ONEITA INDUSTRIES INC
10-K, 1995-12-29
KNIT OUTERWEAR MILLS
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-K

X        ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
         OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
         For the fiscal year ended September 30, 1995
         or
___      TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
         OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

         For the transition period from                  to
         Commission File No. 1-9734

ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware                                               57-0351045
(State or other jurisdiction                           (IRS Employer
of incorporation or organization)                      Identification Number)

4130 Faber Place Drive, Suite 200                      29405
Ashley Corporate Center                                (Zip Code)
Charleston, S.C.

Registrant's telephone number including area code:   (803) 529-5225
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the act:

Title of Class                       Name of Each Exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $.25 par value         New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:   None

     Indicate  by check mark  whether the  Registrant  (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934  during  the  preceding  12 months  (or for such  shorter  period  that the
Registrant  was  required to file such  report) and (2) has been subject to such
filing  requirements  for the past 90 days:  Yes X No  

     Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of  Registrant's  knowledge in definitive  proxy or information  statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
form  10-K:  o  

     The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the
Registrant, as of November 30, 1995 was approximately $26,954,994. 

     The number of shares  outstanding  of each of the  Registrant's  classes of
common  stock,  as  of  November  30,  1995  was  6,878,506  shares.   

     Documents  incorporated  by reference:  Part III - Registrant's  definitive
proxy  statement  to be filed  pursuant  to  Regulation  14-A of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.
<PAGE>

                                    PART I

Item One - Business

     Oneita  Industries,  Inc.  (the  "Company"  or "Oneita")  manufactures  and
markets high quality activewear and infantswear.  Oneita's  activewear  includes
T-shirts and sweatshirts  for screen  printing sold under the Oneita  Power-T(R)
Oneita  Power/50  Plus(R) and Oneita  Power-Sweats(R)  and Oneita  Colorwear(TM)
brand names. The Company estimates that it is the fourth largest manufacturer of
branded imprinted T-shirts in the United States.  Oneita's  infantswear includes
layette and playwear  sold under brand  names,  including  Soupcon(R),  Oneita's
Kids(R),  Health-tex(R)  Layette  Collection  and  under  private  label.  These
products are marketed to the imprinted sportswear industry through the Company's
Activewear  Division  and  to  major  retailers  through  the  Company's  Retail
Division.

     Since 1987,  Oneita has achieved growth by building a brand name activewear
and  infantswear  business with a high quality image.  As a result of realigning
its product mix to  concentrate on these higher margin  products,  the Company's
net sales of activewear  increased  from $37.4 million in 1987 to $141.3 million
in 1993,  $157.1 million in 1994 and $142.3  million in 1995 (a compound  annual
growth rate of approximately 18.2%) and net sales of infantswear  increased from
$14.2 million in 1987 to $36.3 million in 1993,  $36.4 million in 1994 and $32.7
million in 1995 (a compound annual growth rate of approximately  11.0%).  

     Oneita expanded its activewear products by introducing  sweatshirts in 1991
under the Oneita  Power-Sweats  label.  Sweatshirts  accounted for approximately
$17.7 million of the  activewear  sales in both 1994 and 1995.  In  infantswear,
Oneita has focused on developing a variety of brand name products, each targeted
at specific retail markets,  including  department stores, chain stores and mass
merchandisers.

PRODUCTS
     Activewear.  Oneita  manufactures  and markets T-shirts and sweatshirts for
the  imprinted  sportswear  industry.  Screen  printing  consists of  imprinting
designs,  patterns or letters  ranging from simple  lettering  to complex  color
patterns on apparel.  Oneita's T-shirts,  in management's  opinion,  are of high
quality  because they are heavy in weight,  have fuller cut  specifications  and
long-lasting  construction  features such as  shoulder-to-shoulder  taping and a
seamless tubular collar design.
     Oneita  introduced  sweatshirts  in 1991 to its  activewear  line under the
Oneita  Power-Sweats  label. The Company sells sweatshirts to the same customers
to whom it sells  T-shirts and believes  that its ability to do so may result in
stronger relationships with such customers and the addition of new customers for
both T-shirts and sweatshirts.
     Historically,  Oneita's  business has been seasonal with respect to T-shirt
sales to the extent that  approximately 50% of annual T-shirt sales have been in
the March through July period. Sweatshirts provide a seasonal balance for Oneita
since its  customers  tend to stock higher  levels of T-shirts in the spring and
summer months and higher levels of sweatshirts in the fall and winter months.
     The Company sells activewear through in-house salespersons to approximately
300 customers  located  throughout the United States,  including 80 distributors
and also to major  screenprinters,  which  accounted for sales of $128.3 million
and $22 million  respectively  in 1994,  and $118.4  million  and $23.9  million
respectively  in 1995.  The Company also sells  activewear  to  distributors  in
Europe,  Canada and the Pacific Rim. Such sales accounted for  approximately  $2
million of net sales in both 1994 and 1995.  The  Company  intends to expand its
markets and geographic distribution by, among other things,  increasing sales in
these regions.
     Based upon an industry  marketing  study,  the Company  estimates  that the
branded  imprinted  T-shirt  market  exceeds $1.6 billion in sales  annually and
believes it is the fourth largest  manufacturer of branded imprinted T-shirts in
the United States.  The market for T-shirts for the screen printing  industry is
very  competitive  and is based upon quality,  service,  price,  availability of
product and name recognition.  Oneita's primary competitors,  Fruit of the Loom,
Inc.,  Russell  Corporation and Hanes (a subsidiary of Sara Lee Corporation) are
larger,  have substantially  greater resources and account for a majority of the
T-shirt market.  Oneita believes that it competes  favorably in quality,  price,
customer  service and availability of product.  However,  as was the case in the
second half of fiscal 1995, when the dominant  T-shirt  manufacturers  increased
their manufacturing  capacity  substantially and reduced prices,  Oneita's sales
may be adversely affected. Oneita's ability to compete may be adversely affected
by an increase in yarn prices since,  unlike certain of its competitors,  Oneita
does not spin its own yarn.  Oneita believes that foreign  competition  does not
<PAGE>

have a material effect on the sale of activewear.  In July 1994, Oneita and
other  manufacturers  announced  price  increases  over the prior year averaging
6.5%.  However,  in the fourth quarter of 1995 customer demand was significantly
reduced  from  earlier  quarters  and the Company  offered  certain  promotional
pricing  arrangements for fourth quarter sales which resulted in overall average
price  increases for 1995 of 4%. 

     During 1994,  Oneita  expanded its  Power/50  Plus line (a premium  T-shirt
comprised  of  60%  cotton  and  40%  polyester),  enhanced  its  "PFD"  T-shirt
collection  (an  all-cotton  shirt  that  is  re-dyed  by  customers)  and  also
introduced a new T-shirt,  the Power Rib-T. In 1995, the PFD program was further
expanded by the offering of the Colorwear Collection,  a garment dyed assortment
of both old and new  styles in new  colors.  Among the new  styles  added to the
collection  are a pique  golf  shirt,  henley  tee shirt and a zip cadet  collar
sweatshirt. 

     Infantswear.  Historically,  Oneita has manufactured and sold private label
cotton and cotton blend layette and playwear for infants and  toddlers.  Layette
is apparel for newborns,  and playwear is apparel for infants and toddlers up to
36  months.  In 1986,  Oneita  began to  manufacture  and market  higher  priced
infantswear  under its own  brand  name,  Soupcon.  In 1988,  Oneita  introduced
toddlerswear. In fiscal 1994 and 1995, net sales of infantswear and toddlerswear
under the Company's own brand names accounted for approximately 38% of its total
infantswear  sales.  

     Oneita  has  an  exclusive  license  agreement  with  Health-tex,  Inc.  to
manufacture  and market the Health-tex  lines of layette  products in the United
States and its  territories.  This license  agreement  has been renewed  through
September 1997 with three three-year  extension options  remaining.  Oneita also
has a license  agreement  to  manufacture  and  market a layette  line under the
Mother Goose & Company  trademark.  This license  agreement expires on March 30,
1997,  subject to two three-year  renewal options,  and requires certain minimum
royalty payments.  Pursuant to this license agreement, Oneita provides a layette
line to Kmart, a leading  retailer.  

     Oneita sells its private label  infantswear and its Health-tex  products to
substantially  all of the major department store chains and its Soupcon products
to higher priced  department  and specialty  stores.  ONEITA'S KIDS products are
sold primarily to chain stores and moderately  priced retailers however in 1995,
the ONEITA'S KIDS line was expanded  with new styles of fleecewear  and T-shirts
and is now  marketed  also to the  imprinted  sportswear  industry.  

     Oneita has redirected its infantswear sales efforts by de-emphasizing small
orders and higher  priced  playwear  and  concentrating  on sales of layette and
basic infantswear to larger customers, including mass merchandisers. The Company
markets infantswear primarily through in-house salespeople. Oneita also displays
its products at  infantswear  trade shows and  advertises in trade  magazines to
maintain and improve brand name  recognition.  

     The  infantswear  market is highly  competitive  and consists of companies,
including  William H. Carter,  Gerber Products Company and Oshkosh B' Gosh, Inc.
which are larger and have substantially  greater market share and resources than
the  Company.  The  Company  believes  that it  competes  favorably  with  other
manufacturers  of private label products as well as with other  manufacturers of
high quality brand name infantswear on the basis of quality,  service, price and
availability of product.

MANUFACTURING
     The Company's  historical  strategy has been to increase cost  efficiencies
through  operating its  facilities  at maximum  capacity and, from time to time,
using outside  contractors  to meet customer  demand  surges.  In addition,  the
Company has an on-going program to upgrade its  manufacturing  equipment and add
technologically  advanced manufacturing  equipment.  Since 1991, the Company has
added  approximately  $59  million of  machinery  and  technologically  advanced
equipment.  This program is intended to result in higher  production  levels and
increased manufacturing  efficiencies.  In November 1994 the Company announced a
$18 million capital  expenditure program that calls for expansion of its textile
manufacturing facilities,  including knitting,  bleaching and dyeing. Operations
at the new Fayette Textile facility commenced in October 1995 with production at
40 % of  anticipated  capacity.  The  estimated  remaining  cost of the  Fayette
Project is $11,700.
     The Company's manufacturing  operations consist of knitting,  bleaching and
dyeing,  cutting and sewing and packaging.  The Company's  operations begin with
raw yarns. The yarn is then knit into four basic fabric  constructions  (jersey,
fleece,  rib and interlock)  from which the Company  produces its products.  The
knitted  fabric is batched  in lots for  bleaching  or  scoured  for dyeing in a
variety of both  pressure and  atmospheric  vessels for color,  consistency  and
quality.  The fabric is then brought to finishing.  The finishing operation sets
the width and length and  pre-shrinks  the fabric.  The finished fabric lots are
then  transported to a cutting  operation which cuts specific garment parts such
as sleeves,  collars,  cuffs and bodies for sewing.  The cut parts are then sewn
together in an assembly line. Various sewing threads, stitches, trims and colors
are mixed and matched for desired styling.  The finished garments are inspected,
folded and  packaged.  Quality  assurance  systems are  utilized in checking raw
materials, in-process controls and finished products.

<PAGE>

     In November 1995, in connection with its restructuring program, the Company
closed two manufacturing facilities. The Company's eight remaining manufacturing
facilities are located in South Carolina,  North Carolina,  Alabama, Jamaica and
Mexico.  The  facilities  in Jamaica and Mexico are provided with cut fabric for
T-shirts and are used for sewing operations.  In fiscal 1995,  approximately 57%
of the Company's T-shirts were sewn in Jamaica and Mexico. In December 1994, the
Company  consolidated  Activewear  distribution from five warehouse locations in
South Carolina to one warehouse in Atlanta, Georgia. The consolidation,  as well
as new state of the art material  handling  equipment,  has reduced the costs of
transporting  goods  to  and  from  sewing  facilities,   reduced  the  cost  of
transportation and reduced lead times.

SALES TO MAJOR CUSTOMERS
     Net  sales to the  Company's  ten  largest  customers  for the  year  ended
September 30, 1995 accounted for  approximately 51% of the Company's total sales
for such period. One customer,  SanMar Corporation,  a distributor of Activewear
for  screen  printing,  accounted  for  approximately  17% of total net sales in
fiscal 1995.  Net sales to the Company's  five largest  activewear  customers in
fiscal 1995 accounted for  approximately  36% of the Company's  total net sales.
Net sales to the Company's five largest retail  customers for 1995 accounted for
approximately 12% of the Company's total net sales.

EFFECT OF IMPORTS
     Current  United States quotas and tariffs  restrict the number and increase
the cost of apparel  items foreign  producers  can export to the United  States.
Foreign competitors,  whose chief competitive  advantage is low labor cost, tend
to focus on items with high labor  content,  such as higher  priced  sportswear.
Oneita's products are not as labor intensive as such other manufactured  apparel
and, the Company believes, are less sensitive to foreign competition.
     In November  1993, the United States  Congress  approved the North American
Free Trade  Agreement  ("NAFTA"),  which is  intended to  eliminate  barriers to
imports  between  the United  States,  Canada  and  Mexico  over a ten (10) year
period.  In December 1993, the Uruguay round of negotiations  under the auspices
of the General Agreement on Tariffs and  Trade("GATT")  was concluded.  Recently
ratified  by  Congress,  GATT will  require  that  quotas on apparel and textile
products  are to be phased out over a ten (10) year  period and  tariffs on such
products are to be reduced by approximately 11% over a ten (10) year period. The
Company  is  unable to  determine  at this time  what  effect,  if any,  changes
resulting from NAFTA and GATT may have on its business,  operations or financial
condition.

RAW MATERIALS
     The principal raw materials used in the Company's  products are cotton yarn
and blend  yarns.  The bulk of this yarn is  obtained  from  multiple  suppliers
within a 300-mile radius of the Company's  fabric knitting plant.  The prices of
cotton yarn  fluctuate  from time to time.  The Company has entered  into supply
contracts  for cotton yarn,  generally  at fixed prices with various  expiration
dates  through  April 1996.  As these  contracts  expire,  the  Company  will be
required to  purchase  cotton yarn at the  current  market  prices  which may be
higher than current contract  prices.  For the year ended September 30, 1995 the
Company purchased approximately 65% of its yarn from a single yarn supplier.
     Other raw materials,  such as chemicals,  dyes and packaging materials, are
purchased on the open market.  The sources and  availability  of these materials
are believed to be adequate to meet present needs.

BACKLOG
     The Company's  backlog of unfilled orders was  approximately $36 million at
September  30, 1995,  compared with  approximately  $52 million at September 30,
1994. The amount of unfilled orders at a particular time is affected by a number
of factors,  including the  scheduling of  manufacturing  and product  shipping,
which  in  some   instances  is  dependent  on  the  desires  of  the  customer.
Accordingly,  the amount of unfilled  orders may not be  indicative  of eventual
actual shipments. The Company expects to ship substantially all of its September
30, 1995 backlog of unfilled orders by September 30, 1996.

TRADEMARKS AND LICENSES
     The Company has registered the Oneita Power-T(R),  Oneita Power/50 Plus(R),
Soupcon(R),  ONEITA'S  KIDS(R),  Oneita  Power-Sweats(R)  trademarks and certain
other trademarks.  The expiration dates of these trademarks range from July 2006
to December 2008. The loss of certain of these  trademarks would have a material
adverse effect upon the Company's business.

EMPLOYEES
     As of September  30, 1995,  the Company had  approximately  3,460 full time
employees,  including 3,200 in manufacturing,  60 in marketing and sales and 200
in general management and administration.

<PAGE>


     At September 30, 1995,  approximately  500 of the  Company's  manufacturing
employees  are covered by a collective  bargaining  agreement  with the Union of
Needletraders,  Industrial and Textile  Employees,  successor to the Amalgamated
Clothing and Textile  Workers  Union.  The  agreement,  which expired in October
1995,  has been extended on a month to month basis during which time the Company
and the Union are negotiating a new three year agreement.  In November 1995, the
Company  announced  the  closing of two of its  manufacturing  facilities  which
affected 240 union employees and 100 non-union employees.
      The Company considers its employee relations to be satisfactory.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
As of September 30, 1995, the executive officers of the Company were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                         Served as
                                         Officer
Name                             Age      Since   Positions and Offices
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                              <C>     <C>      <C>  
Robert M. Gintel                 67      1993     Chairman of the Board
Albert Fried, Jr.                65      1994     Vice Chairman of the Board
Herbert J. Fleming               49      1984     President
Joe E. Brinson                   47      1989     Executive Vice President - Operations
James L. Ford                    55      1994     Executive Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer
J. Roger Holland                 55      1994     Executive Vice President - Sales and Marketing
William H. Boyd                  48      1986     Vice President - Administration, and Treasurer
E. Franklin Impson, Jr.          37      1994     Vice President and Controller
Edward I. Kramer                 61      1986     Secretary
</TABLE>

Item Two - Properties (Dollars in thousands)
    As of  September  30, 1995,  the Company  occupied  approximately  1,366,000
square  feet  of  manufacturing,  general  office  and  warehouse  space  at its
facilities  in Alabama,  Georgia,  New York,  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina,
Jamaica  and  Mexico.  Approximately  673,000  square feet are under real estate
leases with aggregate minimum annual rental commitments of approximately $1,992.
Set forth below is a summary of the facilities owned or leased by the Company.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Location                                 Primary Use                         Square Feet
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                      <C>                                  <C>     

Charleston, SC                           Executive Offices                     27,000  (a)
Andrews, SC                              Manufacturing                        332,000
Atlanta, GA                              Distribution                         412,000  (b)
Cullman, AL                              Manufacturing/Distribution           177,000
Fayette, AL (2 locations)                Manufacturing                        220,000
Kinston, NC                              Manufacturing                        114,000  (c)
Juarez, Mexico                           Manufacturing                         28,000  (d)
Montego Bay, Jamaica (2 locations)       Manufacturing                         49,000  (e)
New York, NY                             Sales and Marketing                    7,000  (f)

<FN>

- ----------------
(a)    Premises are leased through September 1, 2000 at an annual rental of $377
       per year. The Company has an option to renew for two additional  five (5)
       year periods.
(b)    Premises are leased through November 1999 at an annual rental of $912 per
       year.  The  Company  has an option to extend the lease for an  additional
       five years.
(c)    Premises are leased  through  April 30, 1998 at an annual  rental of $285
       per year.  The Company has an option to purchase the premises for $2,500,
       exercisable at any time prior to expiration of the lease.
(d)    Premises are leased through  October 1, 1999 at an annual rental of $126.
       The Company has an option to purchase the  premises  for $900,  or it may
       renew the lease at the end of the lease term.
(e)    PreMises are leased through November 30, 1997 and June 30, 2000 at annual 
       rentals of $25 and $96, respectively.
(f)    Premises are leased through April, 2000 at an annual rental of $171.
- ----------------
</FN>
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

The Company  believes that its facilities and equipment are well  maintained and
are  sufficient to meet current  production  levels and that its  facilities are
sufficient to meet anticipated sales and growth through 1996.
Item Three - Legal Proceedings
       There are no material pending legal proceedings.
Item Four - Submission of Matter to a Vote of the Security Holders
       No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth
quarter of the fiscal year.

                                    PART II

Item Five - Market for Registrant's Common Equity
and Related Stockholder Matters
   The  Company's  Common  Stock is listed  for  trading  on the New York  Stock
   Exchange  under the  symbol  "ONA".  As of  November  30,  1995,  there  were
   approximately  200  holders  of record of the  Company's  Common  Stock.  The
   following  table shows for the periods  indicated the quarterly  range in the
   high and low sales prices for these securities.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                               1995                            1994
                                                     ------------------------------------------------------
                                                     High          Low                  High          Low
<S>                                                  <C>         <C>                   <C>         <C>

Fiscal Period
First Quarter................................        $ 11 7/8    $ 9 3/8               $ 8 3/8     $ 6 1/4
Second Quarter...............................          12 3/4     10 5/8                 7 3/4       6 3/8
Third Quarter................................          12 1/8      8 7/8                 9 1/4       6 5/8
Fourth Quarter...............................          10 5/8      8 1/8                11 1/8       8 7/8

<FN>

No cash  dividends have been paid since the Company's  initial public  offering.
See Note 3 to "Notes to Consolidated  Financial  Statements"  and  "Management's
Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results of  Operations
Liquidity and Capital Resources."
</FN>
</TABLE>

Item Six - Selected Financial Data (In thousands, except per share amounts)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                             1995           1994         1993           1992         1991
                                     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                       <C>            <C>          <C>             <C>          <C>    

Operations
Net sales...........................      $175,036       $193,459     $177,610        $203,517     $150,995
Cost of goods sold..................       146,820        166,051      152,776         168,512      126,767
Interest expense net................         3,006          3,868        4,388           4,179        3,481
Income (loss) before income taxes                           4,372      (6,794)         (4,609)       13,174        6,597
Income taxes........................         1,552             27      (1,632)           5,348        2,780
Net income (loss)...................         2,820        (6,821)      (2,977)           7,826        3,817

Financial data
Inventories.........................       $79,968        $44,720      $63,086         $60,078      $43,735
Accounts receivable.................        29,438         35,757       28,718          39,957       23,220
Depreciation, amortization and
 goodwill write-off (see note below)         4,649         11,443        4,266           4,150        3,509
Working capital.....................        72,904         60,885       84,361          69,623       54,026
Long-term debt and
  capital lease obligations.........        37,404         17,133       47,228          27,338       31,838
Shareholders' equity................        77,840         76,022       82,822          85,016       62,091
Total assets........................       165,017        120,917      149,266         148,818      115,813

Common stock data
Net income (loss) per share.........         $.40         $(.98)          $(.43)         $1.24          $.68
Book value per share................       $11.32         $10.92          $11.09        $13.06        $12.25

Number of common
  shares outstanding................        6,879          6,961           6,957         6,508         5,070

<FN>

Net loss for  fiscal  1994 and 1993  includes  after-tax  amounts  of $2,519 and
$4,700, respectively, for restructuring charges as described in Note 6. Net loss
for fiscal 1994 also includes a $6,651 write-off of goodwill. See Note 1.
</FN>
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

Item Seven -  Management's  Discussion  and Analysis of Financial  Condition and
Results  of  Operations  (In  thousands,  except per share  amounts)  RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS

1995 Compared to 1994

    Net sales of the  Company in 1995 were  $175,000  as compared to $193,500 in
1994,  a decrease of $18,500 or 9.6 %. The  decrease  was due to a reduction  in
customer  orders,  partially  offset by net price  increases over the last year.
During the first nine months of 1995,  the  Company,  following  other  industry
leaders and reflecting  firm customer  demand,  increased  prices over the prior
year an average of 6.5%.  However, in the fourth quarter of 1995 customer demand
was significantly  reduced from earlier quarters and the Company offered certain
promotional  pricing  arrangements  for fourth  quarter sales which  resulted in
overall  average  price  increases  for 1995 of 4%. These  pricing  arrangements
reduced fourth quarter gross profit by an estimated  $3,600.  In September 1995,
the Company  announced  price  changes  for its  activewear  products  effective
October 1, 1995. While certain styles and colors had no price change, most white
and light colored  T-shirts will reflect reduced prices in 1996 of approximately
9 %.

    Net sales of  activewear  were  $142,300  in 1995 as compared to $157,100 in
1994, a decrease of $14,800 or 9.4 %. Net sales of T-shirts decreased by $14,800
in 1995  compared  to 1994  principally  due to lower unit sales of  T-shirts of
$14,000 offset by $8,000 of additional revenue attributable to increased prices.
Net sales of sweatshirts in 1995 were approximately the same as 1994.

     Net sales of retail were  $32,700 in 1995 as compared to $36,400 in 1994, a
decrease of $3,700 or 10.2 %. The  decrease  was due to lower unit sales.  

     Gross profit for 1995 was  $28,200,  an increase of $800 or 2.9% over 1994.
Such increase was  attributed  principally  to higher  selling  prices offset by
decreased  unit sales.  Gross profit as a percentage  of net sales  increased to
16.1% for 1995  compared  to 14.2%  for  1994.  Such  increase  was  principally
attributed to the price increases mentioned above ( 4 %) and overall reduced per
unit operating costs ( 2.1 %) offset by both increased raw material prices ( 3.2
%) and costs associated with reduced  production  schedules in the fourth fiscal
quarter ( 1.0 %). The  Company  expects  that its gross  profit for 1996 will be
adversely effected by the prices reductions  mentioned above.  

     Selling,  general and administrative  expenses for 1995 increased $1,200 or
6.1% over 1994  primarily due to increases in personnel and related costs ($800)
and increases in product  development  costs ($400).  

     Interest  expense,  net of interest  income for 1995 was $3,000 compared to
$3,900 for 1994.  The reduction  was due primarily to lower average  borrowings.

     Net income for fiscal year 1995 was $2,800 compared to a net loss of $6,800
for fiscal 1994.  During 1994,  the Company  changed its  accounting  method for
evaluating the  impairment of intangible  assets from a  recoverability  through
future operations method to a fair value method. As a result of this change, the
Company  wrote-off  $6,651 of goodwill  in 1994.  The results for the year ended
September 30, 1994 also included a pretax charge of $4,080 for the write-down of
facilities  to their fair  market  value that the  Company  intended  to sell or
abandon  after  usable   machinery  and  equipment  was   redeployed,   and  the
transitional  costs  related to the  reorganization  of  certain  administrative
functions  . The  write-downs  of  these  facilities  were  associated  with the
Company's   reorganization   of  its  Retail  Division  and   consolidation   of
distribution and manufacturing  facilities in order to improve  productivity and
customer service, reduce transportation costs and cut lead times.

1994 Compared to 1993

     Net sales of the  Company in 1994 were  $193,459 as compared to $177,610 in
1993, an increase of $15,849 or 8.9%.  

     Net sales of  activewear  were  $157,061 in 1994 as compared to $141,358 in
1993, an increase of $15,703 or 11.1%.  Net sales of T-shirts and sweatshirts in
1994 increased by $9,209 and $6,494,  respectively,  over 1993.  These increases
were  principally  due  to  increased  unit  sales  of  T-shirts  of  10.1%  and
sweatshirts of 62.7% partially offset by lower prices and the $6,242 cost of the
Company's rebate and other promotional  programs.  

     Net sales of  infantswear  were  $36,398 in 1994 as  compared to $36,252 in
1993,  an  increase  of $146 or 0.4%.  

     Gross  profit for 1994 was  $27,408,  an  increase  of $2,574 or 10.4% over
1993.  Such increase was  attributed  principally to increased unit sales of all
products.  Gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased to 14.2% for 1994
compared to 14.0% for 1993.  Such increase was  principally  attributed to lower
manufacturing  costs  offset by lower  prices  and  customer  rebates.  

     Selling,  general and administrative  expenses for 1994 increased $2,048 or
11.7% over 1993 primarily due to higher advertising ($880),  professional ($350)
and health insurance ($700) expenses.

<PAGE>

    Interest  expense,  net of interest  income for 1994 was $3,868  compared to
$4,388 for 1993. The reduction was due primarily to lower average borrowings.

    Net loss for fiscal  year 1994 was $6,821  compared  to a net loss of $2,977
for fiscal 1993.  During 1994,  the Company  changed its  accounting  method for
evaluating the  impairment of intangible  assets from a  recoverability  through
future operations method to a fair value method. As a result of this change, the
Company has  written-off  $6,651 of  goodwill  during the fourth  quarter  ended
September  30,  1994.  The  results for the year ended  September  30, 1994 also
include a pretax charge of $4,080 for the write-down of facilities to their fair
market value (non-cash charges  aggregating  $2,739) that the Company intends to
sell or abandon  after usable  machinery and  equipment is  redeployed,  and the
transitional  costs  related to the  reorganization  of  certain  administrative
functions (a $397 non-cash write-off of leasehold improvements at a sales office
and $944 of cash expenses).  The write-downs of these facilities were associated
with the Company's  reorganization  of its Retail Division and  consolidation of
distribution and manufacturing  facilities in order to improve  productivity and
customer service,  reduce  transportation  costs and cut lead times. The results
for the year  ended  September  30,  1993  include  a $7,500  pretax  charge  to
streamline and consolidate  manufacturing  operations  which resulted in reduced
operating  costs  in  fiscal  1994  of  approximately   $4,000,   consisting  of
approximately  $1,500 of  reduced  employee  expenses,  approximately  $1,000 of
reduced  transportation  costs  and  approximately  $1,500  resulting  from more
efficient utilization of manufacturing facilities.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

    Working  capital was $72,904 at  September  30, 1995  compared to $60,885 at
September 30, 1994. The increase in working  capital was  principally  caused by
inventory  increases  which  were  financed  with the  drawdown  of  $25,000  of
long-term debt under the Company's March 1993  "revolving"  loan agreement.  The
Company presently has $30,000  uncommitted bank lines which provide for interest
at below  the  lending  banks'  prime  rates  and are  renewed  at  twelve-month
intervals.  These  bank  lines of credit  provide  for  payment  of  outstanding
indebtedness  on demand and are  subject  to  continuing  review  based upon the
Company's   financial   condition.   During  fiscal  1995,  the  maximum  amount
outstanding  under these lines was  $30,000  and $23,000 was  outstanding  as of
September 30, 1995. In addition, the Company currently has a $25,000 bank credit
facility which provides for interest at  approximately  the lending banks' prime
rates and  becomes  due  between  1997 and 2000.  See Note (3) to the  Company's
Consolidated  Financial Statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1995.
At September 30, 1995,  $25,000 was outstanding  under the bank credit facility.
During 1995, the Company  canceled a factoring  agreement under which certain of
its  accounts  had been  sold to the  factor  and from  which the  Company  drew
advances on the sold accounts.

     During 1995,  the  Company's  inventories  increased by $35,000 to $80,000.
While  $10,000 of the increase was planned due to new styles and other  customer
service requirements,  $25,000 of the increase was due to reduced fourth quarter
deliveries  because of reduced  customer  demand  and are  considered  excess of
requirements  to support  current  levels of  customer  demand.  The Company has
rescheduled  production at its  facilities to allow for the  disposition of this
excess inventory in the normal course of business throughout 1996.

     The Company  has  financed  the  addition of new  property  and  equipment,
including  $7,000 of its capital  expenditure  program  relating to its Fayette,
Alabama  facility and its ongoing annual capital  expenditures of  approximately
$10,000 through equipment leases,  restricted funds from Industrial  Development
Revenue Bonds, funds generated from operations and borrowings under its existing
$25,000  credit  facility.  Operations  at  the  new  Fayette  Textile  facility
commenced in October 1995 with production at 70 % of anticipated  capacity.  The
estimated  remaining  cost of the  Fayette  Project  is  $11,700.

     The Board of Directors has  authorized the purchase of up to 350,000 shares
of its Common  Stock.  Purchases  will be made from time to time,  depending  on
market  conditions,  at prices deemed  appropriate  by  management.  The Company
believes that  purchasing its common stock is an  appropriate  use of its funds.
During 1995,  120,400 shares were purchased for an aggregate of $1,339. 

     In order to improve  liquidity and strengthen the Company's  balance sheet,
the Board of Directors has approved a $75 million  refinancing of existing debt,
which includes an $11,250,000  equity infusion into the Company through a rights
offering to stockholders. Existing stockholders will be given the opportunity to
maintain their current ownership  percentage by receiving the right to subscribe
to shares at $7.00  per share on the basis of one share of Oneita  common  stock
for each  four  shares  of stock  presently  held.  Avondale  Mills,  Inc.,  the
Company's  largest raw material  supplier and Robert M.  Gintel,  the  Company's
Chairman of the Board,  have agreed to subscribe to all shares not  purchased by
existing shareholders.  In no event will Oneita issue more than 1,607,143 shares
of stock in  connection  with the rights  offering,  which will  represent  18.9
percent  of the  then  8,485,649  shares  outstanding.  The  rights  offered  to
shareholders  will  be  non-transferable  and  non-tradeable.   The  $11,250,000
proceeds  from  the  rights  offering  will  be used to  prepay  certain  of the
subordinated notes described below.

<PAGE>

    The Company has entered  into an agreement  with  Avondale  Mills,  Inc. and
Robert  Gintel  to issue  10%  subordinated  notes in the  principal  amount  of
$15,000,000  maturing  January 31,  1999,  concurrently  with the funding of the
Company's  new bank  credit  facility.  The  notes  will be  subordinate  to the
Company's  bank debt and certain  other senior debt.  Subordinated  notes in the
amount of $7,500,000  to Avondale and  $3,750,000 to Gintel will be prepaid from
the  proceeds of the rights  offering.  In the event the rights  offering is not
consummated by May 31, 1996,  Avondale and Gintel will have the right to convert
these  $11,250,000  of notes  into  shares of Oneita  Common  Stock at $7.00 per
share. In connection with the $3,750,000  subordinated note to Gintel which will
remain  outstanding  after the rights  offering,  the Company will also issue to
Gintel  warrants to purchase  125,000 shares of Oneita Common Stock at $7.00 per
share.  The proceeds from issuance of the notes will be used for working capital
and capital expenditures.

    The Company has received a commitment  from its lenders to make available to
the Company  $60,000,000  under a new revolving line of credit.  The proceeds of
the new  debt  will be used to pay off an  existing  bank  credit  facility  and
existing  short-term  bank lines  totaling  $50,000,000  at November  1995.  The
additional  $10,000,000  of the  proceeds  will be used for working  capital and
capital expenditures. The new revolving line of credit will be collateralized by
inventories and accounts receivable and will mature on December 31, 1998.

    These  transactions  are expected to be completed  during the second  fiscal
quarter of 1996;  however,  no assurance  can be given that the  above-described
transactions  will be consummated on the terms described above or otherwise.  In
the event that debt  refinancing  cannot be consummated in a timely manner,  the
Company  expects  that it would  cancel  delivery  of  approximately  $7,000  of
equipment  related to the Fayette project and may be forced to reduce  inventory
levels in  advance  of  planned  deliveries  by either  further  curtailment  of
production or by accelerating  customer  deliveries by discounting  prices below
its costs.  It is anticipated  that the above actions along with funds generated
by  operations  would  provide  sufficient   liquidity  to  meet  the  Company's
obligations.  At September 30, 1995, approximately $2,600 was available for cash
dividends and distributions on the Company's stock pursuant to a loan agreement.

EFFECTS OF INFLATION

    The Company  believes  that the  relatively  moderate  rates of inflation in
recent years have not had a significant impact on its sales and profitability.

Item Eight - Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

    The financial  statements and supplementary  data listed in the accompanying
Index to Financial Statements and Schedules are attached as part of this report.

Item Nine - Changes In and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and
Financial Disclosure
None.

                                  PART III

     The  information  required by Part III is  incorporated by reference to the
Company's  definitive  proxy  statement in connection with its Annual Meeting of
Stockholders  scheduled  to be held in  February,  1996,  to be  filed  with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission  within 120 days  following  the end of the
Company's  fiscal year ended  September  30, 1995.  Information  relating to the
executive officers of the Registrant appears under Item I of this report.

