considered to be serving
              an employee benefit plan at the corporation's request
              if his duties to the corporation also impose duties
              on, or otherwise involve services by, him to the plan
              or to participants in or beneficiaries of the plan. 
              "Director" includes, unless the context requires
              otherwise, the estate or personal representative of a
              director.
         (3)  "Expenses" means expenses of every kind incurred in
              defending a proceeding, including counsel fees.
         (4)  "Liability" means the obligation to pay a judgment,
              settlement, penalty, fine (including an excise tax
              assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan),
              or reasonable expenses incurred with respect to a
              proceeding.
         (5)  "Official capacity" means:  (i) when used with
              respect to a director, the office of director in a
              corporation; and (ii) when used with respect to an
              individual other than a director, as contemplated in
              G.S. 55-8-56, the office in a corporation held by the
              officer or the employment or agency relationship
undertaken by the employee or agent on
                        behalf of the corporation.  "Official
                        capacity" does not include service for an
                        other foreign or domestic corporation or
                        any partnership, joint venture, trust,
                        employee benefit plan, or other enterprise.
         (6)  "Party" includes an individual who was, is, or is
              threatened to be made a named defendant or respondent
              in a proceeding.
         (7)  "Proceeding" means any threatened, pending, or
              completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil,
              criminal, administrative, or investigative and
              whether formal or informal.

section 55-8-51.  Authority to Indemnify.

    (a)  Except as provided in subsection (d), a corporation may
    indemnify an individual made a party to a proceeding because he
    is or was a director against liability incurred in the
    proceeding if:

         (1)  He conducted himself in good faith; and

         (2)  He reasonably believed (i) in the case of conduct in
              his official capacity with the corporation, that his
              conduct was in its best interests; and (ii) in all
              other cases, that his conduct was at least not
              opposed to its best interests; and 
         (3)  In the case of any criminal proceeding, he had no
              reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

    (b)  A director's conduct with respect to an employee benefit
    plan for a purpose he reasonably believed to be in the
    interests of the participants in and beneficiaries of the plan
    is conduct that satisfies the requirement of subsection
    (a)(2)(ii).

    (c)  The termination of a proceeding by judgment, order,
    settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of no contest or its
    equivalent is not, of itself, determinative that the director
    did not meet the standard of conduct described in this section.

    (d)  A corporation may not indemnify a director under this
         section:

         (1)  In connection with a proceeding by or in the right of
              the corporation in which the director was adjudged
              liable to the corporation; or
         (2)  In connection with any other proceeding charging
              improper personal benefit to him, whether or not
              involving action in his official capacity, in which
              he was adjudged liable on the basis that personal
              benefit was improperly received by him.

    (e)  Indemnification permitted under this section in connection
    with a proceeding by or in the right of the
corporation that is concluded without a final adjudication on
    the issue of liability is limited to reasonable expenses
    incurred in connection with the proceeding.

    (f)  The authorization, approval or favorable recommendation by
    the board of directors of a corporation of indemnification, as
    permitted by this section, shall not be deemed an act or
    corporate transaction in which a director has a conflict of
    interest, and no such indemnification shall be void or voidable
    on such ground.

section 55-8-52.  Mandatory Indemnification.

    Unless limited by its articles of incorporation, a corporation
shall indemnify a director who was wholly successful, on the merits
or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he was a
party because he is or was a director of the corporation against
reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection with the
proceeding.

section 55-8-53.  Advance For Expenses.

    Expenses incurred by a director in defending a proceeding may
be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of
such proceeding as authorized by the board of directors in the
specific case or as authorized or required under any provision in
the articles of incorporation or bylaws or by any applicable
resolution or contract upon receipt of an undertaking by or on
behalf of the director to repay such amount unless it shall
ultimately be determined that he is entitled to be indemnified by
the corporation against such expenses.

section 55-8-54.  Court-ordered Indemnification.

    Unless a corporation's articles of incorporation provide
otherwise, a director of the corporation who is a party to a
proceeding may apply for indemnification to the court conducting
the proceeding or to another court of competent jurisdiction.  On
receipt of an application, the court after giving any notice the
court considers necessary may order indemnification if it
determines:

         (1)  The director is entitled to mandatory indemnification
              under G.S. 55-8-52, in which case the court shall
              also order the corporation to pay the director's
              reasonable expenses incurred to obtain court-ordered
              indemnification; or
         (2)  The director is fairly and reasonably entitled to
              indemnification in view of all the relevant
              circumstances, whether or not he met the standard of
              conduct set forth in G.S. 55-8-51 or was adjudged
              liable as described in G.S. 55-8-51(d), but if he was
              adjudged so liable his indemnification is limited to
              reasonable expenses incurred.
section 55-8-55.  Determination and Authorization of Indemnification.

    (a)  A corporation may not indemnify a director under G.S.
    55-8-51 unless authorized in the specific case after a
    determination has been made that indemnification of the
    director is permissible in the circumstances because he has met
    the standard of conduct set forth in G.S. 55-8-51.