                                  PART IV

Item Fourteen - Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 10-K
(a)     Financial Statements:
        See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules at page 
        F-1.
(b)     Reports on Form 8-K:
        No reports on Form 8-K were filed by Registrant in the last quarter of 
        the year covered by this report.
(c)     Exhibits:
        3.1    Certificate of Incorporation (Exhibit 3(a) of Form S-1 
               Registration Statement No. 33-16972)
        3.2    By-Laws as amended (Exhibit 3.1 of Form 10-Q for the quarter 
               ended March 31, 1994)
        10.1   Stock Option Plan (Exhibit 10(a) of Form S-1 Registration 
               Statement No. 33-16972)
        10.2   1989 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (Exhibit 10.2 of Annual 
               Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1990)

<PAGE>

        10.3   Lease Agreement dated as of October 1, 1987, between the 
               Registrant and Instrument Systems Corporation
               (Exhibit 10(d) of Form S-1 Registration Statement No. 33-16972)
        10.4   Employment Agreement between the Registrant and Herbert J. 
               Fleming, as amended (Exhibit 10.2 of Current Report on Form 8-K 
               dated January 1, 1994)
        10.5   Employment Agreement between Registrant and J. Roger Holland 
               (Exhibit 10.4 of Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1994)
        10.6   Variable  Amount of Grid Note  Agreement  dated  April 3,  1995,
               between  Registrant  and  First  Union  National  Bank of  South
               Carolina  (Exhibit 10.1 of Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April
               1, 1995)
        10.7   Promissory  Note dated  April 26,  1995,  between  Registrant  
               and National Westminster Bank, USA.   (Exhibit 10.7 of Form 10-Q
               for the quarter ended April 1, 1995)
        10.8   Single Payment Note dated January 1, 1995, between Registrant 
               and Trust Company Bank (Exhibit 10.3 of Form 10-Q for the 
               quarter ended April 1, 1995)
        10.9   Equipment  Lease  Agreement  dated as of May 16,  1988,  between
               Registrant and NEMLC Leasing  Associates No. 3 (Exhibit 10(k) of
               Form S-1  Registration  Statement  No.  33-22488)  amended as of
               December  1, 1988,  and May 19,  1989  (Exhibit  10.11 of Annual
               Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1990)
        10.10  Note Agreement dated as of December 20, 1988, between Registrant
               and an  institutional  lender (Exhibit 10.10 of Annual Report on
               Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1988)
        10.11  License Agreement dated October 24, 1988, between Registrant and 
               Health-tex, Inc. (Exhibit 10(k) of Form S-1 Registration 
               Statement No. 33-30810)
        10.12  Letter of Credit Agreement dated as of October 1, 1989,  between
               the  Registrant  and Trust Company Bank (Exhibit 10.12 of Annual
               Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1989)
        10.13  Lease  Agreement  dated  as of  October  1,  1989,  between  the
               Registrant and the Industrial  Development  Board of the City of
               Fayette,  Alabama  (Exhibit  10.13 of the Annual  Report on Form
               10-K for the year ended September 30, 1989)
        10.14  Guaranty  Agreement  dated as of October 1,  1989,  between  the
               Registrant  and  Trust  Company  Bank  (Exhibit  10.14 of Annual
               Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1989)
        10.15  Form of Indemnification Agreement between Registrant and its 
               officers and directors (Exhibit 28 to Current Report on Form 8-K 
               dated July 30, 1991)
        10.16  License Agreement dated as of February 1, 1991, between 
               Registrant and Henson Associates, Inc. (Exhibit 10.18 of Form 
               S-2 Registration Statement No. 33-46119)
        10.17  Loan Agreement  dated as of March 26, 1993,  between  Registrant
               and  National  Westminster  Bank,  USA and  Trust  Company  Bank
               (Exhibit  10.18 of Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
               September 30, 1993)
        10.18  Amendment  to  Loan  Agreement  dated  March  26,  1993  between
               Registrant  and  National  Westminster  Bank and  Trust  Company
               (Exhibit 10.6 of Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1994)
        10.19  License   Agreement  dated  as  of  August  31,  1993,   between
               Registrant and Kessler  Marketing Group,  Inc. (Exhibit 10.19 of
               Annual  Report on Form  10-K for the year  ended  September  30,
               1993)
        10.20  Modification to Management Services Contract dated February 5, 
               1993 (Exhibit 28 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 1, 
               1993)
        10.21  Registration Rights Letter Agreement between the Registrant and 
               Gintel & Co. Limited Partnership (Exhibit 10 to Current Report 
               on Form 8-K dated October 6, 1993)
        10.22  Letter Agreement dated October 5, 1993, between Gintel & Co. 
               Limited Partnership and Instrument Systems Corporation (Exhibit 
               2 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 6, 1993)
        10.23  Amendment  to Lease  Agreement  dated  as of  October  1,  1987,
               between Registrant and Instrument Systems  Corporation  (Exhibit
               10.24 of Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September
               30, 1993)
        10.24  Note Purchase Agreement dated as of December 28, 1995 among 
               Registrant, Robert M. Gintel and Avondale Mills, Inc.*

<PAGE>

        10.25  Amendment No. 3 to Loan Agreement dated March 26, 1993 between 
               Registrant and NatWest Bank, N.A. (formerly known as National 
               Westminster Bank USA) and Suntrust Bank, Atlanta (formerly 
               known as Trust Company Bank).*
        10.26  Amendment to Note Agreement dated as of December 20, 1988 between
               Registrant and  institutional  lender* 
        10.27  Factoring Agreement dated December 27, 1995 between  Registrant
               and SunTrust Bank, Atlanta* 
        11     Computation of Earnings Per Share* 
        22     The following  lists the Company's significant subsidiaries, all 
               of which are wholly-owned by the Company.  The names of certain 
               subsidiaries which do not, when considered in the aggregate, 
               constitute a significant subsidiary have been omitted.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                Name of Subsidiary                            Jurisdiction of Incorporation

        <S>     <C>                                           <C>
                Oneita-Kinston Corp.                          North Carolina
                Oneita-Strathleven Limited                    Jamaica
                Oneita Freeport Limited                       Jamaica
                Oneita Mexicana S.A. de C.V.                  Chihuahua, Mexico
        23      Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP*
        27      Financial Data Schedule*
<FN>

        *       Filed herewith
</FN>
</TABLE>

     The following undertakings are incorporated into the Company's Registration
Statements on Form S-8 (Registration Statement No. 33-30576,  33-34778, 33-62970
and 33-75834) and Form S-3 (Registration Statement No. 33-70524 and 33- 88600).

       (a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
           (1)  To file,  during any  period in which  offers or sales are being
                made, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement;
           (i)  To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the 
                Securities Act of 1993;
           (ii) To reflect in the  prospectus  any fact or events  arising after
                the effective date of the registration statement (or 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 to such  information  in the
                registration statement;

     Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if
the  registration  statement  is on Form S-3 or Form  S-8,  and 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 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. 

     (b)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for 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 any 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 the time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide 
          offering thereof.

           (i)  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

<PAGE>

                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 Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange  Act of 1934,  the  Company has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly  authorized  on the 28th day of
December, 1995.

                                              Oneita Industries, Inc.


                                              By: /s/ Herbert J. Fleming
                                              Herbert J. Fleming
                                              President

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report
has been signed on December 28, 1995 by the following  persons in the capacities
indicated:

Signatures                          Title

/s/ Robert M. Gintel                Chairman of the Board
Robert M. Gintel

/S/ Albert Fried, Jr                Vice Chairman of the Board
Albert Fried, Jr.

/s/ Herbert J. Fleming              President and Director
Herbert J. Fleming                  (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ James L. Ford                   Executive Vice President of Finance
James L. Ford                       (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

/s/ Meyer A. Gross                  Director
Meyer A. Gross

/s/ John G. Hudson                  Director
John G. Hudson

/s/ H. Varnell Moore                Director
H. Varnell Moore

/s/ Lewis Rubin                     Director
Lewis Rubin

<PAGE>


Index to Consolidated Financial Statements              ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.
and Schedule
            (Information required by Part III, Item 8 of Form 10-K)

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                      <C>  
                                                                                                              Page
Report of Independent Public Accountants                                 F-2

Financial Statements

Consolidated balance sheets - September 30, 1995 and 1994                F-3
Consolidated statements of operations for the three years 
ended September 30, 1995                                                 F-4
Consolidated statements of cash flows for the three years 
ended September 30, 1995                                                 F-5
Consolidated statements of shareholders' equity
for the three years ended September 30, 1995                             F-6
Notes to consolidated financial statements                               F-7

Financial Statement Schedule

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts                          F-13
<FN>

Other  schedules are omitted as they are not applicable or not required
under the rules of Regulation S-X.
</FN>
</TABLE>

                                    F-1
<PAGE>

Report of Independent Public Accountants

To Oneita Industries, Inc:

       We have audited the  accompanying  consolidated  balance sheets of Oneita
Industries,  Inc. (a Delaware  corporation) and subsidiaries as of September 30,
1995 and 1994, and the related consolidated statements of operations, cash flows
and  shareholders'  equity  for  each of the  three  years in the  period  ended
September 30, 1995.  These  financial  statements  and the schedule  referred to
below are the responsibility of the Company's management.  Our responsibility is
to express an opinion on these  financial  statements  and schedule based on our
audits.

       We conducted our audits in accordance  with generally  accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

       In our opinion,  the consolidated  financial statements referred to above
present  fairly,  in all material  respects,  the  financial  position of Oneita
Industries,  Inc. and  subsidiaries  as of  September  30, 1995 and 1994 and the
results of their  operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in
the period ended  September  30, 1995,  in conformity  with  generally  accepted
accounting principles.

       Our audits  were made for the  purpose of forming an opinion on the basic
consolidated  financial  statements taken as a whole. The schedule listed in the
index to  consolidated  financial  statements  and  schedule  is  presented  for
purposes of complying with the Securities  and Exchange  Commission's  rules and
are not a required  part of the basic  financial  statements.  This schedule has
been  subjected  to the auditing  procedures  applied in the audits of the basic
financial statements and, in our opinion,  fairly state in all material respects
the  financial  data  required to be set forth  therein in relation to the basic
financial statements taken as a whole.




                                              ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

Columbia, South Carolina,
November 17, 1995.

                                    F-2
<PAGE>

Consolidated Balance Sheets                       ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                      September 30,
                                                 1995               1994
                                           (In thousands, except share amounts)
<S>                                         <C>                       <C> 
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents..........         $   2,749                 $    967
Refundable income taxes............             2,485                       --
Accounts receivable, less allowance of $971
 in 1995 and $1,006 in 1994 for doubtful 
 accounts .........................            29,438                   35,757
Inventories (Note 1)...............            79,968                   44,720
Prepaid expenses and other current 
 assets............................             4,765                    4,963
                                           -----------              ----------
Total current assets...............           119,405                   86,407
Property, plant and equipment, at cost, 
 net of depreciation and amortization 
 (Note 1)..........................            43,760                   30,435
Funds restricted for capital projects 
 (Note 3)..........................                --                    2,342
Goodwill (Note 1)..................               419                      435
Deferred charges and other assets..             1,433                    1,298
                                          ------------             -----------
                                             $165,017                 $120,917
                                          ============             ===========
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current Liabilities:
Notes payable......................         $  23,000                 $    --
Current portion of long-term debt and 
 capital lease obligations (Note 3)             4,729                    5,377
Accounts payable...................            11,699                   10,485
Accrued liabilities (Note 2).......             7,073                    9,660
                                          ------------             -----------
       Total current liabilities...            46,501                   25,522

Long-term debt and capital lease 
 obligations (Note 3)..............            37,404                   17,133
Deferred income taxes (Note 1).....             3,272                    2,240
Commitments (Note 7)
Shareholders' Equity (Note 4):
 Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value, 
 2,000,000 shares authorized, none 
 issued............................                --                       --
 Common Stock, $.25 par value, 
 15,000,000 authorized shares, 
 outstanding 6,998,906 shares 
 in 1995 and 6,960,821 in 1994.....             1,750                    1,740
Capital in excess of par value.....            69,529                   69,202
Retained earnings..................             7,900                    5,080
Treasury stock, at cost, 120,400 
 shares in 1995....................            (1,339)                      --
                                           -----------              -----------
                                               77,840                   76,022
                                           -----------              -----------

                                             $165,017                 $120,917
                                           ===========              ===========
<FN>

The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part
of these balance sheets.
</FN>
</TABLE>
                                     F-3
<PAGE>

Consolidated Statements of Operations               ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                Years Ended September 30,

                                                             1995           1994             1993
                                                            ----------------------------------------
                                                            (In Thousands, except per share amounts)
<S>                                                          <C>             <C>             <C>


Net sales (Note 6).......................................    $175,036        $193,459       $177,610
Cost of goods sold.......................................     146,820         166,051        152,776
                                                            ---------       ---------      ---------
Gross profit.............................................      28,216          27,408        $24,834
Selling, general and administrative expenses.............      20,838          19,603         17,555
Consolidation and restructuring charges (Note 5).........          --           4,080          7,500
Write-off of goodwill (Note 1)...........................          --           6,651             --
                                                            ----------      ---------      ---------
       Income (loss) from operations.....................       7,378          (2,926)          (221)

Other expense:
       Interest expense, net of interest income of
         $465 in 1995, $363 in 1994 and
         $326 in 1993....................................       3,006           3,868          4,388
                                                            ----------      ----------      ---------
Income (loss) before income taxes........................       4,372          (6,794)        (4,609)
                                                            ----------      ----------      ----------
Provision (benefit) for income taxes (Note 1):
       State and local...................................         194               8           (227)
       Federal...........................................       1,358              19         (1,405)
                                                            ----------      ----------     ----------
                                                                1,552              27         (1,632)
                                                            ----------      ----------     ----------
Net income (loss)........................................    $  2,820        $( 6,821)       $(2,977)
                                                            ==========      ==========     ==========

Net income (loss) per share (Note 1).....................       $ .40          $ (.98)        $ (.43)
                                                            ==========      ==========     ==========

Weighted average number of
       shares outstanding................................       6,984           6,979          6,896
                                                            ==========      ==========     ==========

<FN>
       The  accompanying  Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  are an
integral part of these statements.

</FN>
</TABLE>
                                       F-4
<PAGE>


Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows                   ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                      Years Ended September 30,

                                                               1995               1994            1993
                                                               ---------------------------------------
                                                                            (In Thousands)
<S>                                                         <C>               <C>             <C> 

Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)........................................   $  2,820          $ (6,821)        $ (2,977)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash
 (used in) provided by operating activities:
       Depreciation and amortization.....................      4,649             4,792            4,266
       Write-off of goodwill.............................         --             6,651               --
       Consolidation charges ............................         --             3,136               --
       Provision for losses on accounts receivable ......        150               (30)             106
       (Decrease) increase in deferred
         income taxes ...................................       (130)             (153)             195
       Loss (gain) on sale of property
         and equipment...................................         94              (137)             (24)
       Change in assets and liabilities:
         Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable .....      3,684            (5,009)           9,133
         (Increase) decrease in inventories..............    (35,248)           18,366           (3,008)
         Decrease (increase) in prepaid
           expenses and other current assets.............      1,560            (3,855)            (303)
         (Decrease) increase in accounts payable
           and accrued liabilities.......................     (1,373)            7,768          (16,864)
                                                           -----------       -----------       -----------
Total adjustments........................................    (26,614)           31,529           (6,499)
                                                           -----------       -----------       -----------
         Net cash (used in) provided by
           operating activities..........................    (23,794)           24,708           (9,476)
                                                           -----------       -----------       -----------

Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
       Proceeds from sale of property and equipment               86               213              280
       Acquisition of property, plant and equipment......    (17,998)           (5,184)          (7,290)
       (Increase) decrease in equipment lease deposits          (475)              464             (658)
                                                           -----------       ------------      ----------
         Net cash used in investing activities...........    (18,387)           (4,507)          (7,668)
                                                           -----------       ------------      ----------

Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
    Short-term borrowings................................     30,000            10,000           38,000
    Payment of short-term borrowings.....................     (7,000)          (10,000)         (38,000)
    Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt.............     25,000               282           25,000
    Purchase of treasury stock...........................     (1,339)               --               --
    Sale of Common Stock.................................        337                21              785
    Decrease in funds restricted for capital projects....      2,342             3,682              489
    Payment of long-term debt and
       capital lease obligations.........................     (5,377)          (29,935)          (5,080)
    Other................................................         --                --             (244)
                                                           -----------       -----------       -----------
       Net cash provided by (used in)
         financing activities............................     43,963           (25,950)          20,950
                                                           -----------       -----------       -----------

    Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents       1,782            (5,749)           3,806
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year.......        967             6,716            2,910
                                                           -----------       -----------       -----------
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of year.............  $   2,749         $     967         $  6,716
                                                           ===========       ===========       ===========

<FN>
    The accompanying Notes to Consolidated  Financial Statements are an integral
part of these statements.
</FN>
</TABLE>
                                      F-5
<PAGE>

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity         ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                              Common Stock

                                                                               Capital in
                                                   Number         Par          Excess of    Retained     Treasury
                                                   of Shares      Value        Par Value    Earnings       Stock
                                                   --------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     (In Thousands, except share amounts)
<S>                                                <C>            <C>          <C>          <C>             <C>

BALANCES, as of
    September 30, 1992........................     6,508,343      $1,627       $63,113      $20,276        $    --
       Net loss...............................            --          --            --       (2,977)            --
       Exercise of stock options..............       119,751          30           755           --             --
       5% stock dividend on Common Stock             328,473          82         5,314       (5,398)            --
                                                   ----------     -------      --------     --------       -------

BALANCES, as of
    September 30, 1993........................     6,956,567       1,739        69,182       11,901             --
       Net loss...............................            --          --            --       (6,821)            --
       Exercise of stock options..............         4,254           1            20           --             --
                                                  ----------     --------      ---------    ---------      --------

BALANCES, as of
    September 30, 1994........................     6,960,821       1,740         69,202        5,080            --
        Net income............................            --          --             --        2,820            --
        Exercise of stock options.............        38,085          10            327           --            --
        Purchase of treasury stock............            --          --             --           --        (1,339)
                                                  ----------     --------      ---------    ----------     --------

BALANCES, as of
    September 30, 1995........................     6,998,906      $1,750        $69,529      $ 7,900       $(1,339)
                                                  ==========     ========      ========     =========     =========


<FN>

    The accompanying Notes to Consolidated  Financial Statements are an integral
part of these statements.
</FN>
</TABLE>
                                     F-6
<PAGE>

Notes to Consolidated  Financial Statements 
(In Thousands,  except share and per share amounts) 
(1) Summary of significant accounting policies:

BASIS OF PRESENTATION -

    The  consolidated  financial  statements  of Oneita  Industries,  Inc.  (the
Company)  include the accounts of the Company and all of its  subsidiaries.  All
material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

CASH FLOWS -

    The Company  considers all highly liquid debt  instruments  with an original
maturity  of three  months or less to be cash  equivalents.  Cash  payments  for
interest expense were $3,565,  (net of approximately  $500 capitalized  interest
for  property  additions),  $4,234 and $4,813 in fiscal  1995,  1994,  and 1993,
respectively.  Cash  payments  for income  taxes were  $5,277,  $231 and $784 in
fiscal 1995, 1994, and 1993, respectively.

INVENTORIES -

    Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market and include  material,
labor and manufacturing overhead costs. The Company uses the last-in,  first-out
method for valuing its  inventories.  No significant  change would result if the
Company valued its entire inventory using the first-in,  first-out  method.  See
note 9 for a discussion of the potential impact of liquidity issues on inventory
values. Inventories are comprised of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                              September 30,
                                                        1995               1994
                                                    ---------------------------
<S>                                                  <C>              <C>      
Finished goods...............................        $ 58,537         $  31,754
Work in process..............................          17,495            10,249
Raw materials and supplies...................           3,936             2,717
                                                   ----------         ---------
                                                     $ 79,968          $ 44,720
                                                   ==========         =========
</TABLE>

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT -
    Depreciation  of property,  plant and  equipment is provided  primarily on a
straight-line  basis over the estimated  useful lives of the assets and over the
term of the lease for assets in use under capital leases. Leasehold improvements
are amortized over the life of the lease or life of the  improvement,  whichever
is shorter. Property, plant and equipment consists of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                               September 30,
                                                       1995                1994
                                                    ---------------------------
<S>                                                   <C>              <C>
  
Land, buildings and building improvements.....        $13,526          $11,965
Machinery and equipment.......................         39,349           26,385
Leasehold improvements.........................         2,824            2,467
                                                     ---------        ---------
                                                       55,699           40,817
Less-accumulated depreciation and amortization.       (17,701)         (14,347)
                                                     ---------        ---------
                                                       37,998           26,470

Leased property and equipment under capital 
leases less accumulated amortization of
9,339 at September 30, 1995 and $8,419 at
September 30, 1994............................          5,762            3,965
                                                    ----------         --------
                                                      $43,760          $30,435
                                                    ==========         ========
</TABLE>

    Fourth quarter  results for 1994 include a non-cash  pretax charge of $3,136
(included  in the  restructuring  charge  discussed  in Note 5) related to asset
write-downs and write-offs. Certain assets were evaluated and the net book value
of these assets was adjusted to the estimated fair market value.
    Maintenance  and  repairs  related  to the  Company's  property,  plant  and
equipment  amounted to $2,615,  $2,473 and $1,975 for the years ended  September
30, 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively.

                                         F-7
<PAGE>

GOODWILL -
    During 1994, the Company  changed its  accounting  method for evaluating the
impairment of intangible assets from a recoverability  through future operations
method to a fair value method. As a result of this change, the Company wrote-off
$6,651 of goodwill during the fourth quarter ended September 30, 1994.

Goodwill at September  30, 1995 and 1994  include  costs in excess of net assets
acquired  of  $419  and  $435,   respectively,   which  is  net  of  accumulated
amortization of $105 and $89, respectively. The goodwill is being amortized on a
straight-line  basis  over  40  years.  The  net  carrying  amount  of  goodwill
approximates its estimated fair value.

INCOME TAXES -

    Income tax expense is based on reported income adjusted for differences that
do not enter into the  computation  of taxes payable under  applicable tax laws.
Deferred  income  taxes are  provided  for timing  differences  between book and
taxable  income.  The  primary  components  of  deferred  taxes  result from the
differences in the reporting of depreciation,  inventory  valuation and accruals
not currently deductible.

    The following table summarizes the provision (benefit) for federal and state
taxes on income:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                     Years Ended September 30,
                                                 1995         1994         1993
<S>                                            <C>        <C>           <C> 

Current:
    Federal...............................     $1,490     $  1,129      $(1,703)
    State.................................        194            8         (227)
                                               -------     --------     --------
                                                1,684        1,137       (1,930)
Deferred:
    Federal..............................        (132)      (1,110)         298
    State................................           0            0            0
                                               --------    --------     --------
                                                 (132)      (1,110)         298
                                               --------    --------     --------
Net tax provision (benefit)                    $1,552      $    27      $(1,632)
                                               ========    ========     ========
<FN>
    The  effective  income  tax rate  differs  from the  United  States  federal
statutory rate as follows:
</FN>
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                     Years Ended September 30,
                                                 1995         1994         1993
                                              ----------------------------------
<S>                                             <C>         <C>          <C>

United States federal statutory
    rate (benefit)............................  35.0%       (35.0%)      (34.8%)
State and local income taxes..................   2.9         (0.1)        (3.3)
Goodwill amortization.........................   0.1         35.2          1.8
Other.........................................  (2.5)         0.3          0.9
                                               ------       -------     --------
                                                35.5%         0.4%       (35.4%)
                                               ======       =======     ========
</TABLE>

    Significant components of deferred income taxes are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       September 30,
                                                   1995                1994
                                                  ----------------------------

<S>                                               <C>                 <C>

Current deferred taxes applicable to:
    Benefit plan accruals                         $1,128              $1,101
    Other                                            523                (612)
                                                 -------             --------
                                                 $ 1,651              $  489
                                                 =======             ========

Noncurrent deferred taxes applicable to:
 Depreciation and amortization differences       $ 3,271              $ 2,289
 Asset revaluations                                 (959)                (959)
 Other                                               960                  910
                                                 --------            ---------
                                                 $ 3,272              $ 2,240

                                                 ========             ========

</TABLE>

                                         F-8

<PAGE>

RECLASSIFICATIONS -

       Certain  balances  in the  prior  year  financial  statements  have  been
reclassified to conform with the 1995 presentation.

EARNINGS PER SHARE -

       Net income per share is calculated  using the weighted  average number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding  during each period,  adjusted to reflect the
dilutive effect of shares issuable for stock options.

(2)  Accrued Liabilities:

            At September 30, 1995 and 1994 accrued liabilities included $665 and
$1,521,  respectively,  for  payroll and $1,016 and  $1,110,  respectively,  for
interest.

(3) Long-term debt and capital lease obligations:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            September 30,
                                                     --------------------------
                                                     1995                 1994
<S>                                                <C>              <C>  
Long-term debt -
    Notes payable to banks................         $25,000          $       --
    Senior promissory notes...............          10,769              13,846
    Land and building mortgages...........             193                 921
Capital leases -
    Industrial development  bonds........            5,530               7,050
    Other................................              641                 693
                                                  ---------           ---------
                                                    42,133              22,510
       Less current portion..............            4,729               5,377
                                                  ---------           ---------
                                                   $37,404             $17,133
                                                  =========           =========
</TABLE>

     In March 1993, the Company  borrowed  $25,000 pursuant to a seven-year loan
agreement  with  two of its  banks.  The  maximum  amount  available  under  the
agreement  is $25,000  through  February  1997 with  annual  reductions  through
February 2000. Interest is charged under variable rate options which approximate
the bank's prime rate. The loan agreement  contains certain  financial  covenant
and ratio requirements such as minimum working capital and net worth and debt to
equity and debt coverage as defined.

     In December 1988, the Company entered into a $20,000 loan agreement with an
institutional  lender which provides for interest at a fixed rate of 10.84%. The
principal is due in semi-annual  payments of $1,539. The loan agreement contains
certain  financial  ratio and  covenant  requirements  such as  minimum  working
capital, debt to equity and debt coverage, as defined, and stock redemptions and
dividend limitations.  At September 30, 1995, approximately $2,600 was available
for cash redemptions and dividends on the Company's Common Stock.

     The following are maturities of long-term debt outstanding at September 30,
1995 for each of the succeeding five years:

<TABLE>
         <S>                                                <C> 

          1996      .................................       $  3,214 
          1997      .................................          8,081
          1998      .................................          8,082
          1999      .................................          9,043
          2000      .................................          7,506
</TABLE>

     In  October  1989,  the  Company  entered  into  a  $10,000  capital  lease
obligation with the Industrial Development Board of the City of Fayette, Alabama
through whom industrial  development  revenue bonds were issued.  The bonds bear
interest  and fees at a fixed  rate of 8.2% per year.  The  principal  is due in
quarterly  payments  of  $313.  Proceeds  from the  issuance  of the  bonds  are
restricted for the related capital expansion program and $1,018 of such proceeds
are available at September 30, 1995.

     Future  minimum  payments  under capital lease  obligations  consist of the
following at September 30, 1995:

<TABLE>
          <S>                                               <C>

          1996      .................................       $  1,967
          1997      .................................          1,871
          1998      .................................          1,629

                                            F-9

<PAGE>

          1999      .................................          1,436
          2000      .................................             91
          Later years................................            380
                                                            --------
         Total minimum lease payments ...............          7,374
         Less amount representing interest ..........          1,203
                                                            --------
         Present value of net minimum lease payments
         (including current portion of $1,515).......         $6,171
                                                            ========
</TABLE>

     The Company has  uncommitted  bank lines of credit  totaling  $30,000 which
currently provide for interest at below the prime rate. During fiscal 1995, 1994
and 1993, the maximum amount of short-term  borrowings  outstanding was $30,000,
$10,000 and $38,000,  the average  amount  outstanding  was $17,436,  $2,334 and
$16,055,  respectively,  and the weighted  average interest rate was 6.9%, 5.2%,
and 4.9%,  respectively.  Average amounts  outstanding  were determined by using
daily  balances and the  weighted  average  interest  rate during the period was
computed  by dividing  the actual  interest  expense by the  average  short-term
borrowings  outstanding.  At September 30, 1995,  $23,000 was outstanding  under
these lines.

    At September  30, 1995,  the Company was in  compliance  with all  financial
ratio and covenant  requirements for its various loan agreements,  except a debt
coverage ratio for an outstanding letter of credit agreement.  A waiver for this
exception has been granted.

 (4)  Stock options:

     The Company has an Incentive Stock Option Plan (the "Option  Plan"),  which
was approved by the  shareholders in 1988,  under which 514,652 shares of Common
Stock have been  reserved for grants to directors,  officers and key  employees.
The prices for the shares  covered by each  option will not be less than 100% of
the fair market value at date of grant.  Options expire five years from the date
of grant and become  exercisable in  installments  as determined by the Board of
Directors  commencing  one year  after  date of grant.  No charges or credits to
income are made with regard to options granted under the Option Plan.

     Transactions under the Option Plan are as follows -

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    Number            Option
                                                  of Shares            Price
                                                  ----------------------------
<S>                                               <C>         <C> 
Outstanding at September 30, 1993..............   115,945     $4.94 to $15.24
    Granted....................................   102,400     $6.625 to $7.50
    Exercised..................................    (4,254)    $4.94
    Terminated.................................   (85,732)    $7.20 to $15.24
                                                  --------

Outstanding at September 30, 1994..............   128,359     $6.26 to $9.15
    Granted....................................    54,985     $12.375
    Exercised..................................   (19,463)    $6.26 to $9.15
    Terminated.................................    (6,000)    $6.625 to $12.375
                                                 ---------
Outstanding at September 30, 1995..............   157,881     $6.625 to $12.375
                                                 =========
</TABLE>

    The  outstanding  options expire at various dates through 2000. At September
30, 1995 options for 59,984 shares are exercisable at $6.625 to $8.375 per share
and there are 140,890 options available for grant.

    In 1990, the Company's  shareholders  approved a Non-Qualified  Stock Option
Plan under which  453,876  shares of Common Stock have been reserved for grants.
Options  expire  five  years  after  date of grant  and  become  exercisable  in
installments as determined by the Board of Directors.

    Transactions under the Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan are as follows-

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                    Number           Option
                                                  of Shares          Price
                                                 ------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>         <C>

Outstanding at
    September 30, 1993........................    229,533    $6.26 to $15.36
    Granted...................................    114,900    $6.625 to $8.375
    Terminated................................   (170,240)   $6.625 to $15.36
                                                 ---------

                                          F-10

<PAGE>

Outstanding at
    September 30, 1994........................    174,193     $6.26 to $15.36
    Granted...................................    108,215     $11.50 to $12.375
    Exercised.................................    (18,622)    $6.26 to $9.15
    Terminated................................    (12,300)    $6.625 to $15.36
                                                 ---------

Outstanding at
    September 30, 1995........................    251,486     $6.625 to $15.36
                                                 =========
</TABLE>

     The outstanding  options expire at various dates through 2000. At September
30,1995, options for 88,484 shares are exercisable at $6.625 to $15.36 per share
and there are 145,350 options available for grant.

     In February  1994,  the Board of Directors  approved the Outside  Directors
Stock Option Plan for Oneita Industries, Inc. (the "Directors Plan") under which
60,000  shares of  Common  Stock  have  been  reserved  for  grants  to  outside
directors.  The Directors  Plan  provides for  automatic  annual grants of 2,000
options to each outside director except for the initial 3,500 options granted to
each outside director.  The price for the shares covered by each option will not
be less than 100% of the fair market value at the date of grant.  Options expire
five  years from the date of the grant and  become  exercisable  after the first
anniversary of the grant.

(5)  Consolidation and Restructuring charges:

     The  operating  results for the year ended  September  30,  1994  reflect a
pretax  charge of $4,080 for the  write-down  of facilities to their fair market
value that the Company  intends to sell or abandon  after usable  machinery  and
equipment is redeployed and the transitional costs related to the reorganization
of certain administrative functions.

     The  operating  results for the year ended  September  30,  1993  reflect a
pretax  charge  of  $7,500  to   streamline   and   consolidate   the  Company's
manufacturing operations. The charge reflects the costs of equipment relocation,
staff reductions and retraining and transitional employee salaries and benefits.

(6)  Line of business:

     The Company  operates in one business segment - the manufacture and sale of
apparel products such as activewear and infantswear.  Sales to one customer were
17.1%,  16.2%  and  13.9%  of net  sales  in the  years  1995,  1994  and  1993,
respectively.  Sales to another customer amounted to 10.5% of net sales in 1994.
The Company has incurred advertising  expenses of $2,962,  $2,500 and $1,800 for
the years ended September 30, 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively.

(7)  Commitments:

     The Company and its  subsidiaries  rent real property and  equipment  under
operating  leases  expiring at various dates.  Most of the real property  leases
have escalation clauses relating to increases in real property taxes.

     Future minimum payments under noncancelable operating leases consist of the
following at September 30, 1995:

<TABLE>
          <S>                                                        <C>

          1996      ....................................             $ 5,470
          1997      ....................................               4,339
          1998      ....................................               3,332
          1999      ....................................               2,955
          2000      ....................................                 977
          Later years...................................                 119
                                                                     ---------
                                                                     $17,192
</TABLE>

     Rent expense for all operating leases was $6,475, $6,549 and $5,968 for the
years ended September 30, 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively.

     The Company  commits to acquire its yarn  requirements,  generally at fixed
prices,  by contracts  covering one to two years.  As of September 30, 1995, the
Company has outstanding commitments of approximately $31,800 to acquire yarn.
These contracts expire at various dates through 1996.

     Two officers of the Company have employment  agreements for terms ending in
1997. The agreements provide for salary and, under certain conditions, incentive
bonuses.  The agreements also provide that in the event there is a change in the
control of the Company,  as defined  therein,  the  officers  have the option to
terminate the agreements and receive a lump sum payment based upon the 

                                      F-11

<PAGE>

compensation  paid  during the last fiscal  year prior to  exercising  this
right.  As of  September  30,  1995,  the  amount  payable  in the event of such
termination would be approximately $1,493.

(8)  Quarterly financial information (unaudited):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        Quarter Ended
                                                Sept. 30,         June 30,          March 31,      Dec. 31,
                                                  1995              1995              1995           1994
                                                ------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                             <C>               <C>                <C>            <C>

Net sales...................................    $37,430           $45,548            $51,952        $40,106

Gross profit................................      1,474             8,891              9,987          7,864

Net income (loss)...........................     (2,783)            2,116              2,109          1,378

Net income (loss) per share.................      $(.40)             $.30               $.30           $.20


                                                                         Quarter Ended
                                                 Sept. 30,         June 30,          March 31,      Dec. 31,
                                                   1994              1994              1994           1993
                                                 ------------------------------------------------------------

Net sales...................................    $53,890           $61,165            $44,179        $34,225

Gross profit................................      8,497             6,705              6,663          5,543

Net income (loss)...........................     (7,984)              483                327            353

Net income (loss) per share.................     $(1.14)             $.07               $.05           $.05

<FN>

Net income (loss) per share amounts are computed  independently  for each of the
quarters  presented,  on the basis  described in Note 1. The sum of the quarters
may not be equal to the full year net income (loss) per share amounts.

Net loss for the fourth  quarter of fiscal 1994  included an  after-tax  loss of
$2,519 for a restructuring charge and $6,651 for goodwill write-off as described
in Note 6 and Note 1, respectively.
</FN>
</TABLE>

(9)  Liquidity and Subsequent Transactions :

     As  discussed  in Note 8, the Company  experienced  a loss of $2,783 in the
fourth quarter of 1995.  Market pressures that resulted in reduced sales volumes
and prices and in losses are  continuing  in fiscal 1996.  Reduced sales volume,
continuing  operating  losses and increases in inventories  have resulted in the
Company  exceeding  certain  financial  covenant  requirements  in various  loan
agreements.  In contemplation  of the completion of the  transactions  discussed
below, the Company has obtained waivers for non-compliance  with these covenants
or the covenants have been modified such that the Company is in compliance.

       In order to improve liquidity and strengthen the Company's balance sheet,
the Board of Directors has approved a $75 million  refinancing of existing debt,
which includes an $11,250,000  equity infusion into the Company through a rights
offering to stockholders. Existing stockholders will be given the opportunity to
maintain their current ownership  percentage by receiving the right to subscribe
to shares at $7.00  per share on the basis of one share of Oneita  common  stock
for each  four  shares  of stock  presently  held.  Avondale  Mills,  Inc.,  the
Company's  largest raw material  supplier and Robert M.  Gintel,  the  Company's
Chairman of the Board,  have agreed to subscribe to all shares not  purchased by
existing shareholders.  In no event will Oneita issue more than 1,607,143 shares
of stock in  connection  with the rights  offering,  which will  represent  18.9
percent  of the  then  8,485,649  shares  outstanding.  The  rights  offered  to
shareholders  will  be  non-transferable  and  non-tradeable.   The  $11,250,000
proceeds  from  the  rights  offering  will  be used to  prepay  certain  of the
subordinated notes described below.

                                      F-12

<PAGE>

       The Company has entered into an agreement with Avondale  Mills,  Inc. and
Robert  Gintel  to issue  10%  subordinated  notes in the  principal  amount  of
$15,000,000  maturing  January 31,  1999,  concurrently  with the funding of the
Company's  new bank  credit  facility.  The  notes  will be  subordinate  to the
Company's  bank debt and certain  other senior debt.  Subordinated  notes in the
amount of $7,500,000  to Avondale and  $3,750,000 to Gintel will be prepaid from
the  proceeds of the rights  offering.  In the event the rights  offering is not
consummated by May 31, 1996,  Avondale and Gintel will have the right to convert
these  $11,250,000  of notes  into  shares of Oneita  Common  Stock at $7.00 per
share. In connection with the $3,750,000  subordinated note to Gintel which will
remain  outstanding  after the rights  offering,  the Company will also issue to
Gintel  warrants to purchase  125,000 shares of Oneita Common Stock at $7.00 per
share.  The proceeds from issuance of the notes will be used for working capital
and capital expenditures.

       The Company has received a commitment  from its lenders to make available
to the Company $60,000,000 under a new revolving line of credit. The proceeds of
the new  debt  will be used to pay off an  existing  bank  credit  facility  and
existing  short-term  bank lines  totaling  $50,000,000  at November  1995.  The
additional  $10,000,000  of the  proceeds  will be used for working  capital and
capital expenditures. The new revolving line of credit will be collateralized by
inventories and accounts receivable and will mature on December 31, 1998.

       These  transactions are expected to be completed during the second fiscal
quarter of 1996;  however,  no assurance  can be given that the  above-described
transactions  will be consummated on the terms described above or otherwise.  In
the event that this debt  refinancing  cannot be consummated in a timely manner,
the Company  expects that it would cancel  delivery of  approximately  $7,000 of
equipment  related to the Fayette project and may be forced to reduce  inventory
levels in  advance  of  planned  deliveries  by either  further  curtailment  of
production or by accelerating  customer  deliveries by discounting  prices below
its inventory and production  costs.  It is  anticipated  that the above actions
along with funds generated by operations would provide  sufficient  liquidity to
meet the Company's obligations.

Schedule II

ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES - VALUATION AND
QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
For The Years Ended September 30, 1995, 1994 And 1993
(In Thousands)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                      Balance at     Additions Charged                         Balance
                                      Beginning      (Credited) to Costs     Deductions       at End of
Description                           of  Period        and Expenses         (Recoveries)       Period
                                      -------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                                    <C>                 <C>                   <C>            <C>

For the Year Ended
September 30, 1995:
  Allowance for doubtful accounts      $1,006              $150                  $185           $  971

For the Year Ended
September 30, 1994:
  Allowance for doubtful accounts       1,024               (30)                  (12)           1,006

For the Year Ended
September 30, 1993:
  Allowance for doubtful accounts       1,131               106                   213            1,024

</TABLE>

                                                       F-13

<PAGE>


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549




                             ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.





                                   Form 10 - K




                             E X H I B I T  I N D E X



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        
Exhibit                                                 
Number               Exhibit Description                

<S>            <C>
                                                 
3.1            Certificate of Incorporation (Exhibit
               3(a) of Form S-1 Registration Statement
               No. 33-16972)
3.2            By-Laws as amended (Exhibit 3.1 of Form 
               10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1994)
10.1           Stock Option Plan (Exhibit 10(a) of Form 
               S-1 Registration Statement No. 33-16972)
10.2           1989 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan 
               (Exhibit 10.2 of Annual Report on Form 
               10-K for the year ended September 30, 1990)
10.3           Lease Agreement dated as of October 1, 1987, 
               between the Registrant and Instrument 
               Systems Corporation (Exhibit 10(d) of Form
               S-1 Registration Statement No. 33-16972)
10.4           Employment Agreement between the Registrant
               and Herbert J. Fleming, as amended 
               (Exhibit 10.2 of Current Report on
               Form 8-K dated January 1, 1994)
10.5           Employment Agreement between Registrant 
               and J. Roger Holland (Exhibit 10.4 of 
               Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 
               March 31, 1994)
10.6           Variable Amount of Grid Note Agreement 
               dated April 3, 1995, between Registrant 
               and First Union National Bank of South 
               Carolina (Exhibit 10.1 of Form 10-Q for 
               the quarter ended April 1, 1995)
10.7           Promissory Note dated April 26, 1995, 
               between Registrant and National 
               Westminster Bank, USA  (Exhibit 10.7
               of Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
               April 1, 1995

<PAGE>

10.8           Single Payment Note dated January 1, 1995, 
               between Registrant and Trust Company Bank 
               (Exhibit 10.3 of Form 10-Q for the quarter
               ended April 1, 1995)
10.9           Equipment Lease Agreement dated as of 
               May 16, 1988, between Registrant and 
               NEMLC Leasing Associates No. 3 
               (Exhibit 10(k) of Form S-1 Registration 
               Statement No. 33-22488) amended as of
               December 1, 1988, and May 19, 1989 
               (Exhibit 10.11 of Annual Report on 
               Form 10-K for the year ended September 
               30, 1990)
10.10          Note Agreement dated as of December 
               20, 1988,  between  Registrant and an  
               institutional  lender  (Exhibit  10.10 
               of Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
               year ended September 30, 1988)
10.11          License Agreement dated October 24, 
               1988, between Registrant and Health-tex, 
               Inc. (Exhibit 10(k) of Form S-1 Registration
               Statement No. 33-30810)
10.12          Letter of Credit  Agreement  dated as 
               of October 1, 1989,  between the  
               Registrant  and Trust Company Bank  
               (Exhibit  10.12 of Annual Report on 
               Form 10-K for the year ended September 
               30, 1989)
10.13          Lease  Agreement  dated  as  of  October  
               1,  1989,   between  the Registrant  and 
               the  Industrial  Development  Board of the 
               City of Fayette, Alabama (Exhibit 10.13 
               of the Annual Report on Form 10-K
               for the year ended September 30, 1989)
10.14          Guaranty  Agreement  dated as of  
               October  1,  1989,  between  the
               Registrant and Trust Company Bank 
               (Exhibit 10.14 of Annual Report
               on Form 10-K for the year ended 
               September 30, 1989)
10.15          Form of Indemnification Agreement 
               between Registrant and its officers and 
               directors (Exhibit 28 to Current  
               Report on Form 8-K dated July 30, 1991)
10.16          License Agreement dated as of February 
               1, 1991, between Registrant and Henson 
               Associates, Inc. (Exhibit 10.18 of Form
               S-2 Registration Statement No. 33-46119)
10.17          Loan Agreement dated as of March 26, 1993,  
               between Registrant and National  Westminster  
               Bank,  USA and Trust  Company Bank (Exhibit
               10.18 of Annual  Report on Form 10-K for
               the year ended September 30, 1993)
10.18          Amendment to Loan Agreement dated March  
               26, 1993 between Registrant and National   
               Westminster  Bank  and  Trust  Company
               (Exhibit 10.6 of Form 10-Q for the 
               quarter ended March 31, 1994)
10.19          License Agreement dated as of August 
               31, 1993, between Registrant and 
               Kessler Marketing Group, Inc. 
               (Exhibit 10.19 of Annual Report on 
               Form 10-K for the year ended September 
               30, 1993)
10.20          Modification  to Management  Services  
               Contract  dated February 5, 1993  
               (Exhibit 28 to Current  Report on 
               Form 8-K dated  January 1, 1993)
10.21          Registration Rights Letter Agreement 
               between Gintel & Co. Limited Partnership 
               (Exhibit 10 to Current Report on Form 
               8-K dated October 6, 1993)
10.22          Letter Agreement dated October 5, 1993, 
               between Gintel & Co. Limited Partnership 
               and Instrument Systems Corporation
               (Exhibit 2 to Current Report on Form 8-K 
               dated October 6, 1993)

<PAGE>

10.23          Amendment to Lease Agreement dated as of 
               October 1, 1987,  between Registrant and 
               Instrument  Systems  Corporation  
               (Exhibit 10.24 of Annual Report on Form 
               10-K for the year ended September 30, 1993)
10.24          Note Purchase Agreement dated as of 
               December 28, 1995 among Registrant, Robert 
               M. Gintel and Avondale Mills, Inc.*               
10.25          Amendment No. 3 to Loan Agreement dated 
               March 26, 1993 between Registrant and 
               NatWest Bank, N.A. (formerly known as
               National Westminster Bank USA) and 
               SunTrust Bank, Atlanta (formerly known 
               as Trust Company Bank).*                          
10.26          Amendment to Note Agreement dated as of 
               December 20, 1988 between Registrant 
               and institutional lender*                         
10.27          Factoring Agreement dated December 27, 
               1995 between Registrant and SunTrust Bank,
               Atlanta*                                          
11             Computation of Earnings Per Share*                
22             The following lists the Company's 
               significant subsidiaries, all of which
               are wholly-owned by the Company. The 
               names of certain subsidiaries which do 
               not, when considered in the aggregate,
               constitute a significant subsidiary 
               have been omitted.

                Name of Subsidiary                Jurisdiction of Incorporation
                ------------------                -----------------------------
                Oneita-Kinston Corp.              North Carolina
                Oneita-Strathleven Limited        Jamaica
                Oneita Freeport Limited           Jamaica
                Oneita Mexicana S.A. de C.V.      Chihuahua, Mexico
23             Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP*                   
27             Financial Data Schedule*                          
<FN>

*       Filed herewith
</FN>
</TABLE>

                      NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                               AMONG


                      ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.

                                and

                          ROBERT M. GINTEL

                                and

                       AVONDALE MILLS, INC.







                   Dated as of December 28, 1995







<PAGE>


     NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT ("Agreement"), dated as of December 28, 1995, among
ONEITA INDUSTRIES,  INC., a Delaware corporation having its principal address at
4130 Faber Place Drive,  Suite 200, Ashley Corporate Center,  Charleston,  South
Carolina 29405 (the "Company"), ROBERT M. GINTEL, an individual with a principal
place of business at 6  Greenwich  Office  Park,  Greenwich,  Connecticut  06831
("Gintel"),  and  AVONDALE  MILLS,  INC.,  an  Alabama  corporation  having  its
principal   address  at  506  South  Broad   Street,   Monroe,   Georgia   30655
("Avondale")(Gintel and Avondale are sometimes hereinafter collectively referred
to as the "Purchasers," and individually as a "Purchaser").


                        W I T N E S S E T H

     WHEREAS,  each of the Purchasers desire to lend the Company $7,500,000,  or
an  aggregate  of  $15,000,000  (the  "Loan") and the Company  intends to make a
common  stock  rights  offering  (the  "Rights  Offering"),  on  the  terms  and
conditions set forth in the Standby Agreement (as defined below), to the holders
of shares of the Company's  common stock,  $.25 par value per share (the "Common
Stock"), to raise sufficient funds to repay $11,250,000 of the Loan; and

     WHEREAS,  the  Purchasers  are willing to act as standby  purchasers of the
Company with respect to the Rights  Offering,  all in accordance  with the terms
set forth in a Standby  Agreement  among the  Company and the  Purchasers,  such
Standby  Agreement to be in the form annexed  hereto as Schedule A (the "Standby
Agreement"); and

     WHEREAS,  to evidence the Loan, the Company  desires to issue and sell, and
the Purchasers desire to purchase from the Company,  Subordinated 10% Promissory
Notes of the Company in the  aggregate  principal  amount of  $15,000,000,  with
Gintel acquiring two notes, each in the original  principal amount of $3,750,000
(the  "Initial  Gintel Note" and the "Gintel  Subordinated  Note"),  the Initial
Gintel Note to be exchangeable as herein provided; and

     WHEREAS, in connection with, and as partial consideration for, that portion
of the Loan being made by Gintel,  the Company,  subject to its prior receipt of
all requisite  consents,  desires to issue and sell to Gintel five-year warrants
(the "Warrants") to purchase up to 125,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company
at $7.00 per share (the "Warrant Shares"); and

     WHEREAS, should the Rights Offering fail to be consummated on or before May
31,  1996,  or upon the  earlier  happening  of certain  other  events set forth
herein,  the  parties  desire  that  Avondale  have the  right to  exchange  its
$7,500,000  subordinated  note  (the  "Avondale  Note")  for a  convertible  10%
subordinated  note  of the  Company  in like  principal  amount  (the  "Avondale
Replacement Note"), such Avondale Replacement Note to be convertible into shares
of Common Stock of the Company at the rate of $7.00 per share; and

     WHEREAS, should the Rights Offering fail to be consummated on or before May
31,  1996,  or upon the  earlier  happening  of certain  other  events set forth
herein,  the parties  desire  that  Gintel have the right,  subject to the prior
receipt by the Company of all requisite consents, to exchange his Initial Gintel
Note for a convertible  10%  subordinated  note of the Company in like principal

<PAGE>

amount (the  "Gintel  Replacement  Note"),  such Gintel  Replacement  Note to be
convertible  into shares of Common Stock of the Company at the rate of $7.00 per
share.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set
forth  herein and for other good and  valuable  consideration,  the  receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

     Section 1.     Purchase and Sale of Notes.

     1.1  Purchase  and  Sale  of  Notes.  The  Company  agrees  to  sell to the
Purchasers,  and the Purchasers agree to purchase from the Company, at a closing
(the  "Closing")  to take place on such date as the parties  hereto shall agree,
but in no event later than February 28, 1996 (the "Closing  Date"),  and subject
to the  conditions  hereinafter  set  forth  in  Sections  1.2  and  1.3  below,
$15,000,000  aggregate  principal amount of Subordinated 10% Promissory Notes of
the Company  due  January  31,  1999 at a price  equal to 100% of the  aggregate
principal  amount  of the  Notes,  such  Notes  to be  subordinated  to  certain
indebtedness of the Company on the terms and conditions further set forth in the
Notes.  To evidence  the Loan,  Avondale  will be issued the  Avondale  Note and
Gintel will be issued the Initial Gintel Note and the Gintel  Subordinated  Note
(the Avondale Note, the Initial Gintel Note and the Gintel Subordinated Note are
sometimes  hereinafter  collectively  referred to as the  "Notes").  The Initial
Gintel  Note,   the  Gintel   Subordinated   Note  and  the  Avondale  Note  are
substantially in the forms of Schedules B, C and D annexed hereto, respectively,
shall be dated as of the Closing Date,  and shall be paid for, in the amount set
forth on the face of each Note, by wire transfer of immediately  available funds
to such account of the Company as shall have been designated to the Purchasers.

     1.2  Conditions to the  Purchasers'  Obligations.  The  obligations  of the
Purchasers  to purchase the Notes as provided for herein shall be subject to the
fulfillment, or waiver by the Purchasers, on or before the Closing Date, of each
of the following conditions:

     1.2.1 Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of
the Company  contained  in Section 5 hereof  shall be true and  correct,  in all
material  respects,  on and as of the Closing  Date and the  Company  shall have
delivered to the  Purchasers a  certificate  of the  President of the Company to
such effect.

     1.2.2  Compliance with Agreement.  The Company,  in all material  respects,
shall have performed and complied with all  agreements and conditions  contained
in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by it on or
before the Closing Date and the Company shall have delivered to the Purchasers a
certificate of the President of the Company to such effect.

     1.2.3 Bank Financing. The Company shall have consummated the bank financing
described in Schedule 1.2.3 annexed  hereto (the "Bank  Financing") on or before
the Closing Date.


<PAGE>

     1.2.4 Registration  Rights Agreements.  The Company shall have executed and
delivered  to  Avondale  and  Gintel  a  registration  rights  agreement,  in or
substantially in the form annexed hereto as Schedule E (the "Registration Rights
Agreement"), pursuant to which, among other things, the Company, if requested by
Avondale and/or Gintel,  shall register for sale, pursuant to the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the  "Securities  Act"),  any shares of Common Stock of the
Company acquired pursuant to the Standby Agreement, issuable upon the conversion
of all or any  portion  of the  Gintel  Replacement  Note  and/or  the  Avondale
Replacement  Note and/or issuable upon the exercise of all or any portion of the
Warrants.

     1.2.5  Opinion of  Counsel.  The Company  shall have  delivered a favorable
opinion,  dated the Closing Date and addressed to the  Purchasers,  from counsel
for the Company, substantially in the form of Schedule 1.2.5 annexed hereto.

     1.2.6 Fairness Opinion. The Board of Directors of the Company,  acting upon
the recommendation of a specially appointed  Independent  Committee of the Board
of Directors of the Company (the "Independent  Committee"),  shall have received
the opinion of Butler Chapman & Co., Inc. ("Butler  Chapman") to the effect that
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Rights Offering are fair
from a financial point of view to the Company and the holders of Common Stock of
the Company and such  opinion  shall not have been  withdrawn  as of the Closing
Date.

     1.2.7 Board Approval. The Board of Directors of the Company, based upon the
recommendation  of the Independent  Committee and the fairness opinion described
in Section  1.2.6  above,  shall have  [unanimously  (except any director of the
Company  participating in the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement shall
have abstained)] approved the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  and
each director of the Company who owns Common Stock shall have agreed to vote, at
any  stockholders'   meeting  of  the  Company,   all  shares  of  Common  Stock
beneficially  owned by him in favor of the Rights Offering,  the issuance of the
Warrants and any other proposal relating to any of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.

     1.2.8 Approvals and Consents. There shall have been obtained by the Company
and the Purchasers all consents, approvals, authorizations, waivers, permits and
orders,   necessary  or  required  for  purposes  of  legally  consummating  the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement,  including, without limitation, any
consent  and/or waiver  required from  Prudential  Insurance  Company of America
("Prudential"),  and all such consents, approvals,  authorizations,  permits and
orders shall be reasonably acceptable to the Purchasers.

     1.2.9  Legal  Actions  or  Proceedings.  No  action  or  proceeding  by any
governmental  authority or other person shall have been instituted or threatened
which could  reasonably  be expected to enjoin,  restrain or prohibit,  or could

<PAGE>

reasonably  be  expected  to result in  substantial  damages  in  respect of any
provision of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby or by the Rights Offering.

     1.2.10 Certificate of Principal  Financial  Officer.  There shall have been
delivered to the Purchasers,  dated as of the Closing Date, a certificate of the
principal  financial  officer of the  Company to the effect  that he is familiar
with this  Agreement,  that he has  reviewed  the affairs of the Company and its
subsidiaries, and that, to the best of his knowledge, there exists no condition,
act or  omission  to act which would  constitute  an event of default  under the
Notes or which with notice or lapse of time, or both,  would  constitute such an
event of default.

     1.2.11  Financial  Statements.  The  Company  shall have  delivered  to the
Purchasers the audited  financial  statements of the Company as of September 30,
1995,  which  financial  statements  contain the  unqualified  opinion of Arthur
Andersen LLP (the "September 30, 1995 Financial Statements").

     1.2.12 Acceptable Subordination  Agreement.  The Purchasers,  in connection
with the Bank  Financing,  shall have entered into  subordination  agreements in
form and substance acceptable to them with the lenders in the Bank Financing.

     1.2.13 Satisfactory  Information.  The Annual Report of the Company on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended  September 30, 1995 and the balance sheets of the
Company  delivered or to be  delivered  to the  Purchasers  in  accordance  with
Sections 5.7 (iii) and (iv) shall not contain disclosure of any material adverse
facts which have not been previously disclosed to Avondale.

     1.3 Conditions to the Company's Obligations. The obligations of the Company
to sell the Notes as provided for herein shall be subject to the fulfillment, or
waiver by the Company,  on or before the Closing  Date, of each of the following
conditions:

     1.3.1 Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of
each Purchaser  contained in Section 7 hereof shall be true and correct,  in all
material  respects,  on and as of the Closing Date and each Purchaser shall have
delivered to the Company an executed certificate to such effect.

     1.3.2 Compliance with Agreement.  Each Purchaser, in all material respects,
shall have performed and complied with all  agreements and conditions  contained
in this  Agreement  that are required to be performed or complied with by him or
it, as the case may be, on or before the Closing Date and each  Purchaser  shall
have delivered to the Company a certificate to such effect.

     1.3.3 Bank Financing. The Company shall have consummated the Bank Financing
on or before the Closing Date.


<PAGE>

     1.3.4 Fairness Opinion. The Board of Directors of the Company,  acting upon
the recommendation of the Independent Committee, shall have received the opinion
of Butler  Chapman  to the effect  that the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement and the Rights Offering are fair from a financial point of view to the
Company and the holders of Common  Stock of the Company and such  opinion  shall
not have been withdrawn as of the Closing Date.

     1.3.5  Approvals  and  Consents.  There  shall  have been  obtained  by the
Purchasers  and the Company all consents,  approvals,  authorizations,  waivers,
permits and orders  necessary or required  for purposes of legally  consummating
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,  including, without limitation,
any consent  and/or waiver  required  from  Prudential,  and all such  consents,
approvals, authorizations,  permits and orders shall be reasonably acceptable to
the Company.

     1.3.6  Legal  Actions  or  Proceedings.  No  action  or  proceeding  by any
governmental  authority or other person shall have been instituted or threatened
which could  reasonably  be expected to enjoin,  restrain or prohibit,  or could
reasonably  be  expected  to result in  substantial  damages in respect  of, any
provision of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby or by the Rights Offering.

     1.3.7  September  30, 1995  Financial  Statements.  The Company  shall have
delivered  to  the  Purchasers  copies  of  the  September  30,  1995  Financial
Statements.

     1.4  Closing.  The  Closing  of the  purchase  and sale of the Notes on the
Closing  Date shall take place at the offices of Reid & Preist LLP at 11:00 a.m.
on the  Closing  Date or at such  other  time and place as the  Company  and the
Purchasers  mutually  agree upon. At the Closing,  the parties shall deliver the
Notes and make the respective payments therefor.

     Section 2. Issuance and Sale of Warrants.

     In connection with, and in partial  consideration  for, that portion of the
Loan being funded by Gintel,  the Company  hereby  agrees,  subject to its prior
receipt of all requisite approvals and consents,  including, without limitation,
those  of the  New  York  Stock  Exchange  (the  "NYSE")  and/or  the  Company's
stockholders, to issue and sell to Gintel the Warrants. The Warrants shall be in
the form  annexed  hereto as Schedule F. The Company  hereby  covenants  to seek
promptly the approvals and consents contemplated in this Section 2.

     Section 3. Transactions Upon Consummation of the Rights Offering.

     Standby  Agreement.  If the Rights Offering is consummated on or before May
31, 1996, then Gintel and Avondale shall act as standby  purchasers  pursuant to
the Standby Agreement.

     Section 4.  Transactions  Upon No  Consummation  of the Rights  Offering or
Other Triggering Events.


<PAGE>

     4.1 Exchange of Avondale Note. If, (a) by May 31, 1996, the Rights Offering
is not  consummated,  or (b) an Event  of  Default  occurs  (as  defined  in the
Avondale Note or the Initial  Gintel Note) or, if prior to May 31, 1996, (c) the
stockholders  of the Company  vote to not approve  the Rights  Offering  and the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (d) the Company publicly announces
that it will not proceed  with the Rights  Offering or (e) any other event takes
place which  effectively  prohibits the Company from lawfully  consummating  the
Rights  Offering  by May 31, 1996 (the date of  occurrence  of any of the events
described in clauses (a) through (e) above being referred to as the  "Conversion
Date"),  then  Avondale,  at any  time  within  the  30-day  period  immediately
following the  Conversion  Date, may exchange the Avondale Note for the Avondale
Replacement Note, such Avondale Replacement Note to be substantially in the form
annexed hereto as Schedule G and to be convertible,  at Avondale's option at any
time within the 90-day period  immediately  following the Conversion  Date, into
shares of Common Stock of the Company at the rate of $7.00 per share, all as set
forth in the Avondale Replacement Note. The Company shall provide the Purchasers
with prompt written  notice of the occurrence of any of the events  described in
clauses (a) through (e) above.

     4.2 Gintel  Exchange of Initial Gintel Note.  Gintel,  subject to the prior
receipt by the Company of all requisite consents,  including, if necessary, that
of the NYSE and/or the  Company's  stockholders,  may,  within the 30-day period
immediately  following the Conversion Date, exchange the Initial Gintel Note for
the Gintel Replacement Note, such Gintel Replacement Note to be substantially in
the form annexed hereto as Schedule H, and to be convertible, at Gintel's option
at any time within the 90-day period immediately  following the Conversion Date,
into shares of Common  Stock of the Company at the rate of $7.00 per share,  all
as set forth in the Gintel Replacement Note.

     4.3 Avondale Rights. The parties hereto acknowledge that Avondale's ability
to exercise  its rights  under the Standby  Agreement,  to exchange the Avondale
Note for the Avondale  Replacement Note and to convert the Avondale  Replacement
Note into Common Stock of the Company  does not require NYSE and/or  stockholder
approval,  and that  Avondale  and the Company  will be permitted to effect such
exercise,  exchange  and/or  conversion  in  accordance  with the  terms of this
Agreement and the agreements and promissory  notes referred to herein whether or
not the necessary NYSE and/or  stockholder  approvals are obtained to permit the
transactions involving Gintel under this Agreement.

     Section 5. Representations and Warranties of the Company.

     In order to induce  the  Purchasers  to  acquire  the  Notes,  the  Company
represents and warrants to each of the Purchasers as follows:

     5.1  Organization  and  Standing.  (a) The  Company is a  corporation  duly
organized and validly existing,  is in good standing under the laws of the State
of Delaware, and has all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its
business as now conducted  and as proposed to be conducted.  The Company is duly
qualified  as a  foreign  corporation  and is in  good  standing  in  all  other
jurisdictions in which such qualification is required,  provided,  however, that
the Company  need not be  qualified  in a  jurisdiction  in which its failure to
qualify would not have a material  adverse effect on its operations or financial
condition.


<PAGE>

     (b) Except as set forth on Schedule 5.1 annexed  hereto,  the Company owns,
directly or indirectly through  subsidiaries,  all of the issued and outstanding
capital stock of each of the  subsidiaries  of the Company set forth on Schedule
5.1 annexed hereto (collectively, the "Subsidiaries").  Each of the Subsidiaries
is duly  organized and validly  existing,  is in good standing under the laws of
the state of its  incorporation,  and has all  requisite  power and authority to
carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted.

     (c) Each  Subsidiary is duly qualified as a foreign  corporation  and is in
good  standing  in all  other  jurisdictions  in  which  such  qualification  is
required,  provided,  however,  that such  Subsidiary need not be qualified in a
jurisdiction  in which its failure to qualify would not have a material  adverse
effect on its operations or financial condition.

     (d) True and accurate copies of the Company's  Certificate of Incorporation
and Bylaws,  and the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of each Subsidiary,
each as presently in effect, have been delivered to counsel for the Purchasers.

     5.2  Capitalization.  (a)  The  authorized  capital  stock  of the  Company
consists of 15,000,000  shares of Common Stock,  of which  6,878,506  shares are
validly  issued and  outstanding,  fully paid and  nonassessable  and listed for
trading on the NYSE, and were issued in compliance  with all applicable  federal
and state securities  laws, and 2,000,000  shares of preferred stock,  $1.00 par
value per share,  of which no shares are issued and  outstanding.  Except as set
forth on Schedule 5.2 annexed hereto,  and as  contemplated by the  transactions
that are the subject of this  Agreement  and the Rights  Offering,  there are no
options,  warrants,  conversion  privileges,  preemptive  rights or other rights
presently  outstanding to purchase any of the  authorized  but unissued  capital
stock of the Company.

     (b) The  authorized  capital  stock  of each  Subsidiary  is set  forth  on
Schedule 5.2 annexed  hereto.  Each  outstanding  share of capital stock of each
Subsidiary has been validly issued and is fully paid and  non-assessable and was
issued in compliance  with all  applicable  federal and state  securities  laws.
There are no options,  warrants,  conversion  privileges,  preemptive  rights or
other  rights  presently  outstanding  to  purchase  any of the  authorized  but
unissued capital stock of any Subsidiary.

     (c) Except as contemplated by the Registration  Rights Agreement and as set
forth on Schedule  5.2 annexed  hereto,  there are no  registration  rights with
respect  to the  Company's  securities  currently  outstanding  or other  rights
currently  outstanding  which could  require  the  Company to register  for sale
pursuant to the Securities Act any securities of the Company.

     5.3 Authorization.  All corporate action on the part of the Company and its
Subsidiaries and their respective officers,  directors and shareholders that are
necessary for the  authorization,  execution,  delivery and  performance  of all
obligations  of the  Company  under  this  Agreement,  the  Registration  Rights
Agreement and the Standby  Agreement,  and for the  authorization,  issuance and
delivery of the Notes,  the Avondale  Replacement  Note, the Gintel  Replacement
Note and the  Warrants  have been  taken.  Except as set forth on  Schedule  5.3
annexed hereto,  this Agreement,  the Notes, the Avondale  Replacement Note, the
Gintel   Replacement   Note,  the  Warrants,   the  Standby  Agreement  and  the

<PAGE>

Registration Rights Agreement,  constitute and will constitute valid and legally
binding  obligations  of  the  Company  enforceable  in  accordance  with  their
respective  terms,  and will not violate any  provision of law, any order of any
court or other agency of government, the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws
of the Company or any provision of any indenture,  agreement or other instrument
by which the  Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries,  or any of their  respective
properties or assets is bound or affected.

     5.4 Validity of Common Stock.  The Common Stock  issuable upon the exercise
of the rights to be issued in the Rights  Offering,  upon any  conversion of the
Gintel  Replacement  Note  and/or  the  Avondale  Replacement  Note or upon  any
exercise of the Warrants  have been duly  authorized  and validly  reserved and,
upon issuance in accordance  with the terms  thereof,  shall be duly and validly
issued,  fully paid and  nonassessable  and duly  authorized  for listing on the
NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.

     5.5  Governmental  and Other Consents.  Except as set forth on Schedule 5.5
annexed  hereto,  all  consents,  approvals,  orders  or  authorizations  of, or
registrations,  qualifications,  designations, declarations or filings with, any
federal or state  governmental  authority or any other person on the part of the
Company  which are, or will be,  necessary to be obtained by the Company for the
valid  execution,  delivery and performance of this Agreement,  the Registration
Rights  Agreement and the Standby  Agreement by the Company and the consummation
of the transactions  contemplated hereby and thereby, or the issuance,  delivery
or  enforcement  of  the  Notes,  the  Avondale  Replacement  Note,  the  Gintel
Replacement Note and the Warrants, have been made or obtained.

     5.6 Actions Pending. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.6 annexed hereto, no
claim,  suit, action or legal,  administrative,  arbitration or other proceeding
or, to the best  knowledge  and  belief  of the  Company,  investigation  by any
governmental  agency,  pertaining  to the  business,  products  or assets of the
Company or any  Subsidiary,  including,  but not limited to,  matters  involving
environmental, safety or health standards, or employment matters as currently in
effect, or products  liability or product safety, or any change in the zoning or
building  ordinances  affecting  the  properties  or leasehold  interests of the
Company and its  Subsidiaries is pending or, to the best knowledge and belief of
the Company,  has been threatened,  nor, to the best knowledge and belief of the
Company,  do any facts  exist which  might lead to any such  proceedings,  which
might  materially  adversely  affect  the  business,   operations  or  financial
condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or any of their
respective  properties or assets. The foregoing  includes,  without limiting its
generality,  actions  pending or threatened  (or any basis therefor known to the
Company) involving the prior employment of any employees or prospective employee
of the Company or any  Subsidiary,  or the use, in connection with the Company's
business,  of any  information  or  techniques  which  might  be  alleged  to be
proprietary to their former employer.

     5.7 Financial Statements. The Company has furnished or will furnish to each
Purchaser  (i) the  audited  consolidated  balance  sheet of the  Company  as of
September 30, 1994 and the related  consolidated  statements  of operations  and
cash  flows of the  Company  for the year then  ended  (the  "Audited  Financial
Statements"), audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, the independent public accountants
retained by the Company,  (ii) the unaudited  consolidated  balance sheet of the
Company as of July 1, 1995 and the related unaudited consolidated  statements of

<PAGE>

operations and cash flows of the Company for the nine-month period ended July 1,
1995 (the  "Unaudited  Financial  Statements")  as  contained  in the  Company's
Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter  ended July 1, 1995,  as the same
was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"),  (iii)
the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of September 30, 1995
and the related unaudited  consolidated  statements of operations and cash flows
of the  Company  for the year  then  ended and (iv) the  unaudited  consolidated
balance  sheet of the Company as of October  31, 1995 and the related  unaudited
consolidated  statements  of  operations  and cash flows of the  Company for the
month then ended and, if  completed  prior to the Closing  Date,  the  unaudited
consolidated  balance  sheets of the  Company  as of the end of each  subsequent
month and the related unaudited  consolidated  statements of operations and cash
flows of the Company for the months then ended.  Such  financial  statements are
and will be complete and correct,  have been and will be prepared in  accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles  consistently applied ("GAAP") and
fairly present and will fairly present the financial  position of the Company as
of their respective dates and the results of its operations for the periods then
ended; provided,  that unaudited financial statements shall be subject to normal
year-end  adjustments  and may not  contain all notes which would be required by
GAAP.  Except as set forth on such balance sheets,  the Company has no, and will
have no,  material  liability or obligation,  absolute or contingent,  as of the
respective dates of such balance sheets,  which liability or obligation would be
required to be included thereon in accordance with GAAP.  Except as set forth on
Schedule 5.7 annexed hereto,  there has been no material change in the Company's
business, prospects, condition, affairs, operations, properties, or assets since
September 30, 1995.

     5.8 Title to Properties.  Except for the liens securing the indebtedness of
the  Company  referenced  in the  notes  to the  September  30,  1995  financial
statements  of the  Company,  and as  contemplated  by the Bank  Financing,  the
Company has good and marketable title to all of its respective real property and
owns outright all of its  respective  other  properties  and assets,  including,
without  limitation,  those  reflected on the balance  sheet as of September 30,
1995 (other than  properties  and assets  disposed of in the ordinary  course of
business since the date of such balance sheet).

     5.9  Patents  and  Trademarks.  Except as listed on  Schedule  5.9  annexed
hereto,   the  Company  does  not  own  or  possess  any  patents,   trademarks,
servicemarks,  tradenames,  copyrights  or  licenses  (hereinafter  collectively
referred to as the  "Intangible  Rights").  Except as set forth on Schedule  5.9
annexed  hereto,  each of the  Intangible  Rights is held free from  contractual
restrictions  and  any  other  restrictions  except  those  imposed  by  law  or
governmental regulation and those which are not material. Except as set forth on
such Schedule 5.9 annexed hereto,  no material claims relating to the Intangible
Rights have been asserted with respect to which notice has been delivered to the
Company and not subsequently  withdrawn.  All such Intangible  Rights are valid,
enforceable  and in good standing and the Company is not infringing any material
Intangible  Rights of any other  person.  Except  as set forth on  Schedule  5.9
annexed  hereto,  the Company  has the right to  continue to use its  Intangible
Rights  without any limitation or  restriction  which would or might  materially
adversely  interfere  with  its  business.  No  additional  Intangible  Right is
required  by the  Company to  continue  conducting  its  business  as  presently
conducted.

     5.10 Tax Matters.  The Company has timely filed all federal,  state,  local
and foreign tax  returns,  estimates  and reports  required by any  governmental
authority  to be  filed  and has  paid  in  full  (a)  all  taxes,  charges  and
assessments  shown to be due by such returns,  estimates or reports or otherwise
due with  respect  to the  periods  covered  thereby  and (b) all  deficiencies,
interest and penalties imposed in connection therewith.  The Company knows of no

<PAGE>

audits,  assessments,  notices of  deficiency,  claims or  demands  for taxes or
proposed  deficiencies  against  the Company for any  federal,  state,  local or
foreign taxes.

     5.11 Reports. (a) The Company has filed with the Commission all reports and
registration  statements  and all other  filings  required  to be filed with the
Commission  for the past  three  years  under the rules and  regulations  of the
Commission,  copies of which have been  delivered  to the  Purchasers.  At their
respective  times of filing,  no such  report,  registration  statement or other
filing contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements  contained  therein,  in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  All such
reports, registration statements and other filings, at their respective times of
filing,  complied with all applicable  rules and  regulations of the Commission,
including,  without limitation,  the Securities Act, and the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").