    (b)  The determination shall be made:

         (1)  By the board of directors by majority vote of a
              quorum consisting of directors not at the time
              parties to the proceeding;

         (2)  If a quorum cannot be obtained under subdivision (1),
              by majority vote of a committee duly designated by
              the board of directors (in which designation
              directors who are parties may participate),
              consisting solely of two or more directors not at the
              time parties to the proceeding;
         (3)  By special legal counsel (i) selected by the board of
              directors or its committee in the manner prescribed
              in subdivision (1) or (2); or (ii) if a quorum of the
              board of directors cannot be obtained under
              subdivision (1) and a committee cannot be designated
              under subdivision (2), selected by majority vote of
              the full board of directors (in which selection
              directors who are parties may participate); or
         (4)  By the shareholders, but shares owned by or voted
              under the control of directors who are at the time
              parties to the proceeding may not be voted on the
              determination.

    (c)  Authorization of indemnification and evaluation as to
    reasonableness of expenses shall be made in the same manner as
    the determination that indemnification is permissible, except
    that if the determination is made by special legal counsel,
    authorization of indemnification and evaluation as to
    reasonableness of expenses shall be made by those entitled
    under subsection (b)(3) to select counsel.

section 55-8-56.  Indemnification of Officers, Employees, and Agents.

    Unless a corporation's articles of incorporation provide
otherwise:

    (1)  An officer of the corporation is entitled to mandatory
         indemnification under G.S. 55-8-52, and is entitled to
         apply for court-ordered indemnification under G.S.
         55-8-54, in each case to the same extent as a director.

    (2)  The corporation may indemnify and advance expenses under
         this Part to an officer, employee, or agent of the
         corporation to the same extent as to a director; and
(3)  A corporation may also indemnify and advance expenses to
         an officer, employee, or agent who is not a director to
         the extent, consistent with public policy, that may be
         provided by its articles of incorporation, bylaws, general
         or specific action of its board of directors, or contract.

section 55-8-57.  Additional Indemnification and Insurance.

    (a)  In addition to and separate and apart from the
    indemnification provided for in G.S. 55-8-51, 55-8-52, 55-8-54,
    55-8-55 and 55-8-56, a corporation may in its articles of
    incorporation or bylaws or by contract or resolution indemnify
    or agree to indemnify any one or more of its directors,
    officers, employees, or agents against liability and expenses
    in any proceeding (including without limitation a proceeding
    brought by or on behalf of the corporation itself) arising out
    of their status as such or their activities in any of the
    foregoing capacities; provided, however, that a corporation may
    not indemnify or agree to indemnify a person against liability
    or expenses he may incur on account of his activities which
    were at the time taken known or believed by him to be clearly
    in conflict with the best interests of the corporation.  A
    corporation may likewise and to the same extent indemnify or
    agree to indemnify any person who, at the request of the
    corporation, is or was serving as a director, officer, partner,
    trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic
    corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
    enterprise or as a trustee or administrator under an employee
    benefit plan.  Any provision in any articles of incorporation,
    bylaw, contract, or resolution permitted under this section may
    include provisions for recovery from the corporation of
    reasonable costs, expenses, and attorneys' fees in connection
    with the enforcement of rights to indemnification granted
    therein and may further include provisions establishing
    reasonable procedures for determining and enforcing the rights
    granted therein.

    (b)  The authorization, adoption, approval, or favorable
    recommendation by the board of directors of a public
    corporation of any provision in any articles of incorporation,
    bylaw, contract or resolution, as permitted in this section,
    shall not be deemed an act or corporate transaction in which a
    director has a conflict of interest, and no such articles of
    incorporation or bylaw provision or contract or resolution
    shall be void or voidable on such grounds.  The authorization,
    adoption, approval, or favorable recommendation by the board of
    directors of a nonpublic corporation of any provision in any
    articles of incorporation, bylaw, contract or resolution, as
    permitted in this section, which occurred prior to July 1,
    1990, shall not be deemed an act or corporate transaction in
    which a director has a conflict of interest, and no such
    articles of incorporation, bylaw provision, contract or
    resolution shall be void or voidable on such grounds.  Except
as permitted in G.S. 55-8-31, no such bylaw, contract, or
    resolution not adopted, authorized, approved or ratified by
    shareholders shall be effective as to claims made or
    liabilities asserted against any director prior to its
    adoption, authorization, or approval by the board of directors.

    (c)  A corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on
    behalf of an individual who is or was a director, officer,
    employee, or agent of the corporation, or who, while a
    director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, is or
    was serving at the request of the corporation as a director,
    officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another
    foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture,
    trust, employee benefit plan, or other enterprise, against
    liability asserted against or incurred by him in that capacity
    or arising from his status as a director, officer, employee, or
    agent, whether or not the corporation would have power to
    indemnify him against the same liability under any provision of
    this Chapter.

section 55-8-58.  Application of Part.

    (a)  If articles of incorporation limit indemnification or
    advance for expenses, indemnification and advance for expenses
    are valid only to the extent consistent with the articles.

    (b)  This Part does not limit a corporation's power to pay or
    reimburse expenses incurred by a director in connection with
    his appearance as a witness in a proceeding at a time when he
    has not been made a named defendant or respondent to the
    proceeding.