     (b) The Company has provided or will provide the Purchasers  with copies of
the most recent draft of the Company's  proposed  Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended  September  30,  1995.  Such draft Form 10-K does not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary
in order to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they are being made, not misleading.

     5.12 Use of Proceeds.  The Company will apply the proceeds from the sale of
the Notes, simultaneously with the Closing, to working capital, repayment of any
interim loans and general corporate needs.

     5.13 ERISA.  (a) With respect to each employee  benefit plan (as defined in
Section 3(3) of ERISA), each oral or written incentive or deferred  compensation
plan or agreement and each other  employee-related  plan, program,  agreement or
arrangement  with  respect  to which  the  Company  or any  other  member of the
Controlled  Group has or may have any  liability  (hereinafter  referred to as a
"Benefit Plan"): (i) there has been no violation of any applicable  provision of
ERISA;  (ii) each Benefit Plan intended to qualify  under Section  401(a) of the
Internal  Revenue  Code of  1986,  as  amended  (the  "Code")  or for any  other
tax-exempt or tax-favored status under the Code so qualifies;  (iii) neither the
Company  nor  any  other  member  of the  Controlled  Group  is  subject  to any
outstanding or potential liability or obligation, direct or indirect (other than
the  obligation to make  contributions  or pay insurance  premiums,  all of such
contributions or premiums having been made or paid (as appropriate) in full on a
timely  basis),  relating to any such Benefit Plan;  (iv) there are no actual or
potential  claims or  actions  (other  than  claims for  benefits  in the normal
course)  relating  to any such  Benefit  Plan;  (v) no Benefit  Plan which is an
employee  pension benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA) has
any  amount of  unfunded  benefit  liabilities  (within  the  meaning of Section
4001(a)(18) of ERISA), nor has a Reportable Event (within the meaning of Section
4043(c) of ERISA)  occurred with respect to any such Benefit  Plan;  and (vi) no
Benefit Plan is a  multi-employer  plan (within the meaning of Sections 3(37) or
4001(a)(3) of ERISA).

     (b) For purposes of this Section 5.13:  (i) the term "ERISA" shall mean the
Employee  Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended;  and (ii) the term
"Controlled  Group"  shall mean a group  composed  of the Company and each other

<PAGE>

corporation or other  organization  under common control with the Company within
the meaning of Section  4001(a)(14) of ERISA or Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o)
of the Code.

     5.14  Environmental.  Except as set forth on Schedule 5.14 annexed  hereto,
the Company has obtained all permits,  licenses and other  authorizations  which
are required under all environmental laws, including laws relating to emissions,
discharges,  releases  or  threatened  releases  or  pollutants,   contaminants,
chemicals,  or  industrial,  toxic or  hazardous  substances  or wastes into the
environment (including,  without limitation,  ambient air, surface water, ground
water  or  land),  or  otherwise   relating  to  the  manufacture,   processing,
distribution,  use,  treatment,  storage,  disposal,  transport  or  handling of
pollutants, contaminants, chemicals or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances
or wastes,  except to the extent  failure to obtain any such permit,  license or
other authorization does not have (and is not likely to have) a material adverse
effect  on  the  business,   condition  (financial  or  otherwise),   operation,
properties,  performance or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken
as a whole. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.14 annexed hereto, the Company and
each  Subsidiary is in compliance  with all material terms and conditions of the
required permits,  licenses and  authorizations,  and is also in compliance with
all other material requirements, obligations, schedules and timetables contained
in those laws or  contained  in any  regulations,  code,  plan,  order,  decree,
judgment,  injunction,  notice or demand letter issued, entered,  promulgated or
approved  thereunder,  and no claim or assessment  with respect thereto has been
made, or to the Company's knowledge, threatened, except to the extent failure to
comply or any such claim or assessment does not have (and is not likely to have)
a material adverse effect on the business,  condition  (financial or otherwise),
operations,  properties,  performance  or  prospects  of  the  Company  and  its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.


     5.15 Absence of Certain Changes or Events.  Except as set forth on Schedule
5.15 annexed hereto, since September 30, 1995, there has been:

     (i) no change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of the business and
operations of the Company,  which, either singly or in the aggregate,  is (or is
likely to be) materially adverse to the Company;

     (ii) no sales of goods or  services  or other  transactions  of the Company
other than those occurring in the ordinary and regular course of business;

     (iii) no material  change in the manner of  conducting  the business of the
Company;

     (iv) no  material  adverse  change in the working  capital  position of the
Company; and

     (v) no  financial  or other  commitments  or  obligations  incurred  by the
Company except such as may be incidental to carrying on the ordinary and regular
course of business.

     5.16 Material Misstatements or Omissions.  No representation or warranty by
the Company to the Purchasers in this Agreement or in any Schedule hereto, or in
any of the  other  documents  or  agreements  contemplated  by  this  Agreement,

<PAGE>

contains or will contain any untrue  statement of a material  fact,  or omits or
will omit to state a material  fact  necessary to make the  statements  or facts
contained  herein  or  therein  not  misleading.  All  of the  Schedules  hereto
applicable to the Company and its Subsidiaries  will constitute  representations
and  warranties  by the  Company  herein.  All  representations,  covenants  and
warranties  made by or on behalf of the Company in this Agreement will be deemed
to have been relied upon by the Purchasers (notwithstanding any investigation by
the Purchasers).

     5.17 Survival.  All representations,  warranties and covenants made in this
Agreement by the Company  shall survive until three years and one month from the
Closing Date.

     Section 6. Covenants of the Company.

     The  Company  covenants  and  agrees  that,  unless  the  Purchasers  shall
otherwise consent in writing, it will:

     6.1 NYSE or  Stockholder  Approvals.  Undertake  to use its best efforts to
obtain promptly from the NYSE and/or the stockholders of the Company approval of
(i) the Gintel standby arrangement for the Rights Offering,  (ii) the ability of
Gintel to exchange  the  Initial  Gintel  Note for the Gintel  Replacement  Note
following the  Conversion  Date and (iii) the issuance and sale to Gintel of the
Warrants.

     6.2 Rights  Offering.  Undertake to attempt to consummate a Rights Offering
to the holders of its Common Stock as contemplated in the Standby Agreement. The
Company  agrees to use its best efforts to prepare and file with the  Commission
the appropriate  registration  statement covering the Rights Offering as soon as
practicable  and  to  use  its  best  efforts  to  cause  such  Rights  Offering
registration  statement to become  effective  under the  Securities  Act as soon
thereafter  as possible  and to solicit  proxies from its  stockholders  for any
approvals necessary under applicable NYSE rules to consummate or lawfully permit
the Rights Offering,  the Standby  Agreement,  the ability of Gintel to exchange
the Initial Gintel Note for the Gintel Replacement Note following the Conversion
Date and the issuance and sale of the Warrants.

     6.3 Financial Statements. As long as the Notes are outstanding,  furnish or
cause to be furnished to each Purchaser the following  financial  statements and
information, which shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP:

     6.3.1 As soon as available,  but in any event, within ninety days after the
close of each fiscal year of the  Company  (or such longer  period as  permitted
pursuant to Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act ("Rule  12b-25"),  provided  that
the Company has filed,  with respect to the report  incorporating  the financial
statements  referenced  below,  the  appropriate  extension  of  time  with  the
Commission),  audited consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of the close
of such period,  and related audited  consolidated  statements of operations and
cash flows of the Company for such fiscal year,  together with (a) copies of the
reports  and  certificates  relating  thereto  of Arthur  Anderson  LLP or other
independent   certified  public  accountants  of  recognized  national  standing

<PAGE>

selected by the Company and (b) a certificate of such  accountants to the effect
that they are familiar  with the terms and  provisions  of the Notes and that in
making their audit they have not discovered  any  condition,  act or omission to
act which would  constitute an event of default or which with notice or lapse of
time, or both, would constitute such an event of default, under the Notes;

     6.3.2 As soon as available,  but in any event, within forty five days after
the close of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Company
(or such longer  period as permitted  pursuant to Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange
Act,  provided that the Company,  with respect to the report  incorporating  the
financial  statements  referenced below, has filed the appropriate  extension of
time with the Commission),  unaudited consolidated balance sheets of the Company
as of the last day of such quarter and related unaudited consolidated statements
of operations and cash flows for such period;

     6.3.3 As soon as reasonably  practicable,  all other reports as the Company
shall, from time to time, distribute to its stockholders ; and

     6.3.4  Concurrently  with its  dissemination  to the senior  lenders of the
Company, all other reports as the Company shall, from time to time,  disseminate
to its senior lenders.

     6.4 Notes  Tendered.  Honor the rights of Avondale  to tender the  Avondale
Note and Gintel to tender the  Initial  Gintel  Note to the extent of their then
outstanding principal amounts plus accrued and unpaid interest in fulfilling his
or its  obligation  to acquire  shares of Common  Stock  pursuant to the Standby
Agreement.

     6.5 Information Regarding the Purchasers. Provide the Purchasers with draft
copies, prior to the time of their filing with the Commission,  the NYSE and any
other  regulatory  body, of all  registration  statements,  proxy statements and
other  documents and reports which  identify and discuss the  Purchasers and the
Rights Offering. The Company shall provide the Purchasers with ample opportunity
to review and comment on all such documents and to approve statements made about
them (such comments to be limited to information  relating to the Purchasers and
the Rights Offering),  and the Company,  prior to the time of filing, shall make
such  revisions to these  documents and reports as the  Purchasers  may request,
such revisions not to be unreasonably denied by the Company.

     6.6 Other Information.  As long as the Notes are outstanding,  provide each
Purchaser with such information  concerning the operations of the Company as any
Purchaser may from time to time reasonably request in writing, provided that the
Purchasers  agree  to keep  such  information  confidential,  and at  reasonable
intervals permit  representatives of each of the Purchasers full and free access
during  normal  business  hours to the  properties,  books  and  records  of the
Company, provided,  however, that the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to
this Section 6.6 to provide any information which it reasonably  considers to be
a trade secret or similar confidential information.  In addition, each Purchaser

<PAGE>

agrees that to the extent he or it receives from the Company material non-public
information,  he or it,  as the  case  may be,  will not  effect  trades  in the
Company's   securities   while  in  possession   of  such  material   non-public
information.

     Section 7. Representations and Warranties of the Purchasers.

     Each Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

     7.1 Organization and  Authorization.  Such Purchaser,  if an individual has
the  legal   capacity  to  enter  into  this  Agreement  and  to  undertake  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby and, if a corporation,  is duly organized and
validly  existing,  is in good  standing  under  the  laws of the  state  of its
incorporation,  and has all requisite  corporate power and authority to carry on
its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted.

     7.2 Valid and Binding. All corporate action on the part of Avondale and its
respective  officers,  directors  and  shareholders  that are  necessary for the
execution,  delivery and  performance of all  obligations of Avondale under this
Agreement, the Standby Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement have been
taken. Each of this Agreement, the Standby Agreement and the Registration Rights
Agreement,  when and if executed and  delivered by each  Purchaser in accordance
with the terms contained  herein and therein,  will constitute the legal,  valid
and binding  obligation of such Purchaser and will be  enforceable  against such
Purchaser  in  accordance  with its  respective  terms and will not  violate any
provision of law, any order of any court or other agency of  government,  or any
provision  of any  indenture,  agreement  or  other  instrument  by  which  such
Purchaser  or any of his or its  respective  properties  or  assets  is bound or
affected and, with respect to Avondale,  its  Certificate  of  Incorporation  or
By-laws.

     7.3 Investment Representations.

     7.3.1 Each  Purchaser  has had an  opportunity  to ask questions of, and to
receive information from, the Company and persons acting on the Company's behalf
concerning the transactions  contemplated herein and in the Rights Offering, and
to obtain any  additional  information  necessary  to verify the accuracy of the
information  and data received by such  Purchaser.  Such Purchaser  acknowledges
receipt and examination of the following information, in addition to, and not in
limitation  of, any other  information  obtained by such Purchaser or his or its
representatives   in  connection  with  such  Purchaser's   investigations   and
examinations of the Company:

     7.3.1.1  The Annual  Report of the Company on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended September 30, 1994, as the same was filed with the Commission;

     7.3.1.2  The  Quarterly  Report of the  Company on Form 10-Q for the fiscal
quarter ended July 1, 1995, as the same was filed with the Commission;

     7.3.1.3 The unaudited  consolidated  financial statements of the Company as
of September 30, 1995; and


<PAGE>

     7.3.1.4 The unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of
operations and cash flows of the Company referenced in Section 5.7 (iv).

     It is  understood  and agreed  that the  foregoing  shall in no way affect,
diminish,  or  derogate  from the  representations  and  warranties  made by the
Company hereunder.

     7.3.2 Each Purchaser is an  "accredited  investor," as such term is defined
under Rule 501(a) promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Act, and he
or it, as the case may be, has  knowledge  of the  business  and  affairs of the
Company, has sufficient knowledge and experience in business matters to evaluate
the merits and risks of an  investment  in the Company,  has  adequate  means of
providing  for his or its,  as the  case  may be,  current  needs  and  possible
contingencies,  has no need  for  liquidity  of his or its,  as the case may be,
investment  in the  Company  and  would be able to bear the  economic  risk of a
complete loss of his or its, as the case may be, proposed investment hereunder.

     7.4 Governmental  and Other Consents.  All consents,  approvals,  orders or
authorizations of, or registrations,  qualifications, designations, declarations
or filings with, any federal or state governmental authority or any other person
on the part of each Purchaser which are, or will be, necessary to be obtained by
the  Purchasers  for the  valid  execution,  delivery  and  performance  of this
Agreement,  the Registration  Rights Agreement and the Standby Agreement by such
Purchaser  and the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and
thereby have been made or obtained.

     7.5 Material  Misstatements or Omissions.  No representation or warranty by
the Purchasers to the Company in this Agreement or in any of the other documents
or agreements contemplated by this Agreement contains or will contain any untrue
statement  of a material  fact,  or omits or will omit to state a material  fact
necessary  to make the  statements  or facts  contained  herein or  therein  not
misleading.  All representations,  covenants and warranties made by or on behalf
of the  Purchasers in this  Agreement will be deemed to have been relied upon by
the Company (notwithstanding any investigation by the Company).

     7.6 Survival.  All  representations,  warranties and covenants made in this
Agreement  by the  Purchasers  shall  survive  until  three  years and one month
following the Closing Date.

     Section 8. Covenants of the Purchasers.

     8.1 Standby  Agreement  for  Unsubscribed  Shares in Rights  Offering.  The
Purchasers shall enter into the Standby Agreement pursuant to which, among other
things,  the  Purchasers  shall agree to acquire all shares of Common  Stock not
subscribed for by  stockholders  of the Company in the Rights  Offering,  all in
accordance  with the terms and  conditions  set forth in the Standby  Agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties acknowledge that the Company will not
issue more than 1,607,143  shares of Common Stock in the Rights  Offering,  that
Gintel's and Avondale's maximum aggregate standby commitment will not exceed the
difference  obtained by  subtracting  from  $11,250,000,  the  aggregate  of all
subscription  proceeds  received by the Company from  stockholders in the Rights
Offering and that Gintel's and Avondale's individual maximum standby commitments
shall not exceed $3,750,000 and $7,500,000, respectively.


<PAGE>

     8.2 Gintel  Rights.  Gintel  hereby  covenants  and agrees that he will not
subscribe  for any shares of Common  Stock  underlying  any of the  subscription
rights to be issued to him,  as a  stockholder  in the  Company,  in the  Rights
Offering.

     Section  9.  Indemnification.  (a) The  Company  will  indemnify  and  hold
harmless each  Purchaser  (subject to the  provisions of Section 9(d) below) and
the directors, officers, employees and agents of each Purchaser from and against
any  and  all  losses,   claims,   damages  and   liabilities   (including   any
investigation,  legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with,
and any amount paid in  settlement,  of any action,  suit or  proceeding  or any
claim asserted (collectively, the "Losses")), to which they, or any of them, may
become subject as a result of, or arising out of, any material inaccuracy in, or
any material breach of, any representation,  warranty,  covenant or agreement of
the Company  contained in this  Agreement or in any of the other  agreements  or
instruments contemplated by this Agreement,  including,  without limitation, the
Registration Rights Agreement,  the Standby Agreement,  the Notes, the Warrants,
the Avondale  Replacement Note and the Gintel  Replacement  Note. This indemnity
agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company might  otherwise
have.

     (b) Each  Purchaser  severally,  but not jointly,  will  indemnify and hold
harmless the Company and the  directors,  officers,  employees and agents of the
Company from and against any and all Losses to which they,  or any of them,  may
become subject as a result of, or arising out of, any material inaccuracy in, or
any material breach of, any representation,  warranty,  covenant or agreement of
such  Purchaser  contained in this  Agreement or in any of the other  agreements
contemplated by this Agreement,  including, without limitation, the Registration
Rights Agreement and the Standby Agreement.  This indemnity agreement will be in
addition to any liability that each Purchaser might otherwise have.

     (c) Any party that  proposes  to assert the right to be  indemnified  under
this Section  will,  promptly  after  receipt of notice of  commencement  of any
action  against such party in respect of which a claim is to be made against any
indemnifying party or parties under this Section,  notify each such indemnifying
party of the commencement of such action, enclosing a copy of all papers served,
but the omission so to notify such  indemnifying  party will not relieve it from
any liability  that it may have to any  indemnified  party  otherwise than under
this Section. If any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it
notifies the indemnifying party of its commencement, the indemnifying party will
be entitled to  participate  in, and, to the extent that it elects by delivering
written notice to the indemnified  party promptly after receiving  notice of the
commencement  of the action from the indemnified  party,  jointly with any other
indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense of the action, with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, and, after notice from
the  indemnifying  party to the indemnified  party of its election to assume the
defense,  the indemnifying party will not be liable to the indemnified party for
any  legal or other  expenses  except  as  provided  below  and  except  for the
reasonable costs of investigation  previously  incurred by the indemnified party
in connection  with the defense.  The  indemnified  party will have the right to
employ its counsel in any such action, but the fees and expenses of such counsel
will be at the expense of such  indemnified  party unless (i) the  employment of
counsel  by  the  indemnified  party  has  been  authorized  in  writing  by the
indemnifying  party,  (ii) the indemnified  party has reasonably  concluded that
there may be a conflict  of  interest  between  the  indemnifying  party and the

<PAGE>

indemnified  party in the  conduct of the  defense of such action (in which case
the  indemnifying  party will not have the right to direct  the  defense of such
action on behalf of the indemnified  party) or (iii) the indemnifying  party has
not in fact  employed  counsel to assume the  defense  of such  action  within a
reasonable time after  receiving  notice of the  commencement of the action,  in
each of which cases the fees and  expenses of counsel  will be at the expense of
the indemnifying party or parties. All such fees and expenses will be reimbursed
promptly as they are incurred.  An indemnifying party will not be liable for any
settlement of any action or claim  effected  without its or his written  consent
(such  consent  not to be  unreasonably  withheld)  or, in  connection  with any
proceeding  or related  proceeding  in the same  jurisdiction,  for the fees and
expenses of more than one separate counsel for all indemnified parties.

     (d) The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the  representations  and
warranties  made by the Company to Mr. Gintel in Section 5 hereof are being made
to him without any liability  therefor  following  the Closing Date.  Nothing in
this  Agreement  or in any of the other  documents  or  instruments  referred to
herein shall create in Mr. Gintel,  or grant Mr. Gintel, a right,  following the
Closing Date, to commence a cause of action  against the Company for, or to seek
indemnification  for  losses  arising  out of or  relating  to, a breach  by the
Company  of any of its  representations  or  warranties  contained  in Section 5
herein.

     Section 10. Miscellaneous.

     10.1 Notices. All notices,  requests, demands or other communications to or
upon the  respective  parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given or made,
and all financial statements,  information and the like required to be delivered
hereunder  shall be deemed to have been  delivered,  when sent by  registered or
certified  mail or by  overnight  courier,  postage  prepaid,  addressed  to the
parties at their addresses set forth on the first page of this Agreement,  or to
such other  address as any of them shall specify in writing to the other parties
hereto, with copies

          in the case of the Company, to:

          Blau, Kramer, Wactlar & Lieberman, P.C.
          100 Jericho Quadrangle
          Jericho, New York 11753
          Attn: Edward I. Kramer

          in the case of Gintel, to:

          Reid & Priest LLP
          40 West 57th Street
          New York, New York 10019
          Attn: Leonard Gubar


<PAGE>

          in the case of Avondale, to:

          King & Spalding
          191 Peachtree Street
          Atlanta, Georgia 30303
          Attn: Michael J. Egan III

     10.2 Amendment.  This Agreement and the Schedules annexed hereto may not be
changed or terminated orally and may only be amended with the written consent of
the Company and the Purchasers. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company
and the Purchasers and their successors and permitted assigns.

     10.3  Counterparts.   This  Agreement  may  be  executed  in  two  or  more
counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

     10.4  References  and Headings.  All references to gender or number in this
Agreement shall be deemed  interchangeable to refer to the masculine,  feminine,
neuter,  singular or plural, as the sense of the context  requires.  The Section
headings contained herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are
not  intended  to define  or limit  the  contents  of any such  Section  of this
Agreement.

     10.5 Fees and Expenses. The Company shall pay the reasonable legal fees and
disbursements  of counsel to the Purchasers in connection with the  transactions
contemplated hereby and in the Rights Offering, whether or not the closing under
this Agreement or the Rights Offering is consummated.

     10.6  Governing Law. This Agreement is executed and delivered in, and shall
be construed in accordance  with,  and governed by, the laws of the State of New
York, without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the Company and the  Purchasers  have  executed  this
Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

                              ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.


                              By: /s/ James L. Ford
                              Name:   James L. Ford
                              Title:  Vice President

                              PURCHASERS:

                               /s/ Robert M. Gintel
                              Robert M. Gintel


<PAGE>

                              AVONDALE MILLS, INC.

                              By:   /s/ Jack R. Altherr, Jr.
                              Name:     Jack R. Altherr, Jr.
                              Title:    Vice President & CFO



<PAGE>



                             SCHEDULES



SCHEDULE A -        STANDBY AGREEMENT

SCHEDULE B -        INITIAL GINTEL NOTE

SCHEDULE C -        GINTEL SUBORDINATED NOTE

SCHEDULE D -        AVONDALE NOTE

SCHEDULE E -        REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

SCHEDULE F -        WARRANTS

SCHEDULE G -        AVONDALE REPLACEMENT NOTE

SCHEDULE H -        GINTEL REPLACEMENT NOTE

SCHEDULE 1.2.3 -    BANK FINANCING

SCHEDULE 1.2.5 -    OPINION OF COUNSEL

SCHEDULE 5.1 -      SUBSIDIARIES

SCHEDULE 5.2 -      CAPITAL OF SUBSIDIARIES; REGISTRATION RIGHTS

SCHEDULE 5.3 -      AUTHORIZATION

SCHEDULE 5.5 -      GOVERNMENTAL AND OTHER CONSENTS

SCHEDULE 5.6 -      ACTIONS PENDING

SCHEDULE 5.7 -      ADVERSE CHANGE

SCHEDULE 5.9 -      PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS

SCHEDULE 5.14 -     ENVIRONMENTAL

SCHEDULE 5.15 -     CHANGE OF EVENTS

<PAGE>
                                                                 Schedule A

                      ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.

                           Common Stock,
                      Par Value $.25 per share

                         STANDBY AGREEMENT


                                         New York, New York
                                         __________ __, 1996


Robert M. Gintel
6 Greenwich Office Park
Greenwich, Connecticut 06831

Avondale Mills, Inc.
506 South Broad Street
Monroe, Georgia 30655

Dear Sirs:

     Oneita Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") proposes to
issue (the "Rights Offering"),  upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in the  Prospectus  (as  hereinafter  defined),  rights (the  "Rights") to
purchase  1,719,627  shares of its Common  Stock,  $.25 par value per share (the
"Common   Stock"),   exercisable   at  $  7.00  per  share  and   evidenced   by
non-transferable  certificates (the "Rights Certificates").  Such Rights will be
exercisable  during the period from the date hereof  through 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, on ________,  1996. The date on which the Rights Offering  expires is
referred to as the "Expiration  Date." The offer of Common Stock pursuant to the
Rights is hereinafter  referred to as the "Rights  Offering." The Rights and the
Common Stock issuable and issued upon exercise thereof are hereinafter sometimes
collectively referred to as the "Securities."

     The Securities are described in the Prospectus  referred to below. You have
advised us that you desire to purchase from the Company that number of shares of
Common Stock which equals the excess,  if any, of 1,607,143 shares  [$11,250,000
in value] over that number of shares  subscribed for in the Rights Offering upon
the expiration thereof (the "Unsubscribed  Securities" or the "Shares"). You are
each sometimes  hereinafter  individually referred to as a Standby Purchaser and
collectively  as the Standby  Purchasers  and the Company  hereby  confirms  its
agreement with each of you as follows:

     1.  Purchase  and  Sale of  Unsubscribed  Securities.  On the  basis of the
representations  and warranties herein  contained,  but subject to the terms and
conditions  herein set forth, the Company hereby agrees to sell the Unsubscribed
Securities to the Standby  Purchasers in the  proportion set forth in Schedule A
hereto, and each Standby Purchaser severally agrees to purchase the Unsubscribed

<PAGE>

Securities from the Company in the proportion set forth in Schedule A hereto, at
a purchase price of $7.00 per share.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties
acknowledge that the Company will not issue more than 1,607,143 shares of Common
Stock in the Rights Offering,  that the Standby  Purchasers'  maximum  aggregate
standby  commitment will not exceed the difference  obtained by subtracting from
$11,250,000 the aggregate of all subscription  proceeds  received by the Company
from  stockholders  in the  Rights  Offering  and that  Robert M.  Gintel's  and
Avondale Mills,  Inc.'s individual maximum standby  commitments shall not exceed
$3,750,000 and $7,500,000, respectively.

     2. Payment and Delivery.  Payment for the Unsubscribed  Securities shall be
made by the Standby  Purchasers  to the Company,  at the election of the Standby
Purchasers,  either by (a)  tendering  to the  Company  for credit  against  the
subscription  price (to the extent of the then outstanding  principal amount of,
and any accrued and unpaid interest on), those certain 10% Subordinated Notes of
the Company dated January __, 1996 issued to the Standby  Purchasers or (b) wire
transfer to an account  designated  by the  Company.  Such  payment and delivery
shall be made at 10:00  A.M.,  New York City  Time,  on the fifth  business  day
following the  Expiration  Date,  the date and time of such payment and delivery
being herein called the "Closing  Date".  The Securities so to be delivered will
be in such  denominations and registered in such names as the Standby Purchasers
request, and will be made available to the Standby Purchasers for inspection not
less than one full business day prior to the Closing Date.

     3. Registration Statement and Prospectus; Public Offering. The Company will
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), pursuant to
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and the published
rules and  regulations  adopted  by the  Commission  under it (the  "Rules"),  a
registration  statement,  including a  preliminary  prospectus,  relating to the
Securities,  and such amendments to such registration statement as may have been
required to the date of this Agreement.  The term "preliminary prospectus" means
any preliminary prospectus (as referred to in Rule 430 of the Rules) included at
any time as a part of the registration  statement and any preliminary prospectus
included in the registration  statement at the Effective Date (as defined below)
that omits  information  with respect to the  Securities and the offering of the
Securities  permitted  to be omitted  from the  registration  statement  when it
becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430A of the Rules ("Rule 430A  Information").
If a further  amendment  to the  registration  statement is required to be filed
pursuant  to Rule  424(b) of the  Rules,  such  further  amendment  (the  "Final
Amendment")  to the  registration  statement,  including  a form of  prospectus,
necessary  to permit such  registration  statement to become  effective  will be
prepared  by the  Company  and  submitted  to the  Standby  Purchasers  and will
promptly be filed by the Company with the Commission. The registration statement
as amended at the time it becomes  effective (the "Effective  Date"),  including
financial statements and all exhibits,  is called the "Registration  Statement."
The term "Prospectus" means the prospectus  containing the Rule 430A Information
as first filed with the  Commission  pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules or, if
no such filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules is required,  means the form
of final  prospectus  included in the  Registration  Statement at the  Effective
Date.

     4.  Representations and Warranties.  The Company represents and warrants to
and agrees with the Standby Purchasers that:
<PAGE>

     1. On the  Effective  Date and the date the  Prospectus  is first filed (if
required) with the Commission  pursuant to Rule 424(b) and, if the Prospectus is
not filed  pursuant  to Rule  424(b)  of the  Rules,  on the date of any  filing
pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules, when any  post-effective  amendment to the
Registration  Statement  becomes effective or any amendment or supplement to the
Prospectus  is  filed  with  the   Commission  and  at  the  Closing  Date,  the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any such amendment or supplement will
comply in all material respects, with the requirements of the Securities Act and
the Rules, and no part of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any such
amendment or supplement will include any untrue  statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material  fact  required to be stated in it or necessary to make
the statements in it not misleading;  except that this  representation  does not
apply to  statements  or omissions  made in reliance on and in  conformity  with
information  relating  to the  Standby  Purchasers  furnished  in writing to the
Company  by the  Standby  Purchasers  expressly  for  use  in  the  Registration
Statement, Prospectus, amendment or supplement.

     2. The holders of  outstanding  shares of capital  stock of the Company and
warrants, options or other securities to purchase shares of capital stock of the
Company are not entitled to any  preemptive  rights to subscribe for the Shares.
All  holders,  if any,  of  shares of common  stock or other  securities  of the
Company  having rights to have such  securities  registered in the  Registration
Statement have waived such rights or such rights have expired by reason of lapse
of time following  notification of the Company's intent to file the Registration
Statement.

     3. The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing,  is in
good  standing  under the laws of the State of Delaware,  and has all  requisite
corporate  power and  authority  to carry on its  business as  described  in the
Prospectus.  The Company is duly  qualified as a foreign  corporation  and is in
good  standing  in all  other  jurisdictions  in  which  such  qualification  is
required,  provided  however,  that  the  Company  need  not be  qualified  in a
jurisdiction  in which its failure to qualify would not have a material  adverse
effect on its operations or financial condition.  Each "significant"  subsidiary
of the Company (as defined in Rule 1.02 of the Commission's  Regulation S-X, the
"Subsidiaries")  is duly  organized  and validly  existing,  is in good standing
under  the laws of its  state of  incorporation,  has all  requisite  power  and
authority to duly carry on its business as  described in the  Prospectus  and is
duly  qualified as a foreign  corporation  and is in good  standing in all other
jurisdictions in which such qualification is required,  provided,  however, that
such  Subsidiary need not be qualified in a jurisdiction in which its failure to
qualify would not have a material  adverse effect on its operations or financial
condition.

     4. The Company has a duly authorized and outstanding  capitalization as set
forth in the Prospectus and the Securities  conform to the  description  thereof
contained therein and such description conforms with the rights set forth in the
instruments defining the same.

     5. The financial  statements  and  schedules  filed with and as part of the
Registration  Statement present fairly the financial position of the Company and
the  Subsidiaries  as of  the  respective  dates  thereof  and  the  results  of
operations  of the  Company  and the  Subsidiaries  for the  respective  periods
covered  thereby,  all in  conformity  with  generally  accepted  principles  of
accounting  applied on a consistent  basis throughout the entire period involved
and from  period  to  period.  Since  the  respective  dates  of such  financial
statements there has been no material adverse change in the condition or general
affairs of the Company or of any of the  Subsidiaries,  financial or  otherwise,
other than as referred to in the Prospectus.


<PAGE>

     6. The Rights Certificates,  Rights and Common Stock issuable upon exercise
of the Rights have been duly  authorized  and, when issued and paid for, will be
validly issued,  fully paid and  non-assessable and the holders thereof will not
be  subject  to  personal  liability  by  reason  of being  such  holders;  such
securities  are not subject to the preemptive  rights of any  stockholder of the
Company;  and the Common Stock has been duly  authorized  for listing on the New
York Stock Exchange upon official notice of issuance.

     7. Arthur Andersen LLP, who are certifying the financial  statements  filed
with the Commission as a part of the  Registration  Statement,  are  independent
public accountants as required by the Securities Act and the Rules.

     8. The  issuance  of the Rights  Certificates  and the  Securities  and the
execution and delivery of this Agreement,  the  consummation of the transactions
herein contemplated and the compliance with the terms of the Rights Certificates
and this  Agreement  will not conflict  with or result in a breach of any of the
terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or give rise to rights of
termination  under,  any deed of trust,  lease,  sublease,  the  Certificate  of
Incorporation  or by-laws of the Company or of any of the  Subsidiaries,  or any
indenture,  mortgage,  or other  agreement or instrument to which the Company or
any of the  Subsidiaries  is a  party  or by  which  the  Company  or any of the
Subsidiaries,  or the property of any of them, is bound,  or any applicable law,
rule,  regulation,  judgment,  order or decree of any  government,  governmental
instrumentality  or court,  domestic or foreign,  having  jurisdiction  over the
Company or any of the  Subsidiaries,  or the  properties or operations of any of
them.

     Each of the Standby Purchasers  represents and warrants to the Company that
he or it (as the  case  may  be),  as of the  date of  this  Agreement,  has the
financial wherewithal to honor his or its respective commitments hereunder.

     5.  Subscription  Offer.  The  Company  will offer to holders of its Common
Stock of record at the close of  business  on  _____________,  1996 the right to
purchase  shares of  Common  Stock at a price of $7.00 per share on the basis of
one right to purchase  one-quarter  of one share of Common Stock for every share
of Common Stock held.  The Company  will,  or will cause its Transfer  Agent to,
mail  Rights  Certificates  to such  holders  of  Common  Stock as  promptly  as
practicable after the Registration Statement becomes effective, and in any event
will complete  such mailing not later than  midnight on the day next  succeeding
the effective date of the Registration Statement,  unless you shall consent to a
later time in writing.

     At the time of the  commencement  of the mailing ("Time of Mailing") of the
Rights Certificates to such holders, the Company will notify each of the Standby
Purchasers  of such  mailing,  and the  Company  will advise each of the Standby
Purchasers daily during the period of such offer of the  subscriptions  received
and of sales.  Not later  than 10 A.M.,  New York City  Time,  on the first full
business day following the Expiration Date, the Company will notify each Standby

<PAGE>

Purchaser by telephone of the total number of shares of Common Stock  subscribed
for by holders of Rights  Certificates  and the resulting amount of Unsubscribed
Securities and will confirm such notice in writing. The Standby Purchasers shall
be entitled to rely on such notice as to the amount of  Unsubscribed  Securities
to be purchased by them in accordance with Schedule A hereto.

     6.  Restricted  Nature  of  Unsubscribed  Securities.  Each of the  Standby
Purchasers acknowledges that the Unsubscribed  Securities,  in its or his hands,
as the case  may be,  will be  restricted  securities  which  may not be sold or
offered for sale in the absence of an  effective  registration  statement  as to
such  Unsubscribed  Securities under the Securities Act or an opinion of counsel
satisfactory  to the Company that such  registration  is not  required.  In this
regard,  the parties hereto have entered into a Registration  Rights  Agreement,
substantially in the form of Schedule B hereto,  pursuant to which,  among other
things, the Company granted the Standby Purchasers certain  registration  rights
with respect to the Unsubscribed Securities.

     7.  Certain  Covenants  of the  Company.  In further  consideration  of the
agreements of the Standby Purchasers herein contained,  the Company covenants as
follows:

     (1)  The  Company  will  not at any  time,  whether  before  or  after  the
Registration  Statement shall have become effective,  file or make any amendment
or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus of which you shall not
have  previously  been  advised  and  furnished  a copy,  or to which  you shall
reasonably object in writing.

     (2) The  Company  will  use its best  efforts  to  cause  the  Registration
Statement to become effective and will advise you  immediately,  and confirm the
advice in writing,  (i) when the Registration  Statement,  or any post-effective
amendment to the Registration  Statement,  shall have become  effective,  or any
supplement to the  Prospectus or any amended  Prospectus  shall have been filed,
(ii) of the necessity of amending or supplementing the Prospectus or any amended
Prospectus in order to then meet the  requirements  of the Securities Act, (iii)
of any  request  of the  Commission  for  amendment  or  supplementation  of the
Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information,  and (iv) of
the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of
the  Registration  Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of
any preliminary or amended preliminary  prospectus,  or of the suspension of the
qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction,  or of
the institution of any  proceedings  for any of such purposes.  The Company will
use its best  efforts to prevent  the  issuance of any such stop order or of any
order  preventing or  suspending  such use and to obtain as soon as possible the
lifting thereof, if issued.

     (3) The Company will  deliver to the Standby  Purchasers,  without  charge,
from time to time until the effective  date of the  Registration  Statement,  as
many copies of each preliminary or amended preliminary prospectus as the Standby
Purchasers may reasonably request, and the Company hereby consents to the use of
such copies for  purposes  permitted  by the  Securities  Act.  The Company will
deliver to the Standby  Purchasers,  without charge, as soon as the Registration
Statement  shall  have  become  effective  and  thereafter  from time to time as
requested,  such number of copies of the Prospectus (as supplemented or amended,
if the Company shall have made any  supplements or amendments to the Prospectus)
as the Standby Purchasers may reasonably  request.  The Company has furnished or
will  furnish  to you  two  signed  copies  of  the  Registration  Statement  as

<PAGE>

originally  filed and of all amendments  thereto,  whether filed before or after
the Registration  Statement becomes effective,  and three copies of all exhibits
filed  therewith or  incorporated  therein by reference and signed copies of all
consents and certificates of experts.

     (4) The Company will comply to the best of its ability with the  Securities
Act and the Rules and the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended  (the
"Exchange  Act"),  and the rules and regulations  thereunder so as to permit the
continuance  of sales of, and dealings in, the  Securities  under the Securities
Act and the Exchange Act.  Subject to the  provisions of subsection  (a) of this
Section 7, if at any time when a Prospectus  is required to be  delivered  under
the  Securities  Act (i) an event shall have occurred as a result of which it is
necessary to amend or supplement  the Prospectus in order to make the statements
therein  not untrue or  misleading  or to make the  Prospectus  comply  with the
Securities  Act or  (ii)  the  proposed  offering  of the  Securities  makes  it
necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus, the Company promptly will amend
or  supplement  the  Prospectus  (and  if  a  Post-Effective  Amendment  to  the
Registration  Statement is  necessary in  connection  therewith,  will  promptly
prepare  and file the same and will use its best  efforts  to cause  the same to
become  effective)  as necessary to permit the lawful use of the  Prospectus  in
connection with the distribution of the Securities.

     (5) The Company  will comply to the best of its ability  with blue sky laws
so as to permit the  continuance  of sales of and  dealings in the  Unsubscribed
Securities thereunder.  The Company,  however, shall not be obligated to qualify
as a foreign corporation or file any general consent to service of process under
the laws of any  such  jurisdiction  or  subject  itself  to  taxation  as doing
business in any such jurisdiction. The Company will take the necessary action to
qualify the Securities (and, to the extent necessary,  the Rights  Certificates)
in connection with the offer and sale thereof by the Company,  under the laws of
such  jurisdictions  as may be deemed advisable by the Company in respect of the
offer  of the  Securities  to  the  holders  of  its  Common  Stock  and  Rights
Certificates.

     (6) The Company will make generally  available to its security holders,  by
mailing to its then security  holders,  as soon as  practicable  and in no event
later than the 15th full calendar month following the calendar  quarter in which
the Effective  Date falls,  an earnings  statement  satisfying the provisions of
Section 11 (a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Rules.

     (7) The Company will pay and bear all costs and expenses in connection with
(i) the preparation, printing and filing with the Commission of the Registration
Statement   (including   financial   statements   and   exhibits),   preliminary
prospectuses and Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto,  (ii) the
printing of this  Agreement and the  agreements and other printed matter used by
you in connection  with the marketing of the Securities  and the  publication of
any related  advertisements,  (iii) the issue and  delivery of the  Unsubscribed
Securities hereunder to the Standby Purchasers,  including all Federal and other
taxes on the issue by or any transfer of the  Unsubscribed  Securities  from the
Company  to the  Standby  Purchasers  (but not on any  transfer  by the  Standby
Purchasers of the Unsubscribed  Securities or of the right to receive the same),
(iv) the qualifying of the Securities and the Rights Certificates under the laws
of  certain  jurisdictions  as  aforesaid,  including  filing  fees and fees and
disbursements  of counsel  (who may be counsel  for the Standby  Purchasers)  in
connection  therewith,  (v) the cost of  furnishing  to the  Standby  Purchasers
copies  of the  Registration  Statement,  preliminary  and  amended  preliminary
prospectuses  and Prospectus and all  supplements  and  amendments  thereto,  as
herein provided and (vi) the legal expenses of the Standby Purchasers incidental

<PAGE>

to the  preparation of, and the  consummation  by the Standby  Purchasers of the
transactions contemplated by, this Agreement.

     (8)  The  Company   will  do  all  things   necessary   to   maintain   the
exerciseability of the Rights, including, but not limited to, maintaining at all
times  sufficient  reserved,  authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock for
issuance upon exercise thereof.

     (9) The Company will use its best efforts to add the Standby  Purchasers as
additional  insureds on any insurance  policy which provides  insurance  against
liabilities which may be asserted in connection with the Rights Offerings.

     8. Conditions of Obligations of the Standby Purchasers and of Company.  The
obligations of the Standby  Purchasers to purchase and pay for the  Unsubscribed
Securities  which they have  agreed to  purchase  hereunder  are  subject to the
accuracy (as of the date hereof and the Closing Date) of and compliance with the
representations  and  warranties of the Company  herein,  to the accuracy of the
statements of officers of the Company made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to
the  performance  by  the  Company  of  its  obligations  hereunder,  and to the
following additional conditions.

     (1) The  Registration  Statement shall have become effective not later than
5:30 P.M., New York City Time, on __________, 1996 or at such later time on such
later date as you may agree to in  writing;  and prior to the Closing  Date,  no
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have
been issued and no  proceedings  for that purpose shall have been  instituted or
shall be pending,  or, to your knowledge or the knowledge of the Company,  shall
be contemplated by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission
for additional information shall have been complied with.

     (2) The Time of Mailing shall have  occurred not later than 5:30 P.M.,  New
York City Time, on  ___________,  1996 or at such later time on such date as you
may agree to in writing;  prior to the Time of Mailing, the issuance and sale of
the Securities shall have been approved by all requisite corporate action.

     (3) At the Time of Mailing,  and at the Closing Date, there shall have been
delivered to you a signed opinion of Blau Kramer  Wactlar & Lieberman,  P.C., as
counsel for the Company,  dated as of the Time of Mailing and the Closing  Date,
respectively,  in form and substance  satisfactory to Reid & Priest LLP, counsel
for the Standby Purchasers.

     (4) At the Time of Mailing,  and at the Closing Date, there shall have been
delivered to you a signed  letter of Arthur  Andersen LLP, in form and substance
reasonably  satisfactory to you, dated as of the Time of Mailing and the Closing
Date, respectively.

     (5) At the  Time  of  Mailing,  (i)  the  Registration  Statement  and  the
Prospectus  and  any  amendments  or  supplements   thereto  shall  contain  all
statements  which are  required  to be stated  therein  in  accordance  with the
Securities  Act and the Rules and in all material  respects shall conform to the
requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules,  and neither the  Registration

<PAGE>

Statement  nor the  Prospectus  nor any  amendment or  supplement  thereto shall
contain any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the  statements  therein
not misleading, (ii) since the respective dates as of which information is given
there shall have been no material adverse change in the business,  properties or
financial  condition  of the  Company  from that set  forth in the  Registration
Statement and the Prospectus,  except changes which the  Registration  Statement
indicates  might occur after the effective date of the  Registration  Statement,
and since  September  30, 1995 there  shall have been no  material  transaction,
contract or  agreement  entered  into by the Company  other than in the ordinary
course of business which is not referred to in the Registration  Statement,  and
(iii) no action,  suit or proceeding at law or in equity shall be pending or, to
the knowledge of the Company,  threatened  against the Company or any Subsidiary
which would be required to be set forth in the Registration Statement other than
as set forth therein, and no proceeding shall be pending or, to the knowledge of
the Company,  threatened  against the Company or any Subsidiary before or by any
Federal,  state or other commission,  board or administrative  agency wherein an
unfavorable  decision,  ruling or finding would materially  adversely affect the
business,  property, financial condition or income of the Company, other than as
set forth in the Registration  Statement;  and the Standby Purchasers shall have
received,  at  the  Time  of  Mailing,   certificates  of  the  President  or  a
Vice-President,  and the  Treasurer or an Assistant  Treasurer,  of the Company,
dated as of the Time of Mailing,  evidencing  compliance  with the provisions of
this subsection (e).

     (6) All  proceedings  taken  at or prior  to the  Time of  Mailing  and the
Closing Date, respectively, in connection with the authorization, issue and sale
of the Securities  and the  authorization  and issue of the Rights  Certificates
shall  be  reasonably  satisfactory  in form  and  substance  to you and to your
counsel,  and such counsel shall have been  furnished  with all such  documents,
certificates  and opinions as it reasonably  requests to verify the accuracy and
completeness  of any of the  representations,  warranties,  or  statements,  the
performance of any covenants of the Company,  or the compliance  with any of the
conditions, herein contained.

     (7) At the Closing Date,  the Company  shall have  delivered to the Standby
Purchasers a certificate  of the President of the Company dated the Closing Date
certifying  that the  representations  and  warranties  of the Company set forth
herein are true and correct as of the Closing Date.

     In case any of the conditions  specified  above in this Section 8 shall not
have been fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by either of you on notice
to the Company.

     The  obligation  of the  Company  to  sell  and  deliver  the  Unsubscribed
Securities is subject to the following  conditions:  The Registration  Statement
shall have become  effective  not later than 5:30 P.M.,  New York City Time,  on
___________,  1996,  or at such later time or on such later date as the  Company
may agree to in writing; and prior to the Closing Date, no stop order suspending
the  effectiveness of the  Registration  Statement shall have been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or shall be pending, or,
to your knowledge or the knowledge of the Company,  shall be contemplated by the
Commission.  In case any of the conditions specified in this paragraph shall not
have been fulfilled,  this  Agreement,  upon notice to you, may be terminated by
the Company.


<PAGE>

     9.  Indemnification.  (1) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each
of the Standby Purchasers and its respective directors,  officers, employees and
agents,  and each person, if any, who controls each Standby Purchaser within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act against any and all losses,  claims,
damages and liabilities,  joint or several (including any  investigation,  legal
and other expenses  reasonably  incurred in connection with, and any amount paid
in  settlement  of,  any  action,  suit or  proceeding  or any  claim  asserted)
(collectively,  the "Losses"), to which they, or any of them, may become subject
under the Securities  Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state  statutory
law or regulation, at common law, or otherwise,  insofar as such losses, claims,
damages  or  liabilities  arise out of or are based on any untrue  statement  or
alleged  untrue  statement  of a  material  fact  contained  in any  preliminary
prospectus,  the  Registration  Statement or the  Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement  thereto,  or the  omission  or  alleged  omission  to  state in such
document a material  fact  required to be stated in it or  necessary to make the
statements in it not misleading, provided that the Company will not be liable to
the extent  that such loss,  claim,  damage or  liability  is based on an untrue
statement  or  omission or alleged  untrue  statement  or  omission  (i) made in
reliance  on and in  conformity  with  information  furnished  in writing to the
Company  by or on  behalf  of the  Standby  Purchaser  expressly  for use in the
document or (ii) in a  preliminary  prospectus  if the  Prospectus  corrects the
untrue  statement or omission or alleged  untrue  statement or omission which is
the basis of the loss, claim,  damage or liability for which  indemnification is
sought and a copy of the  Prospectus  was not sent or given to such person at or
before  the  confirmation  of the sale to such  person  in any case  where  such
delivery is required by the Securities  Act,  unless such failure to deliver the
Prospectus was a result of  noncompliance by the Company with Section 7(c). This
indemnity  agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company might
otherwise have.

     (2) The Standby Purchasers will indemnify and hold harmless the Company and
its  directors,  officers,  employees and agents,  and each person,  if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities  Act, to
the same  extent as the  foregoing  indemnity  from the  Company to the  Standby
Purchasers,  but only  insofar as Losses arise out of or are based on any untrue
statement  or omission or alleged  untrue  statement  or omission  made in or in
reliance  on and in  conformity  with  information  furnished  in writing to the
Company  by or on  behalf  of  the  Standby  Purchasers  expressly  for  use  in
preparation  of the  documents  in which the  statement  or  omission is made or
alleged  to be  made.  This  indemnity  agreement  will  be in  addition  to any
liability that the Standby Purchasers might otherwise have.

     (3) Any party that  proposes  to assert the right to be  indemnified  under
this Section  will,  promptly  after  receipt of notice of  commencement  of any
action  against  such party in respect of which a claim is to be made against an
indemnifying party or parties under this Section,  notify each such indemnifying
party of the commencement of such action, enclosing a copy of all papers served,
but the omission so to notify such  indemnifying  party will not relieve it from
any liability  that it may have to any  indemnified  party  otherwise than under
this Section. If any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it
notifies the indemnifying party of its commencement, the indemnifying party will
be entitled to  participate  in, and, to the extent that it elects by delivering
written notice to the indemnified  party promptly after receiving  notice of the
commencement  of the action from the indemnified  party,  jointly with any other
indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense of the action, with

<PAGE>

counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, and, after notice from
the  indemnifying  party to the indemnified  party of its election to assume the
defense,  the indemnifying party will not be liable to the indemnified party for
any  legal or other  expenses  except  as  provided  below  and  except  for the
reasonable costs of investigation  previously  incurred by the indemnified party
in connection  with the defense.  The  indemnified  party will have the right to
employ its counsel in any such action, but the fees and expenses of such counsel
will be at the expense of such  indemnified  party unless (i) the  employment of
counsel  by  the  indemnified  party  has  been  authorized  in  writing  by the
indemnifying  party,  (ii) the indemnified  party has reasonably  concluded that
there may be a conflict  of  interest  between  the  indemnifying  party and the
indemnified  party in the  conduct of the  defense of such action (in which case
the  indemnifying  party will not have the right to direct  the  defense of such
action on behalf of the indemnified  party) or (iii) the indemnifying  party has
not in fact  employed  counsel to assume the  defense  of such  action  within a
reasonable time after  receiving  notice of the  commencement of the action,  in
each of which cases the fees and  expenses of counsel  will be at the expense of
the indemnifying party or parties. All such fees and expenses will be reimbursed
promptly as they are incurred.  An indemnifying party will not be liable for any
settlement of any action or claim  effected  without its written  consent or, in
connection with any proceeding or related  proceeding in the same  jurisdiction,
for the fees and expenses of more than one separate  counsel for all indemnified
parties.

     10.  Representations,  Warranties and Agreements to Survive  Delivery.  The
representations,  warranties,  indemnities and agreements of the Company and the
Standby  Purchasers  made in this  Agreement  will remain  operative and in full
force and effect  regardless  of any  investigation  made by or on behalf of the
Company,  or any  Standby  Purchaser  or  controlling  person  and will  survive
delivery of and payment for the Unsubscribed Securities.

     11.  Termination.  Notwithstanding  any provision to the contrary contained
herein,  either of the Standby Purchasers shall have the right to terminate this
Agreement, by written notice addressed to the Company, if the Rights Offering is
not consummated by May 31, 1996.

     12. Obligations. The parties hereto acknowledge that the obligations of the
Standby Purchasers under this Agreement are several and not joint.

     13.  Miscellaneous.  (a) This Agreement contains the entire agreement among
the parties  hereto with  respect to the subject  matter  herein,  and cannot be
modified,  changed,  discharged or terminated except by an instrument in writing
signed by the party against whom the  enforcement of any  modification,  change,
discharge or termination is sought.

     (b)  Any  notice,  request,  instruction  or  other  document  to be  given
hereunder  shall be in  writing  and shall be  delivered  personally  or sent by
registered or certified mail or overnight courier as follows:


<PAGE>

           (i)  If to the Company:

                4130 Faber Place
                Suite 200
                Ashley Corporate Center
                Charleston, South Carolina 29405
                Attn:     President

                with a copy to:

                Blau, Kramer, Wactlar & Lieberman, P.C.
                100 Jericho Quadrangle
                Jericho, New York  11753
                Attn: Edward I. Kramer

     (ii) If to the Standby Purchasers,  at their respective addresses specified
on page one hereof or to such  other  address  as any party  hereto  hereinafter
designates  in writing to any other party  hereto,  with a copy,  in the case of
Robert M. Gintel, to:

                Reid & Priest LLP
                40 West 57th Street
                New York, New York 10019
                Attn: Leonard Gubar


                and with a copy, in the case of Avondale Mills, Inc. to:

                King & Spalding
                191 Peachtree Street
                Atlanta, Georgia 30303
                Attn: Michael J. Egan III

     (c) The captions  herein are inserted  for  convenience  only and shall not
affect the construction of this Agreement.

     (d) This  Agreement is executed and delivered in, and shall be construed in
accordance  with,  and governed  by, the laws of the State of New York,  without
giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.


<PAGE>

     (e) This  Agreement  may be executed in one or more  counterparts,  each of
which shall be deemed to be an original,  but all of which taken  together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.

                                    Very truly yours,

                                    ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.


                                    By:  ______________________
                                         Title: President
Accepted and Agreed to as of
the Date First Above Written:


- ----------------------------
Robert M. Gintel


AVONDALE MILLS, INC.

By:   ______________________
      Title:



<PAGE>



                             SCHEDULE A

               ALLOCATION OF UNSUBSCRIBED SECURITIES


     The first 750,000 shares of  Unsubscribed  Securities  will be purchased by
Avondale Mills, Inc.

     The next block of Unsubscribed  Securities will be purchased by the Standby
Purchasers as follows,  subject to Avondale  Mills,  Inc.'s  maximum  cumulative
Standby Commitment of $7,500,000:

           Robert M. Gintel -       50%
           Avondale Mills, Inc. -   50%

     The balance of the Unsubscribed Securities will be purchased by Mr. Gintel,
subject to his maximum cumulative Standby Commitment of $3,750,000.

<PAGE>

                                                                 Schedule B

                      ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.

                  10% SUBORDINATED PROMISSORY NOTE


$3,750,000.00                            Charleston, South  Carolina
                                                    January __, 1996

     ONEITA  INDUSTRIES,  INC.,  a Delaware  corporation  (the  "Company"),  the
principal  office of which is  located at 4130 Faber  Place,  Suite 200,  Ashley
Corporate  Center,  Charleston,  South Carolina 29405, for value received hereby
promises to pay to ROBERT M. GINTEL or his  registered  assigns (the  "Holder"),
the  sum  of  THREE   MILLION   SEVEN   HUNDRED   FIFTY   THOUSAND   AND  00/100
($3,750,000.00),  or such  lesser  amount as shall  then  equal the  outstanding
principal  amount  hereof  on the terms and  conditions  set forth  hereinafter.
Interest on the unpaid  principal  amount  hereof shall be payable as herein set
forth.  The entire  principal  amount  hereof and any  unpaid  accrued  interest
hereon, as set forth below,  shall be due and payable on the earlier to occur of
(i) January 31,  1999 or (ii) when  declared  due and payable by the Holder upon
the  occurrence  of an Event of Default  (as  defined  below).  Payment  for all
amounts due hereunder  shall be made by wire transfer of  immediately  available
funds to such  account  of the  Holder  as shall  have  been  designated  to the
Company.  This Note is issued in connection with the  transactions  described in
Section 1.1 of that certain Note Purchase  Agreement between the Company and the
Holders  described  therein,  dated  as of  December  28,  1995  (the  "Purchase
Agreement").  Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have
the  meanings  ascribed  to them in the  Purchase  Agreement.  This  Note is the
Initial  Gintel Note referred to in the Purchase  Agreement and is issued to the
Holder in addition to the Gintel  Subordinated  Note (as such term is defined in
the Purchase  Agreement)  in like  principal  amount on the date hereof.  As set
forth in the  Purchase  Agreement,  the Company  anticipates  effecting a Rights
Offering to, among other things,  raise the funds  necessary to repay this Note.
Moreover,  the Holder of this Note has agreed,  subject to the prior  receipt by
the Company of all requisite consents,  including, if necessary, that of the New
York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") and/or the Company's stockholders,  to serve as
a standby  purchaser  of the  Company  in the Rights  Offering.  Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Holder of this Note may apply the
then  outstanding  amount of all principal and accrued and unpaid interest under
this Note to  satisfy  his  obligations  as a standby  purchaser  in the  Rights
Offering.  In the event that the Rights Offering is not consummated prior to May
31,  1996,  or upon the  occurrence  of any of the other  events  referred to in
Section 4.1 of the Purchase  Agreement,  then the Holder may,  commencing at the
Conversion Date (as such term is defined in the Purchase  Agreement) and subject
to the prior receipt by the Company of all  requisite  consents,  including,  if
necessary,  that of the NYSE and/or the  Company's  stockholders,  exchange this
Note for the Gintel  Replacement  Note (as such term is defined in the  Purchase
Agreement) on the terms set forth in the Purchase Agreement (a "Note Exchange").

           The following is a statement of the rights of the Holder of this Note
and the  conditions  to which  this Note is  subject,  and to which  the  Holder
hereof, by the acceptance of this Note, agrees:


<PAGE>

     1.  Definitions.  As used in this Note,  the  following  terms,  unless the
context otherwise requires, have the following meanings:

     (i) "Company" includes any corporation which shall succeed to or assume the
obligations of the Company under this Note.

     (ii) "Holder," when the context refers to a holder of this Note, shall mean
any person who shall at the time be the registered holder of this Note.

     2. Interest.  The unpaid principal balance of this Note shall bear interest
compounded  annually,  from the date hereof until paid in like money,  at a rate
(based on a 360-day year) equal to ten percent (10%) per annum, such interest to
be  payable on June 30 and  December  31 in each year.  Any  accrued  but unpaid
interest  shall be payable in full upon  maturity  or prior  prepayment  of this
Note.  In the event that the  principal  amount of this Note is not paid in full
upon  maturity,  interest  shall  continue to accrue at the rate provided in the
previous  sentence plus five percent (5%) on the balance of any unpaid principal
and unpaid interest until such balance is paid.

     3.  Events of Default.  If any of the events  specified  in this  Section 3
shall occur  (herein  individually  referred to as an "Event of  Default"),  the
Holder of this Note may, in the sole  discretion of the Holder,  so long as such
condition  exists,  (a) declare the entire principal and unpaid accrued interest
hereon  immediately  due and payable and (b) subject to the prior receipt by the
Company of all requisite  consents,  including,  if necessary,  that of the NYSE
and/or the Company's stockholders,  effect a Note Exchange, by notice in writing
to the Company:

     (i) (a) Default in the payment of the  principal  when due under this Note,
the  Gintel  Subordinated  Note or the  Avondale  Note,  and (b)  default in the
payment of the unpaid accrued interest under this Note, the Gintel  Subordinated
Note or the Avondale Note when due and payable if such default in the payment of
accrued  interest  is not cured by the  Company  within  ten (10) days after the
Holder or Avondale,  as the case may be, has given the Company written notice of
such default; or

     (ii)  The  institution  by  the  Company  or  any  material  Subsidiary  of
proceedings to be adjudicated as bankrupt or insolvent,  or the consent by it to
institution of bankruptcy or insolvency  proceedings against it or the filing by
it of a petition or answer or consent  seeking  reorganization  or release under
the federal Bankruptcy Act, or any other applicable federal or state law, or the
consent  by it to the  filing  of any  such  petition  or the  appointment  of a
receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee or other similar official of the Company
or any material Subsidiary,  or of any substantial part of its property,  or the
making by it of an  assignment  for the benefit of  creditors,  or the taking of
corporate action by the Company or any material Subsidiary in furtherance of any
such action; or

     (iii) If,  within  sixty  (60) days  after  the  commencement  of an action
against  the  Company  or any  material  Subsidiary  (and  service of process in
connection  therewith  on the Company or any  material  Subsidiary)  seeking any
bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  liquidation,  dissolution  or similar
relief under any present or future statute, law or regulation, such action shall
not have been resolved in favor of the Company or any material Subsidiary or all
orders or proceedings thereunder affecting the operations or the business of the

<PAGE>

Company or any material  Subsidiary  stayed, or if the stay of any such order or
proceeding  shall  thereafter be set aside,  or if, within sixty (60) days after
the  appointment  without  the  consent or  acquiescence  of the  Company or any
material Subsidiary of any trustee, receiver or liquidator of the Company or any
material  Subsidiary or of all or any substantial  part of the properties of the
Company  or any  material  Subsidiary,  such  appointment  shall  not have  been
vacated; or

     (iv) Any event of  default  or  default  of the  Company  under any  Senior
Indebtedness  (as  defined  below)  that gives the holder  thereof  the right to
accelerate such Senior Indebtedness, even if such Senior Indebtedness is not, in
fact, accelerated by the holder; or

     (v) Any failure by the Company to comply with, perform or observe any term,
covenant or agreement contained in the Purchase Agreement, this Note, the Gintel
Subordinated  Note, the Avondale Note, the Registration  Rights  Agreement,  the
Standby  Agreement or any other agreement,  instrument or documents entered into
in connection  therewith,  which failure continues for a period of 30 days after
written notice thereof by the Holder to the Company; or

     (vi) Any change of control  of the  Company  which,  for  purposes  of this
Section  3(vi),  shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any person,  other than
any person who, as of the date of the Purchase  Agreement,  beneficially owns 5%
of more of the  outstanding  capital  stock of the Company,  whether alone or as
part of a group  (including any individual,  firm,  partnership or other entity)
together with all  Affiliates and Associates (as defined under Rule 12b-2 of the
General Rules and Regulations  promulgated under the Securities  Exchange Act of
1934, as amended) of such person, but excluding (A) a trustee or other fiduciary
holding  securities  under  an  employee  benefit  plan  of the  Company  or any
subsidiary of the Company, (B) a corporation owned,  directly or indirectly,  by
the stockholders of the Company in  substantially  the same proportions as their
ownership of the Company or (C) the Company or any  subsidiary of the Company is
or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3  promulgated under the
Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing
50% or more of the  combined  voting  power of the  Company's  then  outstanding
securities,   (ii)  the   stockholders  of  the  Company  approve  a  merger  or
consolidation of the Company with any other corporation,  other than a merger or
consolidation  that  would  result  in the  voting  securities  of  the  Company
outstanding  immediately  prior  thereto  continuing  to  represent  (either  by
remaining  outstanding  or by being  converted  into  voting  securities  of the
surviving  entity)  at least  80% of the  combined  voting  power of the  voting
securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after
such merger or consolidation, or (iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a
plan of  complete  liquidation  of the Company or an  agreement  for the sale or
disposition by the Company of all of substantially  all of the Company's assets;
or

     (vii) the Company or any  material  Subsidiary  shall be subject to a final
judgment  by a  court  of  competent  jurisdiction  (which  is no  longer  being
appealed) in an amount in excess of $1,000,000.


<PAGE>

     4.  Subordination.  The  indebtedness  evidenced  by this  Note  is  hereby
expressly  subordinated,  to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth,
in right of payment to the prior  payment  in full of all the  Company's  Senior
Indebtedness, as hereinafter defined.

     4.1  Senior   Indebtedness.   As  used  in  this  Note,  the  term  "Senior
Indebtedness"  shall mean the principal of and unpaid  accrued  interest on: (i)
all indebtedness of the Company  concurrently being incurred by the Company with
SunTrust  Bank,  Atlanta,  First Union Bank of South  Carolina and NatWest Bank,
N.A.,  (ii) all  indebtedness  of the Company to banks,  insurance  companies or
other financial  institutions regularly engaged in the business of lending money
(collectively,  "Bank Debt"),  which is outstanding on the date hereof and which
is for money  borrowed by the Company  (whether or not secured),  (iii) up to $6
million of  additional  Bank Debt  provided  that such  additional  Bank Debt is
advanced  to the Company  prior to such time as the  conversion  privileges  set
forth in the  Avondale  Replacement  Note and the Gintel  Replacement  Note have
either been  exercised in their  entirety,  canceled or terminated  and (iv) any
refinancings of the indebtedness described in clauses (i) through (iii) above.

     4.2 Default on Senior Indebtedness. If there should occur any receivership,
insolvency, assignment for the benefit of creditors, bankruptcy,  reorganization
or arrangements  with creditors  (whether or not pursuant to bankruptcy or other
insolvency laws),  sale of all or substantially all of the assets,  dissolution,
liquidation  or any other  marshalling  of the  assets  and  liabilities  of the
Company,  then (i) no amount  shall be paid by the  Company  in  respect  of the
principal of or interest on this Note at the time outstanding,  unless and until
the principal of and interest on the Senior  Indebtedness then outstanding shall
be paid in full,  and (ii) no  claim or proof of claim  shall be filed  with the
Company by or on behalf of the  Holder of this Note that shall  assert any right
to receive any  payments  in respect of the  principal  of and  interest on this
Note,  except subject to the payment in full of the principal of and interest on
all of the Senior  Indebtedness  then  outstanding.  If there occurs an event of
default that has been  declared in writing with respect to a payment  obligation
under any  Senior  Indebtedness,  or in the  instrument  under  which any Senior
Indebtedness is outstanding,  permitting the holder of such Senior  Indebtedness
to accelerate the maturity thereof, then, unless and until such event of default
shall  have been cured or waived or shall  have  ceased to exist,  or all Senior
Indebtedness  shall have been paid in full,  no payment shall be made in respect
of the  principal  of or interest on this Note,  unless  within three (3) months
after the  happening  of such Event of  Default,  the  maturity  of such  Senior
Indebtedness shall not have been accelerated.

     4.3 Effect of Subordination.  Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders
of Senior Indebtedness under this Section 4 to receive cash, securities or other
properties  otherwise payable or deliverable to the Holder of this Note, nothing
contained in this Section 4 shall impair, as between the Company and the Holder,
the obligation of the Company,  subject to the terms and conditions  hereof,  to
pay to the Holder the principal  hereof and interest hereon as and when the same
become due and payable,  or shall prevent the Holder of this Note,  upon default
hereunder,  from exercising all rights,  powers and remedies  otherwise provided
herein or by applicable law.

     4.4 Subrogation.  Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness
and until this Note shall be paid in full, the Holder shall be subrogated to the
rights of the  holders  of Senior  Indebtedness  (to the extent of  payments  or
distributions previously made to such holders of Senior Indebtedness pursuant to
the  provisions of Section 4.2 above) to receive  payments or  distributions  of

<PAGE>

assets of the Company applicable to the Senior Indebtedness. No such payments or
distributions  applicable  to the Senior  Indebtedness  shall,  as  between  the
Company and its creditors, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness and the
Holder,  be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of this Note;
and for the purposes of such  subrogation,  no payments or  distributions to the
holders of Senior  Indebtedness to which the Holder would be entitled except for
the  provisions  of this  Section  4  shall,  as  between  the  Company  and its
creditors,  other than the holders of Senior  Indebtedness  and the  Holder,  be
deemed  to be a  payment  by  the  Company  to  or  on  account  of  the  Senior
Indebtedness.

     4.5  Undertaking.  By its  acceptance  of this Note,  the Holder  agrees to
execute and deliver such  documents as may be reasonably  requested from time to
time by the  Company  or the  lender  of any  Senior  Indebtedness  in  order to
implement the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.

     5.   Prepayment.

     5.1 Optional Prepayment.  The Company may not prepay this Note, in whole or
in part,  without the prior  consent of the Holder hereof and the holders of the
Avondale Note and the Gintel Subordinated Note. If the Company shall prepay this
Note pursuant to this Section 5, it shall cause notice  thereof,  specifying the
date and amount of  prepayment,  to be given by registered or certified  mail to
the  holders  of the  Avondale  Note and the Gintel  Subordinated  Note at their
last-known  post  office  addresses  of which the  Company  shall have  received
written  notice,  at least 10 days prior to the date fixed for such  prepayment.
Notice of  prepayment  having been given as aforesaid,  this Note,  the Avondale
Note and the Gintel  Subordinated Note, or the portions thereof so to be prepaid
shall,  on the date  designated  in such  notice,  become due and payable in the
principal  amounts  thereof to be  prepaid.  In the event  that this  Note,  the
Avondale Note and/or the Gintel  Subordinated Note are outstanding and a partial
prepayment  is  made,  each of this  Note,  the  Avondale  Note  and the  Gintel
Subordinated  Note shall be prepaid pro rata to the then  outstanding  principal
amounts thereof.

     5.2 Mandatory  Prepayment.  The Company shall  immediately use any proceeds
received by it from any  stockholder  of the Company  upon the  exercise by such
stockholder of rights issued in the Rights Offering, to repay, pro rata with the
Avondale Note, based upon the then  outstanding  principal amount in relation to
the then  outstanding  principal  amount of the Avondale Note,  the  outstanding
principal  amount and any unpaid and accrued  interest  hereunder and the Holder
hereof shall accept such prepayment.

     6.   Notifications by the Company.  In case at any time:

     (1) there  shall be any  capital  reorganization,  reclassification  of the
capital  stock of the Company,  consolidation  or merger of the Company with, or
sale of all or  substantially  all of the  assets  of the  Company  to,  another
corporation; or

     (2) there shall be a voluntary or involuntary  dissolution,  liquidation or
winding-up of the Company;
<PAGE>

then,  in any one or more of such  cases,  the Company  shall give  written
notice  to the  registered  Holder  of this  Note  of the  date  on  which  such
reorganization,  reclassification,  consolidation,  merger,  sale,  dissolution,
liquidation  or  winding-up  shall take place,  as the case may be. Such written
notice  shall be given not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days  prior to
the action in question and not less than 30 days and not more than 80 days prior
to the record date or the date on which the Company's  transfer books are closed
in respect  thereto and such notice may state that the record date is subject to
the effectiveness of a registration  statement under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, or to a favorable vote of stockholders, if either is required.

     7. Assignment.  The rights and obligations of the Company and the Holder of
this Note shall be binding  upon and benefit  the  successors,  assigns,  heirs,
administrators and transferees of the parties.

     8.  Notices.  Any  notice,  request  or  other  communication  required  or
permitted  hereunder  shall be in writing  and shall be deemed to have been duly
given if  personally  delivered or mailed by  registered  or  certified  mail or
overnight courier,  postage prepaid, at the respective  addresses of the parties
as set forth herein.  Any party hereto may by notice so given change its address
for future notice  hereunder.  Notice shall  conclusively be deemed to have been
given when  delivered  in the manner set forth above and shall be deemed to have
been  received  when  delivered.  Copies of all notices to the Company  shall be
given to:

              Blau, Kramer, Wactlar & Lieberman, P.C.
              100 Jericho Quadrangle
              Jericho, New York  11753
              Attention:  Edward I. Kramer

and copies of all notices to Robert M. Gintel shall be given to:

              Reid & Priest LLP
              40 West 57th Street
              New York, New York  10019
              Attention:  Leonard Gubar

     9. No Stockholder Rights. Nothing contained in this Note shall be construed
as  conferring  upon the  Holder  or any  other  person  the right to vote or to
consent  or to  receive  notice as a  stockholder  in  respect  of  meetings  of
stockholders  for the election of directors of the Company or any other  matters
or any rights whatsoever as a stockholder of the Company.

     10.  Collection.  If the  Holder  shall  institute  any  action to  enforce
collection of this Note, there shall become due and payable from the Company, in
addition to the unpaid  principal amount and interest under this Note, all costs
and  expenses  of  that  action  (including,  but  not  limited,  to  reasonable
attorneys'  fees) and the Holder  shall be  entitled  to  judgment  for all such
additional amounts.


<PAGE>

     11.  Governing  Law.  This Note is executed and  delivered in, and shall be
construed  in  accordance  with,  and  governed by, the laws of the State of New
York, without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

     12. Headings; References. All headings used herein are used for convenience
only and shall not be used to  construe or  interpret  this Note.  Except  where
otherwise indicated, all references herein to Sections refer to Sections hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be issued this ____
day of January, 1996.

                               ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.


                               By____________________________
                               -------------------------------

<PAGE>

                                                                 Schedule C

                      ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.