    (c)  This Part shall not affect rights or liabilities arising
    out of acts or omissions occurring before July 1, 1990.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.

    Not Applicable.

Item 8.  Exhibits.

    The Exhibits to this Form S-8 are listed in the accompanying
Index to Exhibits.

    In lieu of filing an opinion of counsel concerning compliance
with the requirements of ERISA or an Internal Revenue Service
("IRS") determination letter that the Plan is qualified under
Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code, the Registrant hereby
undertakes to submit the Plan and any amendment thereto to the IRS
in a timely manner and to make all changes required by the IRS in
order to qualify the Plan.

Item 9.  Undertakings.

    The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration
Statement:

         (i)  To include any prospectus required by section
    10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

         (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
    arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement
    (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
    individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental
    change in the information set forth in the Registration
    Statement;

         (iii)  To include any material information with respect to
    the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the
    Registration Statement or any material change in such
    information in the Registration Statement.

         Provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do
    not apply if the information required to be included in a
    post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in
    periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to section 13
    or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that
    are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

    (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at
that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.

    (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain
unsold at the termination of the offering.

    The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for the
purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to
Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.

    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and
controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing
provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in
the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer
or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense
of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director,
officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its
counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in
the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and
has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City
of Greensboro, North Carolina on January 18, 1994.

                                      CONE MILLS CORPORATION

Date:  January 18, 1994               By:  /s/J. Patrick Danahy   
                                           J. Patrick Danahy
                                           President and Chief
                                           Executive Officer

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
this registration statement has been signed by the following
persons in the following capacities on August 19, 1993.
Signature                  Title                   Date     

                        Chairman of the Board                    
(Dewey L. Trogdon)

/s/J. Patrick Danahy   Director, President and    January 18, 1994
(J. Patrick Danahy)    Chief Executive Officer
                        (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/John L. Bakane       Director, Vice President  January 18, 1994
  (John L. Bakane)     and Chief Financial Officer
                       (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/Richard S. Vetack          Director            January 18, 1994
(Richard S. Vetack)

/s/Bud W. Willis, III         Director            January 18, 1994
(Bud W. Willis, III)
Signature                  Title                   Date     

/s/Doris R. Bray              Director            January 18, 1994
  (Doris R. Bray)

                              Director                           
(Leslie W. Gaulden)

                              Director                           
(Jeanette C. Kimmel)

/s/Charles M. Reid            Director            January 18, 1994
 (Charles M. Reid)

/s/J. D. Holder               Controller          January 18, 1994
   J. D. Holder         (Principal Accounting
                         Officer)
EXHIBITS
INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit                                                 Sequential
No.           DESCRIPTION                               Page No.  

* 4.1         Restated Articles of Incorporation of
              the Registrant effective August 25,
              1993, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the
              Registrant's report on Form 10-Q for
              the quarter ended October 3, 1993.

* 4.2         Amended and Restated Bylaws of
              Registrant, effective June 18, 1992,
              filed as Exhibit 3.5 to the
              Registrant's Registration Statement on
              Form S-1 (File No. 33-46907).

* 4.3         Note Agreement dated as of August 13,
              1992, between Cone Mills Corporation
              and The Prudential Insurance Company
              of America, with form of 8% promissory
              note attached, filed as Exhibit 4.01
              to the Registrant's report on Form 8-K
              dated August 13, 1992.

* 4.4         Credit Agreement dated as of August
              13, 1992, among Cone Mills
              Corporation, the banks listed therein
              and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of
              New York, as Agent, with form of note
              attached, filed as Exhibit 4.02 to the
              Registrant's report on Form 8-K dated
              August 13, 1992.

* 4.5         Specimen Class A Preferred Stock
              Certificate, filed as Exhibit 4.5 to
              the Registrant's Registration
              Statement on Form S-1 (File No.
              33-46907).

* 4.6         Specimen Common Stock Certificate,
              effective June 18, 1992, filed as
              Exhibit 4.7 to the Registrant's
              Registration Statement on Form S-1
              (File No. 33-46907).

* 4.7         Registration rights agreement dated as
              of March 30, 1992, among the
              Registrant and the shareholders listed
              therein, filed as Exhibits 4.8 to the
              Registrant's Registration Statement on
              Form S-1 (File No. 33-46907).
Enhibit                                                 Sequential
No.                                                     Page No.
4.8           Supplemental Retirement Program of
              Registrant as amended and restated
              effective September 1, 1993.

4.9           The 401(k) Program (formerly the
              Supplemental Retirement Program) as
              amended and restated effective
              January 1, 1994.

5             Opinion of Neil W. Koonce, Esq.,
              General Counsel of the Registrant
              regarding legality of issuance of
              Common Stock.

23.1          Consent of Neil W. Koonce, Esq.
              contained in the Opinion, filed as
              Exhibit 5 hereto.

23.2          Consent of Robinson, Bradshaw &
              Hinson, P.A.

23.3          Consent of McGladery & Pullen,
              independent auditor.

                  

*Incorporated by reference to the statement or
report indicated.