                  10% SUBORDINATED PROMISSORY NOTE


$3,750,000.00                            Charleston, South  Carolina
                                                    January __, 1995

     ONEITA  INDUSTRIES,  INC.,  a Delaware  corporation  (the  "Company"),  the
principal  office of which is  located at 4130 Faber  Place,  Suite 200,  Ashley
Corporate  Center,  Charleston,  South Carolina 29405, for value received hereby
promises to pay to ROBERT M. GINTEL or his  registered  assigns (the  "Holder"),
the  sum  of  THREE   MILLION   SEVEN   HUNDRED   FIFTY   THOUSAND   AND  00/100
($3,750,000.00),  or such  lesser  amount as shall  then  equal the  outstanding
principal  amount  hereof  on the terms and  conditions  set forth  hereinafter.
Interest on the unpaid  principal  amount  hereof shall be payable as herein set
forth.  The entire  principal  amount  hereof and any  unpaid  accrued  interest
hereon, as set forth below,  shall be due and payable on the earlier to occur of
(i) January 31, 1999,  or (ii) when  declared due and payable by the Holder upon
the  occurrence  of an Event of Default  (as  defined  below).  Payment  for all
amounts due hereunder  shall be made by wire transfer of  immediately  available
funds to such  account  of the  Holder  as shall  have  been  designated  to the
Company.  This Note is issued in connection with the  transactions  described in
Section 1.1 of that certain Note Purchase  Agreement between the Company and the
Holders  described  therein,  dated  as of  December  28,  1995  (the  "Purchase
Agreement").  Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have
the meanings ascribed to them in the Purchase Agreement. This Note is the Gintel
Subordinated  Note  referred to in the Purchase  Agreement  and is issued to the
Holder in addition  to the  Initial  Gintel Note (as such term is defined in the
Purchase Agreement) in like principal amount issued on the date hereof.

     The  following  is a statement of the rights of the Holder of this Note and
the conditions to which this Note is subject, and to which the Holder hereof, by
the acceptance of this Note, agrees:

     1.  Definitions.  As used in this Note,  the  following  terms,  unless the
context otherwise requires, have the following meanings:

     (i) "Company" includes any corporation which shall succeed to or assume the
obligations of the Company under this Note.

     (ii) "Holder," when the context refers to a holder of this Note, shall mean
any person who shall at the time be the registered holder of this Note.

     2. Interest.  The unpaid principal balance of this Note shall bear interest
compounded  annually,  from the date hereof until paid in like money,  at a rate
(based on a 360-day year) equal to ten percent (10%) per annum, such interest to
be  payable on June 30 and  December  31 in each year.  Any  accrued  but unpaid
interest  shall be payable in full upon  maturity  or prior  prepayment  of this

<PAGE>

Note.  In the event that the  principal  amount of this Note is not paid in full
upon  maturity,  interest  shall  continue to accrue at the rate provided in the
previous  sentence plus five percent (5%) on the balance of any unpaid principal
and unpaid interest until such balance is paid.

     3.  Events of Default.  If any of the events  specified  in this  Section 3
shall occur  (herein  individually  referred to as an "Event of  Default"),  the
Holder of this  Note  may,  in his sole  discretion,  so long as such  condition
exists,  declare  the  entire  principal  and  unpaid  accrued  interest  hereon
immediately due and payable, by notice in writing to the Company:

     (i) (a) Default in the payment of the  principal  when due under this Note,
the Initial Gintel Note, the Gintel  Replacement  Note, the Avondale Note or the
Avondale  Replacement Note, and (b) default in the payment of the unpaid accrued
interest under this Note, the Initial Gintel Note, the Gintel  Replacement Note,
the Avondale Note or the Avondale Replacement Note, when due and payable if such
default in the payment of accrued  interest  is not cured by the Company  within
ten (10) days  after the Holder or  Avondale,  as the case may be, has given the
Company written notice of such default; or

     (ii)  The  institution  by  the  Company  of  any  material  Subsidiary  of
proceedings to be adjudicated as bankrupt or insolvent,  or the consent by it to
institution of bankruptcy or insolvency  proceedings against it or the filing by
it of a petition or answer or consent  seeking  reorganization  or release under
the federal Bankruptcy Act, or any other applicable federal or state law, or the
consent  by it to the  filing  of any  such  petition  or the  appointment  of a
receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee or other similar official of the Company
or any material Subsidiary,  or of any substantial part of its property,  or the
making by it of an  assignment  for the benefit of  creditors,  or the taking of
corporate action by the Company or any material Subsidiary in furtherance of any
such action; or

     (iii) If,  within  sixty  (60) days  after  the  commencement  of an action
against  the  Company  or any  material  Subsidiary  (and  service of process in
connection  therewith  on the Company or any  material  Subsidiary)  seeking any
bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  liquidation,  dissolution  or similar
relief under any present or future statute, law or regulation, such action shall
not have been resolved in favor of the Company or any material Subsidiary or all
orders or proceedings thereunder affecting the operations or the business of the
Company or any material  Subsidiary  stayed, or if the stay of any such order or
proceeding  shall  thereafter be set aside,  or if, within sixty (60) days after
the  appointment  without  the  consent or  acquiescence  of the  Company or any
material Subsidiary of any trustee, receiver or liquidator of the Company or any
material  Subsidiary or of all or any substantial  part of the properties of the
Company  or any  material  Subsidiary,  such  appointment  shall  not have  been
vacated; or

     (iv) Any event of  default  or  default  of the  Company  under any  Senior
Indebtedness  (as  defined  below)  that gives the holder  thereof  the right to
accelerate such Senior Indebtedness, even if such Senior Indebtedness is not, in
fact, accelerated by the holder; or

     (v) Any failure by the Company to comply with, perform or observe any term,
covenant or  agreement  contained  in the  Purchase  Agreement,  this Note,  the
Initial  Gintel  Note,  the Gintel  Replacement  Note,  the Avondale  Note,  the

<PAGE>

Avondale  Replacement  Note,  the  Registration  Rights  Agreement,  the Standby
Agreement  or any other  agreement,  instrument  or  documents  entered  into in
connection  therewith,  which  failure  continues  for a period of 30 days after
written notice thereof by the Holder to the Company; or

     (vi) Any change of control  of the  Company  which,  for  purposes  of this
Section  3(vi),  shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any person,  other than
any person who, as of the date of the Purchase  Agreement,  beneficially owns 5%
or more of the  outstanding  capital  stock of the Company,  whether alone or as
part of a group  (including any individual,  firm,  partnership or other entity)
together with all  Affiliates and Associates (as defined under Rule 12b-2 of the
General Rules and Regulations  promulgated under the Securities  Exchange Act of
1934, as amended) of such person, but excluding (A) a trustee or other fiduciary
holding  securities  under  an  employee  benefit  plan  of the  Company  or any
subsidiary of the Company, (B) a corporation owned,  directly or indirectly,  by
the stockholders of the Company in  substantially  the same proportions as their
ownership of the Company or (C) the Company or any  subsidiary of the Company is
or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3  promulgated under the
Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing
50% or more of the  combined  voting  power of the  Company's  then  outstanding
securities,   (ii)  the   stockholders  of  the  Company  approve  a  merger  or
consolidation of the Company with any other corporation,  other than a merger or
consolidation  that  would  result  in the  voting  securities  of  the  Company
outstanding  immediately  prior  thereto  continuing  to  represent  (either  by
remaining  outstanding  or by being  converted  into  voting  securities  of the
surviving  entity)  at least  80% of the  combined  voting  power of the  voting
securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after
such merger or consolidation, or (iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a
plan of  complete  liquidation  of the Company or an  agreement  for the sale or
disposition by the Company of all or substantially  all of the Company's assets;
or

     (vii) The Company or any  material  Subsidiary  shall be subject to a final
judgment  by a  court  of  competent  jurisdiction  (which  is no  longer  being
appealed) in an amount in excess of $1,000,000.

     4.  Subordination.  The  indebtedness  evidenced  by this  Note  is  hereby
expressly  subordinated,  to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth,
in right of payment to the prior  payment  in full of all the  Company's  Senior
Indebtedness, as hereinafter defined.

     4.1  Senior   Indebtedness.   As  used  in  this  Note,  the  term  "Senior
Indebtedness"  shall mean the principal of and unpaid  accrued  interest on: (i)
all indebtedness of the Company  concurrently being incurred by the Company with
SunTrust  Bank,  Atlanta,  First Union Bank of South  Carolina and NatWest Bank,
N.A.,  (ii) all  indebtedness  of the Company to banks,  insurance  companies or
other financial  institutions regularly engaged in the business of lending money
(collectively,  "Bank Debt"),  which is outstanding on the date hereof and which
is for money  borrowed by the Company  (whether or not secured),  (iii) up to $6
million of  additional  Bank Debt  provided  that such  additional  Bank Debt is
advanced  to the Company  prior to such time as the  conversion  privileges  set
forth in the  Avondale  Replacement  Note and the Gintel  Replacement  Note have

<PAGE>

either been  exercised in their  entirety,  canceled or terminated  and (iv) any
refinancings of the indebtedness described in clauses (i) through (iii) above.

     4.2 Default on Senior Indebtedness. If there should occur any receivership,
insolvency, assignment for the benefit of creditors, bankruptcy,  reorganization
or arrangements  with creditors  (whether or not pursuant to bankruptcy or other
insolvency laws),  sale of all or substantially all of the assets,  dissolution,
liquidation  or any other  marshalling  of the  assets  and  liabilities  of the
Company,  then (i) no amount  shall be paid by the  Company  in  respect  of the
principal of or interest on this Note at the time outstanding,  unless and until
the principal of and interest on the Senior  Indebtedness then outstanding shall
be paid in full,  and (ii) no  claim or proof of claim  shall be filed  with the
Company by or on behalf of the  Holder of this Note that shall  assert any right
to receive any  payments  in respect of the  principal  of and  interest on this
Note,  except subject to the payment in full of the principal of and interest on
all of the Senior  Indebtedness  then  outstanding.  If there occurs an event of
default that has been  declared in writing with respect to a payment  obligation
under any  Senior  Indebtedness,  or in the  instrument  under  which any Senior
Indebtedness is outstanding,  permitting the holder of such Senior  Indebtedness
to accelerate the maturity thereof, then, unless and until such event of default
shall  have been cured or waived or shall  have  ceased to exist,  or all Senior
Indebtedness  shall have been paid in full,  no payment shall be made in respect
of the  principal  of or interest on this Note,  unless  within three (3) months
after the  happening  of such Event of  Default,  the  maturity  of such  Senior
Indebtedness shall not have been accelerated.

     4.3 Effect of Subordination.  Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders
of Senior Indebtedness under this Section 4 to receive cash, securities or other
properties  otherwise payable or deliverable to the Holder of this Note, nothing
contained in this Section 4 shall impair, as between the Company and the Holder,
the obligation of the Company,  subject to the terms and conditions  hereof,  to
pay to the Holder the principal  hereof and interest hereon as and when the same
become due and payable,  or shall prevent the Holder of this Note,  upon default
hereunder,  from exercising all rights,  powers and remedies  otherwise provided
herein or by applicable law.

     4.4 Subrogation.  Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness
and until this Note shall be paid in full, the Holder shall be subrogated to the
rights of the  holders  of Senior  Indebtedness  (to the extent of  payments  or
distributions previously made to such holders of Senior Indebtedness pursuant to
the  provisions of Section 4.2 above) to receive  payments or  distributions  of
assets of the Company applicable to the Senior Indebtedness. No such payments or
distributions  applicable  to the Senior  Indebtedness  shall,  as  between  the
Company and its creditors, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness and the
Holder,  be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of this Note;
and for the purposes of such  subrogation,  no payments or  distributions to the
holders of Senior  Indebtedness to which the Holder would be entitled except for
the  provisions  of this  Section  4  shall,  as  between  the  Company  and its
creditors,  other than the holders of Senior  Indebtedness  and the  Holder,  be
deemed  to be a  payment  by  the  Company  to  or  on  account  of  the  Senior
Indebtedness.

     4.5  Undertaking.  By its  acceptance  of this Note,  the Holder  agrees to
execute and deliver such  documents as may be reasonably  requested from time to
time by the  Company  or the  lender  of any  Senior  Indebtedness  in  order to
implement the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.


<PAGE>

     5.  Prepayment.  The Company may not,  without the prior written consent of
Avondale,  prepay this Note,  in whole or in part.  If the Company  shall,  with
Avondale's consent,  prepay this Note pursuant to this Section 5, it shall cause
notice  thereof,  specifying the date and amount of  prepayment,  to be given by
registered or certified  mail to the holders of the Initial  Gintel Note and the
Avondale  Note at their  last-known  post office  addresses of which the Company
shall have received written notice, at least 10 days prior to the date fixed for
such prepayment. Notice of prepayment having been given as aforesaid, this Note,
the Initial Gintel Note and the Avondale Note, or the portions  thereof so to be
prepaid shall, on the date designated in such notice,  become due and payable in
the principal  amounts  thereof to be prepaid.  In the event that this Note, the
Initial  Gintel  Note and/or the  Avondale  Note are  outstanding  and a partial
prepayment is made,  each of this Note, the Initial Gintel Note and the Avondale
Note  shall  be  prepaid  pro  rata to the then  outstanding  principal  amounts
thereof.

      6.   Notifications by the Company.  In case at any time:

     (1) there  shall be any  capital  reorganization,  reclassification  of the
capital  stock of the Company,  consolidation  or merger of the Company with, or
sale of all or  substantially  all of the  assets  of the  company  to,  another
corporation; or

     (2) there shall be a voluntary or involuntary  dissolution,  liquidation or
winding-up of the Company;

then,  in any one or more of such  cases,  the Company  shall give  written
notice  to the  registered  Holder  of this  Note  of the  date  on  which  such
reorganization,  reclassification,  consolidation,  merger,  sale,  dissolution,
liquidation  or  winding-up  shall take place,  as the case may be. Such written
notice  shall be given not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days  prior to
the action in question and not less than 30 days and not more than 80 days prior
to the record date or the date on which the Company's  transfer books are closed
in respect  thereto and such notice may state that the record date is subject to
the effectiveness of a registration  statement under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, or to a favorable vote of stockholders, if either is required.

     7. Assignment.  The rights and obligations of the Company and the Holder of
this Note shall be binding  upon and benefit  the  successors,  assigns,  heirs,
administrators and transferees of the parties.

     8.  Notices.  Any  notice,  request  or  other  communication  required  or
permitted  hereunder  shall be in writing  and shall be deemed to have been duly
given if  personally  delivered or mailed by  registered  or  certified  mail or
overnight courier,  postage prepaid, at the respective  addresses of the parties
as set forth herein.  Any party hereto may by notice so given change its address
for future notice  hereunder.  Notice shall  conclusively be deemed to have been
given when  delivered  in the manner set forth above and shall be deemed to have
been  received  when  delivered.  Copies of all notices to the Company  shall be
given to:


<PAGE>

           Blau, Kramer, Wactlar & Lieberman, P.C.
           100 Jericho Quadrangle
           Jericho, New York  11753
           Attention:  Edward I. Kramer

and copies of all notices to Robert M. Gintel shall be given to:

           Reid & Priest LLP
           40 West 57th Street
           New York, New York  10019
           Attention:  Leonard Gubar

     9. No Stockholder Rights. Nothing contained in this Note shall be construed
as  conferring  upon the  Holder  or any  other  person  the right to vote or to
consent  or to  receive  notice as a  stockholder  in  respect  of  meetings  of
stockholders  for the election of directors of the Company or any other  matters
or any rights whatsoever as a stockholder of the Company.

     10.  Collection.  If the  Holder  shall  institute  any  action to  enforce
collection of this Note, there shall become due and payable from the Company, in
addition to the unpaid  principal amount and interest under this Note, all costs
and  expenses  of  that  action  (including,  but  not  limited  to,  reasonable
attorneys'  fees) and the Holder  shall be  entitled  to  judgment  for all such
additional amounts.

     11.  Governing  Law.  This Note is executed and  delivered in, and shall be
construed  in  accordance  with,  and  governed by, the laws of the State of New
York, without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

     12. Headings; References. All headings used herein are used for convenience
only and shall not be used to  construe or  interpret  this Note.  Except  where
otherwise indicated, all references herein to Sections refer to Sections hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be issued this ____
day of January, 1996.

                               ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.


                               By____________________________
                               -------------------------------

<PAGE>

                                                                 Schedule D

                      ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.

                  10% SUBORDINATED PROMISSORY NOTE


$7,500,000.00                             Charleston, South Carolina
                                                    January __, 1996

     ONEITA  INDUSTRIES,  INC.,  a Delaware  corporation  (the  "Company"),  the
principal  office of which is  located at 4130 Faber  Place,  Suite 200,  Ashley
Corporate  Center,  Charleston,  South Carolina 29405, for value received hereby
promises  to  pay to  AVONDALE  MILLS,  INC.,  or its  registered  assigns  (the
"Holder"),   the  sum  of  SEVEN  MILLION  FIVE  HUNDRED   THOUSAND  AND  00/100
($7,500,000.00),  or such  lesser  amount as shall  then  equal the  outstanding
principal  amount  hereof  on the terms and  conditions  set forth  hereinafter.
Interest on the unpaid  principal  amount  hereof shall be payable as herein set
forth.  The entire  principal  amount  hereof and any  unpaid  accrued  interest
hereon, as set forth below,  shall be due and payable on the earlier to occur of
(i) January 31, 1999,  or (ii) when  declared due and payable by the Holder upon
the  occurrence  of an Event of Default  (as  defined  below).  Payment  for all
amounts due hereunder  shall be made by wire transfer of  immediately  available
funds to such  account  of the  Holder  as shall  have  been  designated  to the
Company.  This Note is issued in connection with the  transactions  described in
Section 1.1 of that certain Note Purchase  Agreement between the Company and the
Holders  described  therein,  dated  as of  December  28,  1995  (the  "Purchase
Agreement").  Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have
the  meanings  ascribed  to them in the  Purchase  Agreement.  This  Note is the
Avondale  Note  referred  to in the  Purchase  Agreement.  As set  forth  in the
Purchase  Agreement,  the Company  anticipates  effecting a Rights  Offering to,
among other things, raise the funds necessary to repay this Note. Moreover,  the
holder of this Note has agreed,  subject to the prior  receipt by the Company of
all requisite  consents,  including,  if  necessary,  that of the New York Stock
Exchange (the "NYSE") and/or the Company's  stockholders,  to serve as a standby
purchaser of the Company in the Rights Offering. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary  set  forth  herein,  the  Holder  of this  Note  may  apply  the  then
outstanding  amount of all principal and accrued and unpaid  interest under this
Note to satisfy its obligations as a standby  purchaser in the Rights  Offering.
In the event that the Rights Offering is not consummated  prior to May 31, 1996,
or upon the occurrence of any of the other events  referred to in Section 4.1 of
the Purchase  Agreement,  then the Holder may, commencing at the Conversion Date
(as such term is defined in the Purchase Agreement),  exchange this Note for the
Avondale Replacement Note (as such term is defined in the Purchase Agreement) on
the terms set forth in the Purchase Agreement (a "Note Exchange").

     The  following  is a statement of the rights of the Holder of this Note and
the conditions to which this Note is subject, and to which the Holder hereof, by
the acceptance of this Note, agrees:

     1  Definitions.  As used in this  Note,  the  following  terms,  unless the
context otherwise requires, have the following meanings:
<PAGE>

     (i) "Company" includes any corporation which shall succeed to or assume the
obligations of the Company under this Note.

     (ii) "Holder," when the context refers to a holder of this Note, shall mean
any person who shall at the time be the registered holder of this Note.

     2. Interest.  The unpaid principal  balance of the Note shall bear interest
compounded  annually,  from the date hereof until paid in like money,  at a rate
(based on a 360-day year) equal to ten percent (10%) per annum, such interest to
be  payable on June 30 and  December  31 in each year.  Any  accrued  but unpaid
interest  shall be payable in full upon  maturity  or prior  prepayment  of this
Note.  In the event that the  principal  amount of this Note is not paid in full
upon  maturity,  interest  shall  continue to accrue at the rate provided in the
previous  sentence plus five percent (5%) on the balance of any unpaid principal
and unpaid interest until such balance is paid.

     3.  Events of Default.  If any of the events  specified  in this  Section 3
shall occur  (herein  individually  referred to as an "Event of  Default"),  the
Holder of this Note may, in the sole  discretion of the Holder,  so long as such
condition  exists,  (a) declare the entire principal and unpaid accrued interest
hereon immediately due and payable, and (b) effect a Note Exchange, by notice in
writing to the Company:

     (i) (a) Default in the payment of the  principal  when due under this Note,
the Initial Gintel Note or the Gintel  Subordinated Note, and (b) default in the
payment of the unpaid accrued  interest under this Note, the Initial Gintel Note
or the Gintel  Subordinated  Note,  when due and payable if such  default in the
payment of accrued  interest  is not cured by the  Company  within ten (10) days
after the Holder or Robert  Gintel,  as the case may be,  has given the  Company
written notice of such default; or

     (ii)  The  institution  by  the  Company  or  any  material  Subsidiary  of
proceedings to be adjudicated as bankrupt or insolvent,  or the consent by it to
institution of bankruptcy or insolvency  proceedings against it or the filing by
it of a petition or answer or consent  seeking  reorganization  or release under
the federal Bankruptcy Act, or any other applicable federal or state law, or the
consent  by it to the  filing  of any  such  petition  or the  appointment  of a
receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee or other similar official of the Company
or any material Subsidiary,  or of any substantial part of its property,  or the
making by it of an  assignment  for the benefit of  creditors,  or the taking of
corporate action by the Company or any material Subsidiary in furtherance of any
such action; or

     (iii) If,  within  sixty  (60) days  after  the  commencement  of an action
against  the  Company  or any  material  Subsidiary  (and  service of process in
connection  therewith  on the Company or any  material  Subsidiary)  seeking any
bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  liquidation,  dissolution  or similar
relief under any present or future statute, law or regulation, such action shall
not have been resolved in favor of the Company or any material Subsidiary or all
orders or proceedings thereunder affecting the operations or the business of the
Company or any material  Subsidiary  stayed, or if the stay of any such order or
proceeding  shall  thereafter be set aside,  or if, within sixty (60) days after

<PAGE>

the  appointment  without  the  consent or  acquiescence  of the  Company or any
material Subsidiary of any trustee, receiver or liquidator of the Company or any
material  Subsidiary or of all or any substantial  part of the properties of the
Company  or any  material  Subsidiary,  such  appointment  shall  not have  been
vacated; or

     (iv) Any event of  default  or  default  of the  Company  under any  Senior
Indebtedness  (as  defined  below)  that gives the holder  thereof  the right to
accelerate such Senior Indebtedness, even if such Senior Indebtedness is not, in
fact, accelerated by the holder; or

     (v) Any failure by the Company to comply with, perform or observe any term,
covenant or  agreement  contained  in the  Purchase  Agreement,  this Note,  the
Initial  Gintel Note, the Gintel  Subordinated  Note,  the  Registration  Rights
Agreement, the Standby Agreement or any other agreement, instrument or documents
entered into in connection therewith, which failure continues for a period of 30
days after written notice thereof by the Holder to the Company; or

     (vi) Any change of control  of the  Company  which,  for  purposes  of this
Section  3(vi),  shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any person,  other than
any person who, as of the date of the Purchase  Agreement,  beneficially owns 5%
or more of the  outstanding  capital  stock of the Company,  whether alone or as
part of a group (including any individual,  firm,  partnership or other entity),
together with all  Affiliates and Associates (as defined under Rule 12b-2 of the
General Rules and Regulations  promulgated under the Securities  Exchange Act of
1934, as amended) of such person, but excluding (A) a trustee or other fiduciary
holding  securities  under  an  employee  benefit  plan  of the  Company  or any
subsidiary of the Company, (B) a corporation owned,  directly or indirectly,  by
the stockholders of the Company in  substantially  the same proportions as their
ownership of the Company or (C) the Company or any  subsidiary of the Company is
or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3  promulgated under the
Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing
50% or more of the  combined  voting  power of the  Company's  then  outstanding
securities,   (ii)  the   stockholders  of  the  Company  approve  a  merger  or
consolidation of the Company with any other corporation,  other than a merger or
consolidation  that  would  result  in the  voting  securities  of  the  Company
outstanding  immediately  prior  thereto  continuing  to  represent  (either  by
remaining  outstanding  or by being  converted  into  voting  securities  of the
surviving  entity)  at least  80% of the  combined  voting  power of the  voting
securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after
such merger or consolidation, or (iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a
plan of  complete  liquidation  of the Company or an  agreement  for the sale or
disposition by the Company of all or substantially  all of the Company's assets;
or

     (vii) the Company or any  material  Subsidiary  shall be subject to a final
judgment  by a  court  of  competent  jurisdiction  (which  is no  longer  being
appealed) in an amount in excess of $1,000,000.

     4.  Subordination.  The  indebtedness  evidenced  by this  Note  is  hereby
expressly  subordinated,  to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth,
in right of payment to the prior  payment  in full of all the  Company's  Senior
Indebtedness, as hereinafter defined.

     4.1  Senior   Indebtedness.   As  used  in  this  Note,  the  term  "Senior
Indebtedness"  shall mean the principal of and unpaid  accrued  interest on: (i)
all indebtedness of the Company  concurrently being incurred by the Company with

<PAGE>

SunTrust  Bank,  Atlanta,  First Union Bank of South  Carolina and NatWest Bank,
N.A.,  (ii) all  indebtedness  of the Company to banks,  insurance  companies or
other financial  institutions regularly engaged in the business of lending money
(collectively,  "Bank Debt"),  which is outstanding on the date hereof and which
is for money  borrowed by the Company  (whether or not secured),  (iii) up to $6
million of  additional  Bank Debt  provided  that such  additional  Bank Debt is
advanced  to the Company  prior to such time as the  conversion  privileges  set
forth in the  Avondale  Replacement  Note and the Gintel  Replacement  Note have
either been  exercised in their  entirety,  canceled or terminated  and (iv) any
refinancings of the indebtedness described in clauses (i) through (iii) above.

     4.2 Default on Senior Indebtedness. If there should occur any receivership,
insolvency, assignment for the benefit of creditors, bankruptcy,  reorganization
or arrangements  with creditors  (whether or not pursuant to bankruptcy or other
insolvency laws),  sale of all or substantially all of the assets,  dissolution,
liquidation  or any other  marshalling  of the  assets  and  liabilities  of the
Company,  then (i) no amount  shall be paid by the  Company  in  respect  of the
principal of or interest on this Note at the time outstanding,  unless and until
the principal of and interest on the Senior  Indebtedness then outstanding shall
be paid in full,  and (ii) no  claim or proof of claim  shall be filed  with the
Company by or on behalf of the  Holder of this Note that shall  assert any right
to receive any  payments  in respect of the  principal  of and  interest on this
Note,  except subject to the payment in full of the principal of and interest on
all of the Senior  Indebtedness  then  outstanding.  If there occurs an Event of
Default that has been  declared in writing with respect to a payment  obligation
under any  Senior  Indebtedness,  or in the  instrument  under  which any Senior
Indebtedness is outstanding,  permitting the holder of such Senior  Indebtedness
to accelerate the maturity thereof, then, unless and until such Event of Default
shall  have been cured or waived or shall  have  ceased to exist,  or all Senior
Indebtedness  shall have been paid in full,  no payment shall be made in respect
of the  principal  of or interest on this Note,  unless  within three (3) months
after the  happening  of such Event of  Default,  the  maturity  of such  Senior
Indebtedness shall not have been accelerated.

     4.3 Effect of Subordination.  Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders
of Senior Indebtedness under this Section 4 to receive cash, securities or other
properties  otherwise payable or deliverable to the Holder of this Note, nothing
contained in this Section 4 shall impair, as between the Company and the Holder,
the obligation of the Company,  subject to the terms and conditions  hereof,  to
pay to the Holder the principal  hereof and interest hereon as and when the same
become due and payable,  or shall prevent the Holder of this Note,  upon default
hereunder,  from exercising all rights,  powers and remedies  otherwise provided
herein or by applicable law.

     4.4 Subrogation.  Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness
and until this Note shall be paid in full, the Holder shall be subrogated to the
rights of the  holders  of Senior  Indebtedness  (to the extent of  payments  or
distributions previously made to such holders of Senior Indebtedness pursuant to
the  provisions of Section 4.2 above) to receive  payments or  distributions  of
assets of the Company applicable to the Senior Indebtedness. No such payments or
distributions  applicable  to the Senior  Indebtedness  shall,  as  between  the
Company and its creditors, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness and the
Holder,  be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of this Note;
and for the purposes of such  subrogation,  no payments or  distributions to the

<PAGE>

holders of Senior  Indebtedness to which the Holder would be entitled except for
the  provisions  of this  Section  4  shall,  as  between  the  Company  and its
creditors,  other than the holders of Senior  Indebtedness  and the  Holder,  be
deemed  to be a  payment  by  the  Company  to  or  on  account  of  the  Senior
Indebtedness.

     4.5  Undertaking.  By its  acceptance  of this Note,  the Holder  agrees to
execute and deliver such  documents as may be reasonably  requested from time to
time by the  Company  or the  lender  of any  Senior  Indebtedness  in  order to
implement the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.

     5.   Prepayment.

     5.1 Optional Prepayment.  The Company may not prepay this Note, in whole or
in part,  without the prior  consent of the Holder hereof and the holders of the
Initial  Gintel Note and the Gintel  Subordinated  Note.  If the  Company  shall
prepay this Note  pursuant to this  Section 5, it shall  cause  notice  thereof,
specifying  the date and  amount of  prepayment,  to be given by  registered  or
certified  mail to the  holders  of the  Initial  Gintel  Note  and  the  Gintel
Subordinated Note at their last-known post office addresses of which the Company
shall have received written notice, at least 10 days prior to the date fixed for
such prepayment. Notice of prepayment having been given as aforesaid, this Note,
the  Initial  Gintel  Note and the Gintel  Subordinated  Note,  or the  portions
thereof so to be prepaid shall,  on the date  designated in such notice,  become
due and payable in the  principal  amounts  thereof to be prepaid.  In the event
that this Note, the Initial Gintel Note and/or the Gintel  Subordinated Note are
outstanding  and a partial  prepayment is made,  each of this Note,  the Initial
Gintel  Note and the Gintel  Subordinated  Note shall be prepaid pro rata to the
then outstanding principal amounts thereof.

     5.2 Mandatory  Prepayment.  The Company shall  immediately use any proceeds
received by it from any  stockholder  of the Company  upon the  exercise by such
stockholder of rights issued in the Rights Offering, to repay, pro rata with the
Initial  Gintel  Note,  based  upon the then  outstanding  principal  amount  in
relation to the then  outstanding  principal  amount of the Initial Gintel Note,
the outstanding  principal amount and any unpaid and accrued interest  hereunder
and the Holder hereof shall accept such prepayment.

     6.   Notifications by the Company.  In case at any time:

     (1) there  shall be any  capital  reorganization,  reclassification  of the
capital  stock of the Company,  consolidation  or merger of the Company with, or
sale of all or  substantially  all of the  assets  of the  Company  to,  another
corporation; or

     (2) there shall be a voluntary or involuntary  dissolution,  liquidation or
winding-up of the Company;

then,  in any one or more of such  cases,  the Company  shall give  written
notice  to the  registered  Holder  of this  Note  of the  date  on  which  such
reorganization,  reclassification,  consolidation,  merger,  sale,  dissolution,
liquidation  or  winding-up  shall take place,  as the case may be. Such written
notice  shall be given not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days  prior to
the action in question and not less than 30 days and not more than 80 days prior

<PAGE>

to the record date or the date on which the Company's  transfer books are closed
in respect  thereto and such notice may state that the record date is subject to
the effectiveness of a registration  statement under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, or to a favorable vote of stockholders, if either is required.

     7. Assignment.  The rights and obligations of the Company and the Holder of
this Note shall be binding  upon and benefit  the  successors,  assigns,  heirs,
administrators and transferees of the parties.

     8.  Notices.  Any  notice,  request  or  other  communication  required  or
permitted  hereunder  shall be in writing  and shall be deemed to have been duly
given if  personally  delivered or mailed by  registered  or  certified  mail or
overnight courier,  postage prepaid, at the respective  addresses of the parties
as set forth herein.  Any party hereto may by notice so given change its address
for future notice  hereunder.  Notice shall  conclusively be deemed to have been
given when  delivered  in the manner set forth above and shall be deemed to have
been  received  when  delivered.  Copies of all notices to the Company  shall be
given to:

              Blau, Kramer, Wactlar & Lieberman, P.C.
              100 Jericho Quadrangle
              Jericho, New York  11753
              Attention:  Edward I. Kramer

and copies of all notices to Avondale Mills, Inc. shall be given to:

              King & Spalding
              191 Peachtree Street
              Atlanta, Georgia  30303
              Attention:  Michael J. Egan III

     9. No Stockholder Rights. Nothing contained in this Note shall be construed
as  conferring  upon the  Holder  or any  other  person  the right to vote or to
consent  or to  receive  notice as a  stockholder  in  respect  of  meetings  of
stockholders  for the election of directors of the Company or any other  matters
or any rights whatsoever as a stockholder of the Company.

     10.  Collection.  If the  Holder  shall  institute  any  action to  enforce
collection of this Note, there shall become due and payable from the Company, in
addition to the unpaid  principal amount and interest under this Note, all costs
and  expenses  of  that  action  (including,  but  not  limited  to,  reasonable
attorneys'  fees) and the Holder  shall be  entitled  to  judgment  for all such
additional amounts.

     11.  Governing  Law.  This Note is executed and  delivered in, and shall be
construed  in  accordance  with,  and  governed by, the laws of the State of New
York, without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

     12. Headings; References. All headings used herein are used for convenience
only and shall not be used to  construe or  interpret  this Note.  Except  where
otherwise indicated, all references herein to Sections refer to Sections hereof.
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be issued this ____
day of January, 1996.

                               ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.


                               By________________________________
                                 --------------------------------

<PAGE>


                                                                 Schedule E

                   REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT


     AGREEMENT  dated as of  January__,  1996,  by and among ONEITA  INDUSTRIES,
INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),  and each of the persons listed on
Schedule I annexed hereto  (collectively,  the "Holders" and  individually,  the
"Holder").

                        W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS,  pursuant to a Note  Purchase  Agreement  dated as of December 28,
1995 (the "Purchase  Agreement"),  by and among the Company and the Holders, the
Company is selling  certain  subordinated  promissory  notes of the Company (the
"Notes") in the aggregate principal amount of $15,000,000, one of which Notes is
in the principal  amount of $7,500,000 and is  exchangeable  as herein  provided
(the "Avondale  Note") and another of which Notes is in the principal  amount of
$3,750,000  and may be  exchangeable  as herein  provided (the  "Initial  Gintel
Note");

     WHEREAS,  the Company  intends to make a common stock rights  offering (the
"Rights  Offering") to the holders of shares of the Company's common stock, $.25
par value per share (the "Common Stock"),  and the Holders are willing to act as
standby  purchasers  with respect to the Rights  Offering  pursuant to a standby
agreement among the Company and the Holders (the "Standby Agreement");

     WHEREAS, as set forth in the Purchase  Agreement,  if, (a) by May 31, 1996,
the Rights Offering is not  consummated,  or (b) an "Event of Default occurs (as
defined in the Avondale Note or the Initial Gintel Note) or, if prior to May 31,
1996,  (c) the  stockholders  of the  Company  vote to not  approve  the  Rights
Offering  and  the  transactions   contemplated  thereby  and  in  the  Purchase
Agreement,  (d) the Company publicly announces that it will not proceed with the
Rights Offering or (e) any other event takes place which  effectively  prohibits

<PAGE>

the Company from lawfully  consummating the Rights Offering by May 31, 1996 (the
date of  occurrence  of any of the events  described  in clauses (a) through (e)
above being referred to as the "Conversion  Date"),  then the Holders shall have
the right (subject,  in the case of Robert Gintel,  to the Company's  receipt of
any  requisite  consents) to exchange the Avondale  Note and the Initial  Gintel
Note for  certain  convertible  10%  subordinated  notes of the  Company in like
principal  amounts  (the  "Replacement  Notes"),  such  Replacement  Notes to be
convertible  into shares of Common Stock of the Company at the rate of $7.00 per
share;

     WHEREAS,  in  connection  with the sale by the  Company of the  Notes,  the
Company is agreeing, subject to its prior receipt of all requisite approvals and
consents,  including,  without limitation,  those of the New York Stock Exchange
and/or  the  Company's  stockholders,  to issue and sell to one of the  Holders,
five-year  warrants  (the  "Warrants")  to purchase up to 125,000  shares of the
Company's Common Stock at $7.00 per share; and

     WHEREAS,  the Company and the Holders agree that the Holders shall have the
registration  rights set forth herein with respect to any shares of Common Stock
acquired by the Holders pursuant to the Standby  Agreement,  upon the conversion
of the Replacement  Notes and/or upon the exercise of the Warrants or any shares
issued or  issuable  in respect of such  Common  Stock upon any stock  dividend,
recapitalization or similar event (collectively, the "Registrable Shares").

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of the foregoing premises and other good
and valuable consideration,  the parties hereby agree as follows: 

     1. Restrictive Legend. Each certificate representing the Registrable Shares
shall (unless  otherwise  permitted or unless the  securities  evidenced by such
certificate  shall have been  registered  under the  Securities  Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act")) be stamped or otherwise  imprinted with a legend
in the following form (in addition to any legend required under applicable state
securities laws):
<PAGE>

           THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
           1933, AS AMENDED,  OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THEY MAY NOT BE SOLD
           OR  OFFERED  FOR SALE IN THE  ABSENCE  OF AN  EFFECTIVE  REGISTRATION
           STATEMENT  AS TO THE  SECURITIES  UNDER  SAID ACT AND ANY  APPLICABLE
           STATE  SECURITIES  LAW OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL  SATISFACTORY  TO THE
           COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

     1.0.1 In addition,  the Company may place,  or instruct its transfer  agent
and registrar to place, stop transfer orders against certificates which have the
aforementioned  restrictive  legend  thereon.  For  purposes of this  Agreement,
"Restricted  Securities" shall mean securities of the Company which are required
to bear the aforementioned legend thereon.

     1.1  Upon  request  of  a  Holder  holding  Registrable  Shares  which  are
Restricted  Securities,  the Company shall remove the foregoing  legend from the
certificate  or issue  to such  Holder a new  certificate  therefor  free of any
transfer legend and without any stop transfer against such  Registrable  Shares,
if, with such  request,  the Company  shall have  received  either an opinion of
counsel or a  "no-action"  letter  referred to in Section 2 hereof to the effect
that any  transfer by such Holder of the  Registrable  Shares  evidenced by such
certificate  will not violate the Securities Act and applicable state securities
laws  or the  Shares  have  been  sold  pursuant  to an  effective  registration
statement  under the Securities  Act. The Company shall  promptly  reimburse the
transferring  holder for all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by such
Holder in obtaining the legal opinion or "no action"  letter  referenced in this
Section 1(b). 

     2.  Notice of Proposed  Transfers.  Prior to any  proposed  transfer of any
Restricted  Securities (other than under  circumstances  described in Sections 3
and 4 hereof),  the Holder  thereof shall give written  notice (the "Notice") to
the Company of such  Holder's  intention  to effect such  transfer.  Each Notice
shall  describe  the  manner  and  circumstances  of the  proposed  transfer  in
sufficient  detail,  and  shall  be  accompanied   (except  in  transactions  in
compliance with Rule 144) by either (i) a written opinion of legal counsel,  who
shall be reasonably  satisfactory  to the Company,  addressed to the Company and
reasonably  satisfactory in form and substance to the Company's counsel,  to the
effect that the proposed  transfer of the Restricted  Securities may be effected
without registration under the Securities Act, or (ii) a "no action" letter from
the staff of the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the  "Commission")  to the
effect that the distribution of such Securities  without  registration  will not
result in a  recommendation  by the staff of the Commission that action be taken
with respect thereto,  whereupon the Holder of such Restricted  Securities shall
be entitled to transfer such Restricted  Securities in accordance with the terms
of the Notice. The Company shall promptly reimburse the transferring  Holder for
all reasonable legal fees and expenses  incurred by such Holder in obtaining the
legal opinion or "no action" letter referenced in this Section 2(a).

     2.1  Prior  to any  proposed  transfer  requested  in the  Notice  and as a
condition  thereto,  each Holder  will,  if  requested  by the  Company,  and if
required because any of the Restricted Securities are not to be sold pursuant to
an effective  registration  statement  under the Securities Act or a "no action"
letter or an opinion of counsel described in the foregoing  subsection,  deliver
to the Company (i) an  investment  covenant  signed by the proposed  transferee,
(ii) an agreement by such transferee to the impression of the restrictive legend
set forth in  Section  1(a) on the  certificates  representing  the  Registrable
Shares  to be  transferred  to  such  transferee,  (iii)  an  agreement  by such
transferee  that the Company may place a "stop transfer order" with its transfer
agent  and  registrar,  if  any,  with  respect  to the  Shares  proposed  to be
transferred,  (iv) an agreement  by the  transferee  to assume the  transferor's
obligations  under this  Agreement,  and (v) an agreement by the  transferee  to
indemnify the Company to the same extent as set forth in  Subsection  (c) below.
Any  transferee  complying  with  this  Subsection  (b)  shall  also be deemed a
"Holder" for purposes of the registration  rights under Sections 3 and 4 herein.

     2.2 Each Holder agrees to indemnify the Company against any and all losses,
claims, damages, expenses or liabilities to which the Company may become subject
under any federal or state securities law, at common law, or otherwise,  insofar
as such losses,  claims,  damages,  expenses or liabilities  arise out of or are
based  upon (i) any  transfer  by such  Holder  of such  Registrable  Shares  in
violation  of the  Securities  Act,  or the  rules and  regulations  promulgated
thereunder,  (ii) any  transfer  by such  Holder of Shares in  violation  of the
provisions of this Section 2 or (iii) any untrue  statement or omission to state
any material fact in connection with such Holder's investment representations or
with respect to the facts and representations supplied to counsel to the Company
upon which its opinion as to a proposed  transfer  by such Holder was given.  

     3.  Demand  Registration.  At any  time  after  receipt  by any  Holder  of
Registrable  Shares that the Company  receives a written request executed by one
or more of the Holders (the "Initiating  Holder")  requesting  registration of a
number of shares of Common Stock at least equal to (i) thirty  percent  (30%) or
more of the  Registrable  Shares  then held by the  Holders  or (ii) the  entire
remaining  number of  Registrable  Shares owned by the  Initiating  Holder,  the
Company  will give  notice of such  request to each  other  Holder  (the  "Other
Holders") and give them the right to participate therein in accordance with this
Section  3.  

     3.1 As soon as  practicable  after receipt of the request given pursuant to
Subsection  (a)  above,  the  Company  shall  prepare  and  file a  registration
statement (the  "Registration  Statement") under the Securities Act covering the

<PAGE>

Registrable  Shares  requested to be sold under a  Registration  Statement  (the
"Registered  Shares")  and shall  otherwise  comply with its  obligations  under
Section 5. 

     3.2 The Company's  obligations under this Section 3 shall be limited to six
(6) effective  Registration  Statements under the Securities Act, three of which
may be initiated by each of Robert M. Gintel and Avondale  Mills,  Inc. or their
respective  transferees  in  accordance  with  Section  8(b)  hereof.  

     3.3 If a registration pursuant to this Section 3 is for a registered public
offering involving an underwriting,  the Company shall so advise the Holders. In
such event,  the right of any Holder to registration  shall be conditioned  upon
such Holder's  participation in the underwriting  arrangements  required by this
Section  3(d),  and the  inclusion of such  Holder's  Registrable  Shares in the
underwriting  to the extent  requested  shall be limited to the extent  provided
herein. 

     The Company shall  (together with the  Initiating  Holder and Other Holders
proposing to distribute their securities through such  underwriting)  enter into
an  underwriting  agreement  in  customary  form with the  managing  underwriter
selected for such  underwriting  by the Company,  but subject to the  reasonable
approval of the Initiating Holder.  Notwithstanding  any other provision of this
Section 3, if the  managing  underwriter  advises  the  Company in writing  that
market factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be  underwritten,
then the Company shall so advise the  Initiating  Holder and the Other  Holders,
and  the  number  of  shares  that  may  be  included  in the  registration  and
underwriting  shall be allocated,  first, to the Initiating  Holder, and second,
among the Other  Holders in  proportion  to the number of shares  proposed to be
included in such  registration  by such Other  Holders.  No  Registrable  Shares
excluded  from  the  underwriting  by  reason  of  the  underwriter's  marketing
limitation shall be included in such registration.  To facilitate the allocation

<PAGE>

of  shares  in  accordance  with  the  above  provisions,  the  Company  or  the
underwriters  may round the  number of  shares  allocated  to any  holder to the
nearest  one  hundred  (100)  shares.  If any  such  limitation  results  in the
Initiating  Holder  being able to sell less than 75% of the  Registrable  Shares
requested to be included by the Initiating Holder in such offering, the offering
shall not be counted as a demand  registration by the Initiating  Holder for the
purposes  of  Section  3(c).  

     If any Holder disapproves of the terms of the underwriting, such person may
elect to withdraw  therefrom  by written  notice to the  Company,  the  managing
underwriter and the Initiating Holder.  The Registrable  Securities and/or other
securities  withdrawn from such  underwriting  shall also be withdrawn from such
registration.  

     4. Piggy Back  Registration  Rights.  At any time after the  receipt by the
Holders of any Registrable  Shares,  the Company will send written notice to the
Holders then owning  Restricted  Securities as defined in Section  1(a)(ii),  at
least  twenty  (20) days  prior to the  filing  of each and  every  Registration
Statement filed by the Company, whether or not pursuant to this Agreement (other
than a Registration  Statement covering exclusively securities under an employee
option or stock purchase plan, a merger, acquisition or similar transaction) and
give to such Holders the right to have included  therein any Registrable  Shares
then held by the Holders.  Such notice must specify the proposed  offering price
and the plan of distribution.  The Company must receive written notice from such
Holders  within  fifteen days after the date of the  Company's  written  notice,
indicating the full name and address of each Holder desiring to have Registrable
Shares  included  for sale in such  Registration  Statement  and the  number  of
Registrable Shares requested to be covered. 

     4.1  If the  registration  of  which  the  Company  gives  notice  is for a
registered  public  offering  involving an  underwriting,  the Company  shall so
advise the Holders as a part of the  written  notice  given  pursuant to Section
4(a). In such event the right of any Holder to registration  pursuant to Section

<PAGE>

4 shall be conditioned upon such Holder's participation in such underwriting and
the  inclusion  of  Registrable  Securities  in the  underwriting  to the extent
provided  in this  Section  4(b).  

     All  Holders   proposing  to  distribute  their  securities   through  such
underwriting  shall,  together  with the  Company,  enter  into an  underwriting
agreement in  customary  form with the  managing  underwriter  selected for such
underwriting  by the Company.  The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts
to cause the managing  underwriter  of such  proposed  underwritten  offering to
permit the Registrable Shares proposed to be included in such registration to be
included in the  registration  statement for such offering on the same terms and
conditions  as  any  similar   securities  of  the  Company  included   therein.
Notwithstanding  any other  provision  of this  Section 4, the Company  shall be
entitled  to include in the  registration  all of the shares  which the  Company
desires to sell for its own account, and if the managing underwriter  determines
that  marketing  factors  require  a  limitation  of the  number of shares to be
underwritten,  the managing  underwriter may limit the Registrable  Shares to be
included  in  such  registration.  The  Company  shall  so  advise  all  Holders
requesting to  participate in such  registration,  and the number of shares that
may be included in the  registration  and  underwriting  by all Holders shall be
allocated among them, as nearly as practicable,  first, to Avondale Mills,  Inc.
and,  second,  to Robert M. Gintel,  or his or its  respective  transferees.  To
facilitate the allocation of shares in accordance with the above provisions, the
Company  may round the number of shares  allocated  to any Holder to the nearest
one hundred (100)  shares.  

     If any  Holder  disapproves  of the  terms of any such  underwriting,  such
person may elect to withdraw  therefrom by written notice to the Company and the
managing   underwriter.   Any   securities   excluded  or  withdrawn  from  such

<PAGE>

underwriting  also shall be withdrawn from such  registration,  and shall not be
transferred  prior to one hundred  eighty (180) days after the effective date of
the registration  statement  relating  thereto,  or such other shorter period of
time as the underwriters may require. 

     5. Miscellaneous  Registration Provisions.

     5.1 In  connection  with  any  Registration  Statement  filed  pursuant  to
Sections 3 or 4 hereof:  

     5.1.1 The Company's  obligation under this Agreement to include Registrable
Shares in a  Registration  Statement  shall mean  shares of Common  Stock or any
security  received  by a Holder  in  exchange  or upon  reclassification  of the
present   Common  Stock;   

     5.1.2 the Holders of Registered Shares (herein "Registering Holders") shall
furnish to the Company in writing such appropriate  information (relating to the
intention of such Holders as to proposed methods of sale or other disposition of
the Registered  Shares) and the identity of and  compensation  to be paid to any
proposed underwriters to be employed in connection therewith as the Company, any
underwriter,  or the Commission or any other  regulatory  authority may request;

     5.1.3 the  Registering  Holders and the Company  shall enter into the usual
and customary form of  underwriting  agreement  agreed to by the Company and any
underwriter  with  respect  to  any  such  offering,   if  required,   and  such
underwriting   agreement  shall  contain  the  customary  reciprocal  rights  of
indemnity  and  contribution  between the  Company,  the  underwriters,  and the
selling shareholder,  including the Registering Holders, to the extent set forth
in Subsections  (g) and (h) herein;  

     5.1.4 the Registering Holders shall agree that they shall execute,  deliver
and/or file with or supply to the  Company,  any  underwriters,  the  Commission
and/or any state or other  regulatory  authority  such  information,  documents,
representations,  undertakings  and/or  agreements  necessary  to carry  out the
provisions of the registration  covenants  contained in this Agreement and/or to
effect the registration or qualification of their  Registrable  Shares under the
Securities  Act  and/or  any  of the  laws  and  regulations  of  any  state  or
governmental  instrumentality;  


<PAGE>

     5.1.5  the  Registering   Holders  shall  furnish  the  Company  with  such
questionnaires  and other  documents  regarding their identity and background as
the  Company may  reasonably  request;  and 

     5.1.6  the  Company's   obligation  to  include  the  Registering  Holders'
Registrable  Shares in a Registration  Statement shall be subject to the written
agreement of the Holders to offer the Registrable  Shares in the same manner and
on the same terms and  conditions as the other  securities of the same class are
being offered pursuant to the Registration  Statement,  if such shares are being
underwritten.  

     5.2 if and whenever the Company is required to effect the  registration  of
any Registrable Shares pursuant to Section 3 or 4, the Company will use its best
efforts  to effect  such  registration  to permit  the sale of such  Registrable
Shares in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition thereof,
and pursuant thereto it will, as promptly as is practicable: 

     5.2.1  before  filing  a  Registration   Statement  or  prospectus  or  any
amendments or supplements thereto,  furnish to the counsel of the Holders of the
Registrable  Shares  covered  by  such  Registration  Statement  copies  of  all
documents  proposed to be filed,  which  documents  will be made  available on a
timely basis, for review by such counsel to the Holders;  

     5.2.2 prepare and file with the Commission, as soon as practicable, and use
its best efforts to cause to become  effective,  a Registration  Statement to be
offered on such form under the Securities  Act as the Initiating  Holder and the
Company or, if not filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,  the Company,  determines
and for  which the  Company  then  qualifies;  


<PAGE>

     5.2.3  prepare  and file with the  Commission  such  amendments  (including
post-effective  amendments) and supplements to such  Registration  Statement and
the  prospectus  used in  connection  therewith as may be necessary to keep such
Registration  Statement  effective  and to  comply  with the  provisions  of the
Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Shares covered
by such  Registration  Statement  until the  earlier of such time as all of such
Registrable Shares have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods
of disposition set forth in such Registration Statement or the expiration of one
hundred eighty (180) days after such Registration  Statement becomes  effective;
provided that such one hundred  eighty (180) day period shall be extended in the
case of a registration pursuant to Section 3 hereof for such number of days that
equals  the  number  of days  elapsing  from  (A) the date  the  written  notice
contemplated by Section 5(b)(vii) hereof is given by the Company to (B) the date
on which the Company delivers to the Selling Holders the supplement or amendment
contemplated by Section  5(b)(vii)  hereof;  

     5.2.4 furnish to the Holders and to any  underwriter of Registrable  Shares
such number of conformed copies of such Registration  Statement and of each such
amendment and supplement  thereto (in each case  including all  exhibits),  such
number of copies  of the  prospectus  included  in such  Registration  Statement
(including  each  preliminary  prospectus  and any summary  prospectus)  and any
amendment or supplement  thereto,  in conformity  with the  requirements  of the
Securities Act, such documents  incorporated  by reference in such  Registration
Statement  or  prospectus,  and such  other  documents,  as the  Holders or such
underwriter  may reasonably  request,  and, if requested,  a copy of any and all
transmittal letters or other correspondence to, or received from, the Commission
or any other governmental  agency or  self-regulatory  body or other body having
jurisdiction (including any domestic or foreign securities exchange) relating to
such offering;  


<PAGE>

     5.2.5 make every  reasonable  effort to obtain the  withdrawal of any order
suspending  the  effectiveness  of such  Registration  Statement at the earliest
possible moment;  

     5.2.6 if  required  by a Holder,  (A)  furnish  to each  Holder  and to any
underwriter  an opinion of counsel for the Company  addressed to each Holder and
underwriter and dated the date of the closing under the  underwriting  agreement
(if any) (or if such offering is not  underwritten,  dated the effective date of
the Registration Statement),  (B) use its best efforts to furnish to each Holder
a "cold  comfort" or "special  procedures"  letter  addressed to each Holder and
signed by the  independent  public  accountants  who have audited the  Company's
financial  statements included in such Registration  Statement and (C) make such
representations  and  warranties  to the  Holders  and, in  connection  with any
underwritten  offering,  to  the  underwriters,   in  each  such  case  covering
substantially the same matters with respect to such Registration  Statement (and
the  prospectus  included  therein)  as are  customarily  covered in opinions of
issuer's  counsel and in accountants'  letters  delivered to underwriters and in
underwriting  agreements in underwritten public offerings of securities and such
other matters as the Holders may  reasonably  request,  and, in the case of such
accountants'  letter,  with  respect  to events  subsequent  to the date of such
financial statements, provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated
to cause  the  legal  counsel  and  accountants'  letters  contemplated  by this
Subsection  (b)(vi)  to be  delivered  to the  Holders if the  Company  would be
required to incur  unreasonable  expenses to cause such letters to be delivered.


     5.2.7  immediately  notify the  Holders in  writing  (A) at anytime  when a
prospectus  relating to a  registration  hereunder  is required to be  delivered
under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the

<PAGE>

prospectus included in such Registration  Statement, as then in effect, includes
an untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or omits to state any  material  fact
required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the statements  therein,  in
light of the circumstances  under which they were made, not misleading,  and (B)
of any  request by the  Commission  or any other  regulatory  body or other body
having  jurisdiction  for any  amendment of or  supplement  to any  Registration
Statement or other document relating to such offering,  and in either such case,
at the request of a Holder,  prepare and  furnish to such  Holders a  reasonable
number of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of such prospectus as may be
necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable
Shares, such prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary to
make the statements  therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are
made, not  misleading;  

     5.2.8 use its best efforts to list all such  Registrable  Shares covered by
such   Registration   Statement  on  the  principal   securities   exchange  and
inter-dealer  quotation  system on which a class of common equity  securities of
the  Company is then  listed,  and to pay all fees and  expenses  in  connection
therewith;  

     5.2.9  upon the  transfer  of  shares  by a  Holder  in  connection  with a
registration hereunder (other than to an "affiliate" of the Company as such term
is  defined  in  Rule  144(a)),  furnish  unlegended  certificates  representing
ownership of the Registrable  Shares in such denominations as shall be requested
by the Holders or the  underwriters;  

     5.2.10  promptly notify the Holders and the managing  underwriter,  if any,
and if requested by any such Person,  confirm such advice in writing, 

     (A) of the  issuance by the  Commission  of any stop order  suspending  the
effectiveness  of  such   Registration   Statement  or  the  initiation  of  any
proceedings  for that purpose,  


<PAGE>

     (B) of the Company's  becoming  aware at any time that the  representations
and warranties of the Company  contemplated by Section  5(b)(vii)

     (C) above have ceased to be true and correct, and (C) of the receipt by the
Company of any notification  with respect to the suspension of the qualification
of the  Registrable  Shares for sale in any  jurisdiction  or the  initiation or
threat of any proceeding for such purpose; 

     5.2.11 if reasonably  requested by the managing  underwriter,  if any, or a
majority in interest of the Registrable  Shares being sold in connection with an
underwritten  offering,  immediately  include  in  a  prospectus  supplement  or
post-effective  amendment to such Registration Statement such information as the
managing  underwriter  or such  majority in interest of the  Registrable  Shares
being sold reasonably  request to have included  therein relating to the plan of
distribution  with  respect  to  such  Registrable  Shares,  including,  without
limitation,  information with respect to the amount of Registrable  Shares being
sold  to  such  underwriters  and  any  other  terms  of  the  underwritten  (or
best-efforts underwritten) offering of the Registrable Shares to be sold in such
of offering;  and make all required  filings of such  prospectus  supplement  or
post-effective  amendment to such Registration  Statement as soon as notified of
the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus  supplement or  post-effective
amendment to such Registration Statement; 

     5.2.12  prior to any public  offering of  Registrable  Shares,  register or
qualify or reasonably cooperate with the Holders, the managing  underwriter,  if
any,  and their  respective  counsel  in  connection  with the  registration  or
qualification  of such  Registrable  Securities  for  offer  and sale  under the
securities  or blue sky laws of such  jurisdictions  as any  Holder or  managing

<PAGE>

underwriter  reasonably  requests  and do any  and all  other  facts  or  things
necessary to enable the  disposition in such  jurisdictions  of the  Registrable
Shares covered by such  Registration  Statement;  

     5.2.13  cooperate  and assist in any  filings  required to be made with the
NASD and any performance of any due diligence  investigation  by any underwriter
(including any "qualified independent underwriter" as required to be retained in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the NASD); and 

     5.2.14  otherwise use its best efforts to comply with the  Securities  Act,
the Exchange Act, all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and all
applicable state blue sky and other securities laws, rules and regulations.  

     5.3 The Company  shall pay all  out-of-pocket  expenses  and  disbursements
incurred  by the Company and the  Holders in  connection  with the  Registration
Statements  filed  by  it  pursuant  to  Sections  3 or  4,  including,  without
limitation,  all legal and accounting  fees,  Commission  filing fees,  National
Association  of  Securities  Dealers  ("NASD")  filing  fees,   printing  costs,
registration or qualification fees and expenses to comply with Blue Sky or other
state  securities  laws,  the fees of other  experts,  and any expenses or other
compensation paid to the underwriters; provided, however, that such registration
expenses shall not include  underwriting  commissions and discounts and transfer
taxes,  if any.  

     5.4 The Company shall be obligated to keep any Registration Statement filed
by it under Sections 3 and 4 effective  under the Securities Act for a period of
180 days after the actual effective date of such  Registration  Statement and to
prepare  and file such  supplements  and  amendments  necessary  to  maintain an
effective  Registration  Statement  for  such  period.  As a  condition  to  the
Company's  obligation  under this Subsection  (d), the Registering  Holders will
execute and deliver to the Company such written  undertakings as the Company and
its  counsel may  reasonably  require in order to assure  full  compliance  with
relevant  provisions of the  Securities  Act. 


<PAGE>

     5.5 The  Company  shall use its best  efforts to  register  or qualify  the
Registered  Shares under such securities or blue sky laws in such  jurisdictions
within the United  States as the  Registering  Holders may  reasonably  request;
provided,  however, that the Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion,
not to register or qualify such Registered Shares in any jurisdiction where such
Registered Shares do not meet with the requirements of such  jurisdiction  after
having taken reasonable steps to meet such  requirements or where the Company is
required to qualify as a foreign corporation to do business in such jurisdiction
and is not so  qualified  therein or is required to file any general  consent to
service of  process.  

     5.6 In the event all the  Registered  Shares have not been sold on or prior
to the  expiration  of  the  period  specified  in  Subsection  (d)  above,  the
Registering   Holders   hereby  agree  that  the  Company  may   deregister   by
post-effective  amendment any shares covered by the Registration Statement,  but
not sold on or prior to such date.  The  Company  agrees that it will notify the
Registering  Holders  of the filing and  effective  date of such  post-effective
amendment.  

     5.7 The  Registering  Holders agree that upon  notification  by the Company
that the prospectus in respect to any public offering  covered by the provisions
hereof is in need of  revision,  they  shall  immediately  upon  receipt of such
notification (i) cease to offer or sell any securities of the Company which must
be accompanied by such  prospectus;  (ii) return all such  prospectuses in their
hands to the Company;  and (iii) shall not offer or sell any  securities  of the
Company until they have been provided with a current  prospectus and the Company
has given them notification permitting them to resume offers and sales. 

     5.8 As a condition to the filing of a  Registration  Statement  pursuant to
this  Agreement,  the Company shall  indemnify and hold harmless the Registering
Holders and the underwriter(s) and controlling  person(s) of such underwriter(s)

<PAGE>

who may  purchase  from or sell  for the  Registered  Holders,  any  Registrable
Shares,  from and  against  any and all  losses,  claims,  damages,  expenses or
liabilities  caused by any failure of the Company to comply with the  Securities
Act or any rule or regulation  promulgated  thereunder  in  connection  with the
registration of the Registrable Securities or any untrue statement of a material
fact contained in the Registration  Statement,  any post-effective  amendment to
such registration statements,  or any prospectus included therein required to be
filed or  furnished  by reason of this  Agreement  or caused by any  omission or
alleged  omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements  therein not  misleading,  except insofar as
such  losses,  claims,  damages or  liabilities  are  caused by any such  untrue
statements  or alleged  untrue  statements or omissions  based upon  information
furnished  or  required to be  furnished  in writing to the Company by the party
seeking  indemnification  expressly for use therein; which indemnification shall
include each  person,  if any,  who  controls  any such  underwriter  within the
meaning of the Securities Act and each officer, director,  employee and agent of
such underwriter;  provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to
so indemnify the  Registering  Holders or any such  underwriter  or other person
referred to above unless the Registering Holders or underwriter or other person,
as the case may be, shall at the same time indemnify the Company, its directors,
each officer  signing the  Registration  Statement and each person,  if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities  Act, from and against
any and all  losses,  claims,  damages  and  liabilities  caused  by any  untrue
statement  or alleged  untrue  statement  of a material  fact  contained  in the
Registration Statement, any registration statement or any prospectus required to
be filed or furnished  by reason of this  Agreement or caused by any omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make

<PAGE>

the statements therein not misleading,  insofar as such losses,  claims, damages
or liabilities are caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission  based upon  information  furnished  in  writing to the  Company by the
Holder or  underwriter  expressly  for use therein.  

     5.9 Each party entitled to  indemnification  under paragraph (h) above (the
"Indemnified Party") shall, promptly after receipt of notice of any claim or the
commencement  of any action against such  Indemnified  Party in respect of which
indemnity may be sought,  notify the party  required to provide  indemnification
(the "Indemnifying  Party") in writing of the claim or the commencement thereof;
provided that the failure of the  Indemnified  Party to notify the  Indemnifying
Party shall not relieve the  Indemnifying  Party from any liability which it may
have to an Indemnified Party pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (h), unless
the  Indemnifying  Party was  materially  prejudiced by such failure,  and in no
event shall such failure relieve the Indemnifying Party from any other liability
which it may have to such  Indemnified  Party. If any such claim or action shall
be brought against an Indemnified  Party, it shall notify the Indemnifying Party
thereof and the  Indemnifying  Party shall be entitled to  participate  therein,
and, to the extent that it wishes,  jointly  with any other  similarly  notified
Indemnifying  Party,  to assume the  defense  thereof  with  counsel  reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnified  Party. After notice from the Indemnifying Party
to the Indemnified  Party of its election to assume the defense of such claim or
action,  the  Indemnifying  Party shall not be liable  (except to the extent the
proviso to this sentence is applicable,  in which event it will be so liable) to
the  Indemnified  Party  under  paragraph  (h) for any  legal or other  expenses
subsequently  incurred by the  Indemnified  Party in connection with the defense
thereof  other  than  reasonable  costs of  investigation:  provided  that  each
Indemnified  Party shall have the right to employ separate  counsel to represent
it and assume its  defense  (in which case,  counsel to the  Indemnifying  Party
shall not represent it) if (i) upon the advice of counsel, the representation of
both  parties  by the same  counsel  would be  inappropriate  due to  actual  or
potential  differing  interests between them (in which case, if such Indemnified

<PAGE>

Party  notifies  the  Indemnifying  Party in  writing  that it  elects to employ
separate  counsel at the expense of the  Indemnifying  Party,  the  Indemnifying
Party will not have the right to assume  the  defense of such claim or action on
behalf of such Indemnified  Party), or (ii) in the event the Indemnifying  Party
has not assumed the defense thereof within ten (10) days of receipt of notice of
such claim or commencement of action, in which case the fees and expenses of one
such  separate  counsel  shall  be  paid  by  the  Indemnifying  Party.  If  any
Indemnified  Party  employs  such  separate  counsel  it will not enter into any
settlement  agreement  which is not  approved by the  Indemnifying  Party,  such
approval not to be unreasonably  withheld.  If the Indemnifying Party so assumes
the  defense  thereof  (and by so  assuming  shall  be  solely  responsible  for
liabilities  relating to such claim or action, and shall release the Indemnified
Party from such liabilities to the extent permitted by law, except to the extent
the  Indemnified  Party is not entitled to be indemnified  pursuant to paragraph
(h),  it may not  agree to any  settlement  of any such  claim or  action as the
result of which any remedy or relief,  other than monetary damages for which the
Indemnifying  Party  shall be  responsible  hereunder,  shall be  applied  to or
against  the  Indemnified  Party,  without  the  prior  written  consent  of the
Indemnified Party. No Indemnified Party will consent to entry of any judgment or
enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof
the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such  Indemnified  Party of a release
from all liability in respect of such claim or action.  In any action  hereunder
as to which the Indemnifying  Party has assumed the defense thereof with counsel
satisfactory to the Indemnified  Party, the Indemnified  Party shall continue to
be  entitled to  participate  in the defense  thereof,  with  counsel of its own
choice,  but,  except as set forth above,  the  Indemnifying  Party shall not be
obligated  hereunder to reimburse the  Indemnified  Party for the costs thereof.

     5.10 If for any reason the indemnification  provided for above is held by a
court of competent  jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified  party with
respect to any loss,  claim,  damage,  liability or expense referred to therein,
then the  indemnifying  party, in lieu of indemnifying  such  indemnified  party
thereunder,  shall  contribute to the amount paid or payable by the  indemnified
party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability in such proportion as
is  appropriate  to  reflect  not only the  relative  benefits  received  by the
indemnified party and the indemnifying party, but also the relative fault of the
indemnified  party and the  indemnifying  party,  as well as any other  relevant
equitable considerations. 

     6. Rule 144  Reporting.  With a view to making  available  the  benefits of
certain rules and regulations of the Commission which may permit the sale of the
Restricted Securities to the public without registration, the Company agrees to:


     6.1 Make and keep public information available at all times, as those terms
are  understood  and defined in Rule 144 under the  Securities Act (as such Rule
may be amended from time to time) or any similar rule hereinafter adopted by the
Commission;  

     6.2 File with the  Commission  in a timely  manner  all  reports  and other
documents  required of the Company under the  Securities  Act and the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"); and 

     6.3 Take such further action as any Holder may reasonably  request,  all to
the extent required from time to time, to enable such Holder to sell Registrable
Shares  without  registration  under  the  Securities  Act,  including,  without
limitation, issuing appropriate instructions to the Company's transfer agent and
registrar and exchanging legended  certificates for certificates  without legend
and processing in requisite time frames  counsel  opinions,  if any. 

     7. No Other Registration Rights. The Company represents and warrants to the
Holders that except as set forth in this  Agreement and the Purchase  Agreement,
there are no other registration rights with respect to the Company's  securities
currently  outstanding or other rights currently outstanding which could require
the Company to register for sale pursuant to the  Securities  Act any securities
of the Company (collectively,  "Registration  Rights"). In addition, the Company
covenants  and  warrants to the Holders that at all times while the Holders have
the right to request the  registration  of  Registrable  Shares  hereunder,  the
Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Holders, grant to any
person  Registration  Rights,  the  effect  of which  could  (a)  limit,  in any
registration  statement  subsequently  filed  by  the  Company,  the  number  of
Registrable  Shares  that  the  Purchasers  may  include  in  such  registration
statement or (b)  otherwise  adversely  affect the priority of the  Registration
Rights being granted to the Holders hereunder. 

     8.  Miscellaneous.  This  Agreement  shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto, and the successors and assigns of the Company and
the  permitted   transferees  of  the  Holders.  

     8.1 Upon acquisition of any Registrable  Shares, the Holders agree that the
Registrable  Shares shall not be  transferable  except upon the  conditions  set
forth in this Agreement, which conditions are intended to insure compliance with
the  provisions of the  Securities  Act. Each Holder in any transfer  subject to
Section 2 herein shall cause any proposed  transferee of Registrable Shares held
by that Holder to agree to take and hold those securities  subject to the rights
and  obligations and upon the conditions  specified in this Agreement.  

     8.2 This Agreement  contains the entire  agreement among the parties hereto
with respect to the subject  matter  herein,  and cannot be  modified,  changed,
discharged or terminated  except by an instrument in writing signed by the party
against  whom  the  enforcement  of  any  modification,   change,  discharge  or
termination  is sought.  


<PAGE>

     8.3  References to the Holders or some of them by use of masculine  pronoun
is for convenience only and shall, where appropriate,  be deemed to be reference
by feminine or neuter pronouns.  8.4 Any notice,  request,  instruction or other
document  to be given  hereunder  shall be in  writing  and  shall be  delivered
personally  or sent by registered  or certified  mail as follows:  (i) If to the
Company:  4130 Faber Place Suite 200, Ashley Corporate Center Charleston,  South
Carolina 29405 Attn: President

                     With a copy to:

                     Blau, Kramer, Wactlar & Lieberman, P.C.
                     100 Jericho Quadrangle
                     Jericho, New York  11753
                     Attn:  Edward I. Kramer

     (ii) If to the Holders,  at the address  specified next to their respective
names  on  Schedule  I hereto  or to such  other  address  as any  party  hereto
hereinafter designates in writing to any other party hereto, and

                in the case of Robert M. Gintel, to:
                     Reid & Priest LLP
                     40 West 57th Street
                     New York, New York  10019
                     Attn:  Leonard Gubar


<PAGE>

                and, in the case of Avondale Mills, Inc., to:

                     King & Spalding
                     191 Peachtree Street
                     Atlanta, Georgia  30303
                     Attn:  Michael J. Egan, III

     Upon  receiving  notice from a Holder (or any  permitted  transferee  of an
Holder) that  Registrable  Shares have been transferred and if the transferee is
entitled to any rights under this  Agreement,  the Company shall give notices to
such transferee as contemplated by this Agreement.

     8.5 The captions  herein are inserted  for  convenience  only and shall not
affect the construction of this Agreement.

     8.6 This  Agreement is executed and delivered in, and shall be construed in
accordance  with,  and governed  by, the laws of the State of New York,  without
giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

     8.7 This  Agreement  may be executed in one or more  counterparts,  each of
which shall be deemed to be an original,  but all of which taken  together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.


     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  this  Agreement  has been executed as of the date and
year first above written. 

                                    ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.


                                    By: ______________________________
                                      Name:
                                      Title:


                                    HOLDERS:


                                    -----------------------------------
                                         Robert M. Gintel


                                    AVONDALE MILLS, INC.


                                    By: ______________________________
                                      Name:
                                      Title:


<PAGE>


                             SCHEDULE I


Holders



Robert M. Gintel

      Address:  6 Greenwich Office Park
                Greenwich, Connecticut  06831



Avondale Mills, Inc.

      Address:  506 South Broad Street
                Monroe, Georgia  30655

<PAGE>

                                                                 Schedule F

THIS WARRANT AND THE UNDERLYING COMMON STOCK HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE  "SECURITIES  ACT"),  AND MAY NOT BE
SOLD OR OFFERED FOR SALE IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT
UNDER THE  SECURITIES  ACT, OR AN EXEMPTION FROM THE  REGISTRATION  REQUIREMENTS
THEREOF.

VOID AFTER 5:00 P.M.,  NEW YORK TIME,  ON  ____________,  2001, OR IF NOT A
BUSINESS  DAY,  AS  DEFINED  HEREIN,  AT 5:00 P.M.,  NEW YORK TIME,  ON THE NEXT
FOLLOWING BUSINESS DAY.

                                                            WARRANT TO PURCHASE
                                                 125,000 Shares of Common Stock


                               WARRANT TO PURCHASE
                                  COMMON STOCK
                                       OF
                             ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.

                     TRANSFER RESTRICTED -- SEE SECTION 6.02

     This certifies that, for good and valuable consideration, ROBERT M. GINTEL,
an  individual  with a principal  place of business at 6 Greenwich  Office Park,
Greenwich   Connecticut   06831,   and   his   registered,   permitted   assigns
(collectively,  the  "Warrantholder" or "Holder"),  is entitled to purchase from
ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),  subject to the
terms and  conditions  hereof,  at any time before 5:00 P.M.,  New York time, on
________________, 2001 (or, if such day is not a business day, at or before 5:00
P.M.,  New York time on the next  following  business  day), the number of fully
paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock, par value $.25 per share, of the
Company (the  "Common  Stock")  stated above at the exercise  price of $7.00 per
share  (the  "Exercise  Price").  The  Exercise  Price and the  number of shares
purchasable  hereunder  are  subject to  adjustment  as  provided  in Article II
hereof.  This Warrant is being issued to the Holder in accordance with Section 2
of that certain Note Purchase  Agreement dated as of December 28, 1995 among the
Holder,  the  Company and  Avondale  Mills,  Inc.  (the  "Purchase  Agreement").
Capitalized  terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings
ascribed to them in the Purchase Agreement.

                                    ARTICLE I

                        Duration and Exercise of Warrant

     Section 1.01:  Duration of Warrant.  Subject to the terms contained herein,
this Warrant may be exercised  at any time before 5:00 P.M.,  New York time,  on
_______________,  2001  (the  "Expiration  Date"),  (or,  if  such  day is not a

<PAGE>

business  day,  at or before  5:00 P.M.,  New York time,  on the next  following
business day). If this Warrant is not exercised at or before 5:00 P.M., New York
time, on the  Expiration  Date, it shall become void,  and all rights  hereunder
shall thereupon cease.

     Section 1.02:  Exercise of Warrant.

     (a) The Warrantholder may exercise this Warrant,  in whole or in part, upon
surrender of this Warrant with the  Subscription  Form hereon duly executed,  to
the  Company at its  corporate  office at 4130 Faber  Place,  Suite 200,  Ashley
Corporate  Center,  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  or to  such  office  as  duly
designated by the Company to the Warrantholder,  together with the full Exercise
Price for each Warrant Share to be purchased by tendering in lawful money of the
United  States,  or by certified  check or bank draft  payable in United  States
Dollars to the order of the Company.

     (b) Upon receipt of this Warrant with the  Subscription  Form duly executed
and  accompanied  by payment of the  aggregate  Exercise  Price for the  Warrant
Shares for which this Warrant is then being exercised, the Company will cause to
be issued  certificates for the total number of whole shares of Common Stock for
which this  Warrant is being  exercised  (adjusted  to reflect the effect of the
provisions  contained  in Article II hereof,  if any, and as provided in Section
4.04  hereof)  in  such  denominations  as  are  required  for  delivery  to the
Warrantholder,  and the Company shall thereupon deliver such certificates to the
Warrantholder. If at the time this Warrant is exercised a registration statement
is not in effect to  register  under the  Securities  Act,  the  Warrant  Shares
issuable  upon   exercise  of  this   Warrant,   the  Company  may  require  the
Warrantholder  to make such  representations,  and may  place  such  legends  on
certificates  representing the Warrant Shares, as may be reasonably  required in
the opinion of counsel to the Company to permit the Warrant  Shares to be issued
without such registration.

     (c) In case the  Warrantholder  shall exercise this Warrant with respect to
less than all of the Warrant  Shares that may be purchased  under this  Warrant,
the  Company  will  execute a new  warrant in the form of this  Warrant  for the
balance  of  such   Warrant   Shares  and  deliver   such  new  warrant  to  the
Warrantholder.

     (d) The Company  covenants and agrees that it will pay when due and payable
any and all stock  transfer and similar taxes which may be payable in respect of
the issue of this Warrant or in respect of the issue of any Warrant Shares.  The
Company  shall not,  however,  be  required  to pay any tax imposed on income or
gross  receipts  or any tax which may be  payable  in  respect  of any  transfer
involved  in the  issuance  or  delivery  of  this  Warrant  or at the  time  of
surrender.

                                   ARTICLE II

                       Adjustment of Warrant Shares Stock
                        Purchasable and of Exercise Price

     The  Exercise  Price and the  number and kind of  Warrant  Shares  shall be
subject to adjustment  from time to time upon the happening of certain events as
provided  in  this  Article  II,   provided,   however,   that  the  adjustments
contemplated  by  Sections  2.01(b),  (c) and  (g)  below  shall  no  longer  be
applicable  or have any force or effect  following  such time as the  conversion

<PAGE>

privileges set forth in the Avondale Replacement Note and the Gintel Replacement
Note have either been exercised in their entirety, canceled or terminated.

     Section 2.01:  Mechanical Adjustments.

     (a)  Anti-Dilution  Provisions;  Adjustment of Purchase Price. The Exercise
Price shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as hereinafter  provided.
Upon each adjustment of the Exercise  Price,  the number of Warrant Shares shall
thereafter be the amount  obtained by  multiplying  the Exercise Price in effect
immediately prior to such adjustment by the number of Warrant Shares purchasable
pursuant  hereto  immediately  prior to such adjustment and dividing the product
thereof by the Exercise Price resulting from such adjustment.

     (b) Purchase  Price  Adjustment  Formulas.  If and whenever  after the date
hereof the  Company  shall issue or sell any shares of its Common  Stock  (other
than shares of Common Stock issued as permitted by Section 2.01(g) herein) for a
consideration per share less than the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior
to such issue or sale,  then  forthwith the Exercise Price shall be reduced to a
price  (calculated to the nearest $0.0001)  determined by dividing (1) an amount
equal to the sum of (aa) the  number  of  shares of  Common  Stock  acquired  or
acquirable by all purchasers  immediately prior to such issue or sale multiplied
by the then existing  Exercise Price,  and (bb) the net  consideration,  if any,
received and deemed  received by the Company upon such issue or sale,  by (2) an
amount  equal to the sum of (xx) the total  number  of  shares  of Common  Stock
acquired  or  acquirable  by the Holder  under this  Warrant  and (yy) the total
number of shares of Common Stock issued in  connection  with such issue or sale.
No adjustment of the Exercise  Price,  however,  shall be made in an amount less
than $0.0001 per share, but any such lesser  adjustment shall be carried forward
and shall be made at the time and together with the next  subsequent  adjustment
which together with any  adjustments so carried  forward shall amount to $0.0001
per share or more.

     (c) Constructive  Issuances of Stock;  Convertible  Securities;  Rights and
Options;  Stock Dividends.  For the purposes of Section  2.01(b),  the following
provisions (i) to (vi), inclusive, shall also be applicable:

     (i) In case at any time the Company shall in any manner grant any rights to
subscribe  for or to purchase,  or options for the purchase of,  Common Stock or
any stock or securities  convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock (such
convertible or exchangeable stock or securities being herein called "Convertible
Securities"),  whether or not such  rights or options or the right to convert or
exchange any such Convertible  Securities are immediately  exercisable,  and the
price per share for which  Common  Stock is issuable  upon the  exercise of such
rights or options or upon conversion or exchange of such Convertible  Securities
(determined by dividing a) the total amount,  if any,  received or receivable by
the Company as  consideration  for the granting of such rights or options,  plus
the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration, if any, payable to the
Company  upon the exercise of such rights or options,  plus,  in the case of any

<PAGE>

such rights or options which relate to such Convertible Securities,  the minimum
aggregate amount of additional consideration,  if any, payable upon the issue or
sale of such Convertible Securities and upon the conversion or exchange thereof,
by b) the total  maximum  number of shares  of Common  Stock  issuable  upon the
exercise  of such  rights or options or upon the  conversion  or exchange of all
such  Convertible  Securities  issuable  upon the  exercise  of such  rights  or
options)  shall be less than the Exercise Price in effect  immediately  prior to
the time of the  granting  of such  rights or  options,  then the total  maximum
number of shares of Common  Stock  issuable  upon the exercise of such rights or
options or upon the  conversion or exchange of the total maximum  amount of such
Convertible  Securities  issuable  upon the  exercise  of such rights or options
shall (as of the date of  granting  of such  rights or  options) be deemed to be
outstanding  and to have been issued for the price per share  determined  as set
forth  hereinabove.  Except  as  provided  in clause  (iii)  below,  no  further
adjustments  of the  Exercise  Price shall be made upon the actual issue of such
Common Stock or of such  Convertible  Securities upon exercise of such rights or
options  or upon the  actual  issue of such  Common  Stock  upon  conversion  or
exchange of such Convertible Securities.

     (ii) In case at any time the Company  shall in any manner issue or sell any
Convertible  Securities,  whether  or not the  rights  to  exchange  or  convert
thereunder are immediately exercisable, and the price per share for which Common
Stock is issuable upon such  conversion or exchange  (determined  by dividing a)
the total amount received or receivable by the Company as consideration  for the
issue or sale of such Convertible Securities,  plus the minimum aggregate amount
of additional consideration,  if any, payable to the Company upon the conversion
or exchange  thereof,  by b) the total maximum  number of shares of Common Stock
issuable  upon the  conversion or exchange of all such  Convertible  Securities)
shall be less than the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the time of
such  issue or sale,  then the total  maximum  number of shares of Common  stock
issuable upon conversion or exchange of all such  Convertible  Securities  shall
(as of the date of the issue or sale of such  Convertible  Securities) be deemed
to be  outstanding  and to have been issued for such price per share;  provided,
that,  except as  otherwise  specified  in clause  (iii)  below,  (x) no further
adjustments  of the  Exercise  Price shall be made upon the actual issue of such
Common Stock upon conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, and (y)
if any such issue or sale of such  Convertible  Securities is made upon exercise
of any rights to subscribe for or to purchase or any option to purchase any such
Convertible  Securities for which adjustments of the Exercise Price have been or
are to be made pursuant to other provisions of this Section 2.01(c),  no further
adjustment of the Exercise Price shall be made by reason of such issue or sale.


<PAGE>

     (iii) If the purchase price provided for in any right or option referred to
in clause  (i) of this  Section  2.01(c),  or the rate at which any  Convertible
Securities  referred  to in clauses  (i) and (ii) of this  Section  2.01(c)  are
convertible into or exchangeable  for Common Stock,  shall change or a different
purchase  price or rate shall  become  effective  from time to time  (other than
under or by reason  designed to protect  against  dilution)  then, upon becoming
effective,  the  Exercise  Price then in effect  hereunder  shall  forthwith  be
increased  (but in no event to an amount  greater than the  Exercise  Price that
would be in effect  without  giving  effect to the issuance of such  Convertible
Securities, rights or options) or decreased to such Exercise Price as would have
obtained had the adjustments made upon the issuance of such rights or options or
Convertible  Securities been made upon the basis of (and the total consideration
received  therefor)  (a) the  issuance  of the number of shares of Common  Stock
theretofore  actually  delivered  upon the exercise of such options or rights or
upon the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, (b) the issuance
of all Common Stock and all other  rights,  options and  Convertible  Securities
issued after the issuance of such rights, options or Convertible Securities, and
(c) the original issuance at the time of such change of any such options, rights
and Convertible Securities then still outstanding. On the expiration of any such
option or right or the termination of any such right to convert or exchange such
Convertible  Securities,  the  Exercise  Price  then in effect  hereunder  shall
forthwith be increased  (but in no event to an amount  greater than the Exercise
Price that would be in effect  without  giving  effect to the  issuance  of such
Convertible  Securities,  rights or options) or decreased to such Exercise Price
as would have  obtained (x) had the  adjustments  made upon the issuance of such
rights or  options  or  Convertible  Securities  been made upon the basis of the
issuance  of only the  number of shares of  Common  Stock  theretofore  actually
delivered (and the total  consideration  received therefor) upon the exercise of
such rights or options or upon the  conversion  or exchange of such  Convertible
Securities and (y) had adjustments  been made on the basis of the Exercise Price
as adjusted under the immediately  preceding  clause (x) for all issues or sales
of Common  Stock or rights,  options or  Convertible  Securities  made after the
issuance of such rights or options or  Convertible  Securities.  If the purchase
price  provided  for in any right or option  referred  to in clause  (i) of this
Section 2.01(c), or the rate at which any Convertible  Securities referred to in
clauses  (i)  and  (ii)  of  this  Section  2.01(c)  are  convertible   into  or
exchangeable for Common Stock, shall decrease at any time to an amount below the
Exercise  Price then in effect  under or by reason of  provisions  with  respect

<PAGE>

thereto designed to protect against  dilution,  then in the case of the delivery
of shares of Common  Stock upon the exercise of any such right or option or upon
conversion or exchange of any such  Convertible  Securities,  the Exercise Price
then in effect  hereunder shall forthwith be decreased to such Exercise Price as
would have  obtained  had the  adjustments  made upon  issuance of such right or
option or  Convertible  Securities  been made upon the basis of the  issuance of
(and the total consideration  received for) the shares of Common Stock delivered
as aforesaid.

     (iv) In case at any time the Company  shall  declare a dividend or make any
other  distribution  upon any stock of the  Company  payable in Common  Stock or
Convertible Securities,  any Common Stock or Convertible Securities, as the case
may be, issuable in payment of such dividend or distribution  shall be deemed to
have been issued or sold without consideration.

     (v) In  case  at any  time  any  shares  of  Common  Stock  or  Convertible
Securities  or any  rights or  options  to  purchase  any such  Common  Stock or
Convertible  Securities  shall be  issued or sold for  cash,  the  consideration
received  therefor  shall be  deemed to be the  amount  payable  to the  Company
therefor,   without  deduction   therefrom  of  any  expenses  incurred  or  any
underwriting  commissions  or  concessions  or discounts  paid or allowed by the
Company  in  connection  therewith.  In case  any  shares  of  Common  Stock  or
Convertible  Securities  shall be issued or sold for a consideration  other than
cash,  the amount of the  consideration  other than cash  payable to the Company
shall  be  deemed  to be the  fair  value of such  consideration  as  reasonably
determined by the Board of Directors of the Company, without deduction therefrom
of any expenses  incurred or any  underwriting  commissions  or  concessions  or
discounts  paid or allowed by the Company in connection  therewith.  In case any
shares of Common  Stock or  Convertible  Securities  or any rights or options to
purchase  any such Common  Stock or  Convertible  Securities  shall be issued in
connection with any merger of another  corporation into the Company,  the amount
of  consideration  therefor  shall be deemed to be the fair value as  reasonably
determined  by the Board of  Directors  of the  Company  of such  portion of the
assets  of  such  merged  corporation  as  such  Board  shall  determine  to  be
attributable to such Common Stock, Convertible Securities, rights or options, as
the case may be.

     (vi) In case at any time the Company  shall take a record of the holders of
its Common Stock for the purpose of entitling  them (a) to receive a dividend or
other distribution payable in Common Stock or in Convertible Securities,  or (b)
to subscribe for or purchase Common Stock or Convertible  Securities,  then such
record date shall be deemed to be the date of the issue or sale of the shares of
Common  Stock  deemed to have been issued or sold upon the  declaration  of such
dividend or the making of such other distribution or the date of the granting of
such right of subscription or purchase, as the case may be.

     (d)  Effect of Certain  Dividends.  In case at any time the  Company  shall
declare a  dividend  upon the Common  Stock  (other  than a dividend  payable in
Common Stock)  payable  otherwise  than out of net earnings  after taxes for the
prior  fiscal  year,  the  Exercise  Price in  effect  immediately  prior to the

<PAGE>

declaration of such dividend shall be reduced by an amount equal, in the case of
a dividend in cash, to the amount thereof  payable per share of Common Stock or,
in the case of any other dividend, to the fair value thereof per share of Common
Stock as  determined by the Board of Directors of the Company.  Such  reductions
shall take  effect as of the date on which a record is taken for the  purpose of
such dividend, or, if a record is not taken, the date as of which the holders of
record of Common Stock entitled to such dividend are to be  determined.  As used
in this Section 2.01(d),  the term "dividend" shall mean any distribution to the
holders of Common Stock as such.

     (e) Stock Splits and Reverse Splits.  In case at any time the Company shall
subdivide  its  outstanding  shares of  Common  Stock  into a greater  number of
shares, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such subdivision shall
be proportionately reduced and the number of Warrant Shares immediately prior to
such subdivision shall be proportionately  increased, and conversely, in case at
any time the Company shall combine its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such
combination shall be proportionately  increased and the number of Warrant Shares
immediately prior to such combination shall be proportionately  reduced.  Except
as provided in this Section 2, no adjustment in the Exercise Price and no change
in the number of Warrant  Shares so  purchasable  shall be made pursuant to this
Section 2 as a result of or by reason of any such subdivision or combination.

     (f) Effect of Reorganization and Asset Sales. If any capital reorganization
or  reclassification  of the capital stock of the Company,  or  consolidation or
merger  of  the  Company  with  another  corporation,  or  the  sale  of  all or
substantially  all of its assets to another  corporation,  shall be  effected in
such a way that  holders of Common  Stock shall be  entitled  to receive  stock,
securities or assets with respect to or in exchange for Common Stock,  then as a
condition of such  reorganization,  reclassification,  consolidation,  merger or
sale,  lawful and  adequate  provision  shall be made whereby the Holder of this
Warrant  shall  thereafter  have  the  right to  receive,  upon  the  terms  and
conditions  herein  contained,  upon exercise of this Warrant in accordance with
Section  1.02  above,  in lieu of the shares of the Common  Stock of the Company
immediately  theretofore  receivable  upon the  exercise of this  Warrant,  such
shares of stock,  securities  or assets as may be issued or payable with respect
to or in exchange for a number of outstanding  shares of such Common Stock equal
to the number of shares of such stock immediately  theretofore so receivable had
such reorganization,  reclassification,  consolidation, merger or sale not taken
place, and in any such case appropriate  provision shall be made with respect to
the rights and  interests of such holder to the end that the  provisions  hereof
(including, without limitation,  provisions for adjustment of the Exercise Price
and of the  number  of  shares  issuable  upon  exercise)  shall  thereafter  be
applicable,  as nearly as may be, in relation to any shares of stock, securities
or assets thereafter  deliverable upon the exercise of this Warrant. The Company
shall not  effect  any such  consolidation,  merger or sale  unless  prior to or
simultaneously with the consummation thereof the successor corporation (if other
than the Company) resulting from such consolidation or merger or the corporation
purchasing such assets shall assume by written instrument executed and mailed or
delivered to each Holder,  the  obligation to deliver to such holder such shares
of stock,  securities or assets as, in accordance with the foregoing provisions,
such Holder may be entitled to receive, and containing the express assumption of
such successor corporation of the due and punctual performance and observance of
each  provision of this Warrant to be performed  and observed by the Company and
of all liabilities and obligations of the Company hereunder.


<PAGE>

     (g) Excluded Shares.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  no adjustments to the
Exercise  Price shall be made or required  with  respect to (a) the  issuance of
Common  Stock as  required  upon the  exercise  of rights  granted in the Rights
Offering or pursuant to any conversion of the Avondale  Replacement  Note or the
Gintel  Replacement  Note  (each  such  capitalized  term as defined in the Note
Purchase  Agreement)  and stock  reserved for such purpose,  (b) the issuance of
Common Stock pursuant to existing Stock Option Plans of the Company covering not
more than 323,400  shares of the Company's  existing  Common Stock,  and (c) the
sale of not more than 250,000 shares of the Company's existing Common Stock (net
of repurchases) to employees,  officers and consultants of the Company  pursuant
to option or stock  purchase  plans  hereafter  adopted  (in  addition to shares
issued as contemplated in (b) above).

     (h)  Accountants'  Certificate.  Upon each adjustment of the Exercise Price
and upon each change in the number of shares of Common Stock  issuable  upon the
exercise  of this  Warrant  and in the event of any  change in the rights of the
Holder of this Warrant by reason of other events  herein set forth,  then and in
each such case,  the Company will  promptly  obtain a  certificate  of a firm of
independent  certified public accountants of recognized standing selected by the
Company's  Board of Directors (who may be the regular  auditors of the Company),
stating the adjusted Exercise Price and the new number of shares so issuable, or
specifying  the other  shares  of stock,  securities  or assets  and the  amount
thereof  receivable  as a result of such change in rights,  and setting forth in
reasonable  detail  the  method of  calculation  and the facts  upon  which such
calculation is based. The Company will promptly mail a copy of such accountants'
certificate to the registered Holder of this Warrant.

     (i)  Reservation of Stock Issuable Upon Exercise.  The Company shall at all
times reserve and keep available out of its  authorized  but unissued  shares of
Common  Stock  solely for the purpose of  effecting  the exercise of the Warrant
such  number  of its  shares  of  Common  Stock  as shall  from  time to time be
sufficient to effect the exercise of the Warrant;  and if at any time the number
of  authorized  but unissued  shares of Common Stock shall not be  sufficient to
effect the exercise of the Warrant,  in addition to such other remedies as shall
be  available  to the  Holder of this  Warrant,  the  Company  will use its best
efforts to take such corporate action as may, in the opinion of its counsel,  be
necessary to increase its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to such
number of shares as shall be sufficient  for such  purposes;  provided,  if such
corporate  action is not taken by the date 45 days  preceding  the date on which
this Warrant is exercisable,  then the right to purchase shares pursuant to this
section shall be extended to a date 45 days after the  effective  date under the
Delaware  General  Corporation  Law of any  corporate  act that makes  available
sufficient authorized and unissued shares for purchase pursuant hereto.

     Section 2.02:  Notice of Adjustment.  Whenever the number of Warrant Shares
or the Exercise Price is adjusted as herein provided,  the Company shall prepare
and deliver to the  Warrantholder  a  certificate  signed by its Chairman of the
Board, President, any Vice President,  Treasurer or Secretary, setting forth the
adjusted number of Warrant Shares  purchasable upon the exercise of this Warrant
and the Exercise  Price of such Shares after such  adjustment,  setting  forth a

<PAGE>

brief  statement of the facts  requiring  such  adjustment and setting forth the
computation by which adjustment was made.

     Section 2.03:  No Adjustment for Dividends.  Except as provided in Section
2.01 of this Agreement,  no adjustment in respect of any cash dividends shall be
made during the term of this Warrant or upon the exercise of this Warrant.

     Section 2.04: Form of Warrant After Adjustments.  The form of this Warrant
need not be changed  because of any  adjustments  in the  Exercise  Price or the
number or kind of the Warrant Shares, and any Warrant  theretofore or thereafter
issued may  continue  to express the same price and number and kind of shares as
are stated in this Warrant, as initially issued.

     Section 2.05: Preservation of Purchase Rights in Certain Transactions.

     (a) In case of any  consolidation  of the  Company  with or a merger of the
Company into another corporation or in case of any sale or conveyance to another
corporation of the property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an
entirety,  upon any  such  consolidation,  merger,  sale or  conveyance  and the
surviving  entity is a  publicly  traded  company,  the  Company  agrees  that a
condition  of such  transaction  shall be that the Company or such  successor or
purchasing corporation, as the case may be, shall execute with the Warrantholder
an agreement  granting the  Warrantholder  the right until the Expiration  Date,
upon payment of the Exercise Price in effect  immediately  prior to such action,
to receive upon exercise of this Warrant the kind and amount of shares and other
securities  and  property  which he would  have owned or have been  entitled  to
receive after the happening of such  consolidation,  merger,  sale or conveyance
had this Warrant been exercised immediately prior to such action. Such agreement
shall  provide for  adjustments,  which shall be as nearly  equivalent as may be
practicable to the  adjustments  provided for in this Article II. The provisions
of this  Section  2.05  shall  similarly  apply  to  successive  consolidations,
mergers, sales or conveyances.

     (b) In case of any  consolidation  of the  Company  with or a merger of the
Company into another corporation or in case of any sale or conveyance to another
corporation of the property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an
entirety,  upon any  such  consolidation,  merger,  sale or  conveyance  and the
surviving  entity is a non-publicly  traded  company,  the Company agrees that a
condition  of such  transaction  will  be that  the  Company  shall  mail to the
Warrantholder at the earliest  applicable time (and, in any event, not less than
20 days before any record date or other date set for definitive  action) written
notice of the record date for such transaction to take place.  Such notice shall
also set forth facts as shall  indicate the effect of such action (to the extent
such effect may be known at the date of such  notice) on the  Exercise  Price of
and the kind and amount of the shares of stock and other securities and property
deliverable upon exercise of this Warrant.

                                   ARTICLE III

                       Compliance with the Securities Act

     The Holder  acknowledges  that the Warrant  Shares,  in his hands,  will be
restricted  securities  which may not be sold or offered for sale in the absence
of an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or an opinion of
counsel satisfactory to the Company that such registration is not required. With

<PAGE>

respect to any offer,  sale or other  disposition  of any  Warrant  Shares,  the
Holder will give written notice to the Company prior thereto, describing briefly
the manner thereof, together with a written opinion of such Holder's counsel, to
the effect that such offer,  sale or other  distribution may be effected without
registration or  qualification  (under any federal or state law then in effect).
Promptly upon receiving such written notice and reasonably satisfactory opinion,
if so  requested,  the Company,  as promptly as  practicable,  shall notify such
Holder that such Holder may sell or otherwise dispose of the Warrant Shares, all
in  accordance  with the terms of the  notice  delivered  to the  Company.  If a
determination  has been made  pursuant  to this  Article III that the opinion of
counsel  for the  Holder is not  reasonably  satisfactory  to the  Company,  the
Company shall so notify the Holder  promptly after such  determination  has been
made. Each certificate  representing  the Warrant Shares thus transferred  shall
bear a legend as to the applicable  restrictions on  transferability in order to
ensure  compliance with the Securities Act, unless in the opinion of counsel for
the Company such legend is not required,  in order to ensure compliance with the
Securities Act. The Company may issue stop transfer instructions to its transfer
agent and registrar in connection with such restrictions.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                            Other Provisions Relating
                           to Rights of Warrantholder

     Section 4.01: No Rights as Shareholder;  Notice to Warrantholder.  Nothing
contained  in  this  Warrant   shall  be  construed  as   conferring   upon  the
Warrantholder or his transferees the right to vote or to receive dividends or to
consent  or to receive  notice as a  shareholder  in  respect of any  meeting of
shareholders for the election of directors of the Company or of any other matter
or any rights  whatsoever as shareholders  of the Company,  except to the extent
specifically provided for herein.

     Section  4.02:  Lost,  Stolen,  Mutilated  or Destroyed  Warrant.  If this
Warrant is lost, stolen,  mutilated or destroyed, the Company may, on such terms
as to indemnity or otherwise as it may in its discretion impose (which shall, in
the case of a mutilated  Warrant,  include the surrender  thereof),  issue a new
Warrant  of like  denomination  and  tenor as,  and in  substitution  for,  this
Warrant.

     Section 4.03:  Reservation of Shares.

     (a) The Company covenants and agrees that at all times it shall reserve and
keep available for the exercise of this Warrant such number of authorized shares
of Common Stock or other  securities as are sufficient to permit the exercise in
full of this Warrant.

     (b) The  Company  shall use its best  efforts  to  maintain  or secure  the
listing  of the  Warrant  Shares  upon  the  securities  exchange  or  automated
quotation system, if any, upon which shares of its Common Stock are then listed.

     (c) The  Company  covenants  that all  shares  of  Common  Stock  issued on
exercise of this Warrant will be validly issued, fully paid,  non-assessable and
free of preemptive rights.


<PAGE>

     Section  4.04:  No Fractional  Shares.  Anything  contained  herein to the
contrary  notwithstanding,  the  Company  shall  not be  required  to issue  any
fraction of a share in connection with the exercise of this Warrant. In any case
where the Warrantholder  would,  except for the provisions of this Section 4.04,
be  entitled  under the terms of this  Warrant to receive a fraction  of a share
upon  exercise of this  Warrant and receipt of the Exercise  Price,  the Company
shall not be required to issue any fraction of a share, but rather,  will adjust
the  aggregate  Exercise  Price  for  such  fraction  of a share  to  which  the
Warrantholder would otherwise be entitled.

                                    ARTICLE V

                           Treatment of Warrantholder

     Prior to due presentment for registration or transfer of this Warrant,  the
Company  may deem and  treat the  Warrantholder  as the  absolute  owner of this
Warrant  (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon) for
the  purpose of any  exercise  hereof and for all other  purposes of the Company
shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                             Split-Up, Combination,
                        Exchange and Transfer of Warrant

     Section  6.01:  Split-Up,  Combination,  Exchange and Transfer of Warrant.
Subject to and limited by the  provisions  of Section 6.02 hereof,  this Warrant
may be  split  up,  combined  or  exchanged  for  another  Warrant  or  Warrants
containing the same terms to purchase a like aggregate number of Warrant Shares.
If the Warrantholder  desires to split up, combine or exchange this Warrant,  he
shall make such request in writing  delivered to the Company and shall surrender
to the Company this Warrant and any other  Warrants to be so split up,  combined
or exchanged.  Upon any such surrender for a split-up,  combination or exchange,
the Company shall execute and deliver to the person  entitled  thereto a Warrant
or  Warrants,  as the case may be, as so  requested.  The  Company  shall not be
required to effect any split-up,  combination  or exchange  which will result in
the issuance of a Warrant  entitling the Warrantholder to purchase upon exercise
a fraction of a share of Common Stock or a fractional  Warrant.  The Company may
require  such  Warrantholder  to  pay a sum  sufficient  to  cover  any  tax  or
governmental  charge  that may be  imposed  in  connection  with  any  split-up,
combination or exchange of Warrants.

     Section 6.02:  Restrictions on Transfer. This Warrant may be exercised and
this Warrant and the Warrant Shares may not be sold,  hypothecated,  assigned or
transferred (a  "Transfer"),  except only in accordance  with and subject to the
provisions  of the  Securities  Act and the  rules and  regulations  promulgated
thereunder. The Warrantholder shall have the benefit of the certain registration
rights for the Warrant  Shares as provided in that certain  Registration  Rights
Agreement  dated as of  December  ___,  1995 among the  Company,  the Holder and
Avondale Mills, Inc.
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE VII

                                  Other Matters

     Section 7.01:  Successors and Assigns. All the covenants and provisions of
this  Warrant  shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and
the Holder and their respective successors and assigns.

     Section  7.02:  Amendments  and Waivers.  The  provisions of this Warrant,
including  the  provisions  of this  sentence,  may not be amended,  modified or
supplemented,  and waiver or consents to departures  from the provisions  hereof
may not be given  unless the Company  has  obtained  the written  consent of the
Holder.  The  Warrantholder  shall be bound by any  consent  authorized  by this
Section whether or not certificates representing his Warrant have been marked to
indicate such consent.

     Section 7.03: Counterparts.  This Warrant may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate  counterparts,  each of which
so executed  shall be deemed to be an original  and all of which taken  together
shall constitute one and the same agreement.

     Section  7.04:  Governing  Law.  This  Warrant  shall be  governed  by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

     Section  7.05:  Severability.  In the  event  that  any one or more of the
provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is
held   invalid,   illegal  or   unenforceable,   the   validity,   legality  and
enforceability  of  any  such  provisions  in  every  other  respect  and of the
remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

     Section 7.06:  Integration/Entire  Agreement.  This Warrant is intended by
the  parties as a final  expression  of their  agreement  and  intended  to be a
complete and  exclusive  statement of the  agreement  and  understanding  of the
parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained  herein.  This Warrant
supersedes  all prior  agreements  and  understandings  between the parties with
respect to such subject matter.

     Section 7.07: Notices. Any notice, request or other communication required
or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly
given if  personally  delivered or mailed by  registered  or  certified  mail or
overnight courier,  postage prepaid, at the respective  addresses of the parties
as set forth herein.  Any party hereto may by notice so given change its address
for future notice  hereunder.  Notice shall  conclusively be deemed to have been
given when  delivered  in the manner set forth above and shall be deemed to have
been  received  when  delivered.  Copies of all notices to the Company  shall be
given to:

          Blau, Kramer, Wactlar & Lieberman, P.C.
          100 Jericho Quadrangle
          Jericho, New York  11753
          Attention:  Edward I. Kramer
<PAGE>

and copies of all notices to Robert M. Gintel shall be given to:

          Reid & Priest LLP
          40 West 57th Street
          New York, New York  10019
          Attention:  Leonard Gubar

Notice  or  demand  pursuant  to this  Warrant  to be  given or made by the
Warrantholder  to or on the Company shall be sufficiently  given or made if sent
by first class mail or overnight courier,  postage prepaid, to the Warrantholder
at his last known address as it shall appear on the books of the Company.

     Section 7.08:  Headings.  The Article and Section  headings herein are for
convenience  only and are not part of this  Warrant  and  shall not  affect  the
interpretation thereof.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  this  Warrant  has been duly  executed by the Company
under its corporate seal as of the ____ day of ____________, 19___.

                                              ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.

                                              By:  ________________________


(Corporate Seal)

ATTEST:

- --------------------------------
 Secretary

<PAGE>


                                   ASSIGNMENT


(To be executed only upon assignment of Warrant Certificate)

     For value received,  ____________________________ hereby sells, assigns and
transfers unto ________________________ the within Warrant Certificate, together
with  all  right,  title  and  interest  therein,  and does  hereby  irrevocably
constitute  and appoint _____  ____________________  attorney,  to transfer said
Warrant Certificate on the books of the within-named Company with respect to the
number of  Warrants  set forth  below,  with full power of  substitution  in the
premises:

     Name(s) of
     Assignee(s)          Address          No. of Warrants





And if said number of Warrants shall not be all the Warrants represented by
the Warrant  Certificate,  a new Warrant Certificate is to be issued in the name
of said  undersigned  for the balance  remaining of the Warrants  represented by
said Warrant Certificate.

Dated: ________________, _____.


                         ----------------------------------------
                     Note:     The above signature should correspond exactly
                               with the name on the face of this Warrant 
                               Certificate.


<PAGE>


                                SUBSCRIPTION FORM
                    (To be executed upon exercise of Warrant)


ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.


     The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right of purchase
represented by the within Warrant  Certificate for, and to purchase  thereunder,
shares of Common Stock, as provided for therein, and tenders herewith payment of
the purchase  price in full in the form of cash or a certified or official  bank
check in the amount of $ .

     Please issue a  certificate  or  certificates  for such Common Stock in the
name of, and pay any cash for any fractional share to:

                          Name_______________________________
                          (Please Print Name, Address and Social Security No.)

                          Signature___________________________  Note:  The above
                          signature should  correspond  exactly with the name on
                          the first page of this Warrant Certificate or with the
                          name of the assignee  appearing in the assignment form
                          below.

     And if said number of shares shall not be all the shares  purchasable under
the within Warrant Certificate, a new Warrant Certificate is to be issued in the
name of said  undersigned  for the balance  remaining of the shares  purchasable
thereunder less any fraction of a share paid in cash.





                                 AMENDMENT NO. 3
                                TO LOAN AGREEMENT


     AGREEMENT (the "Amendment"),  made as of the 22nd day of December,  1995 by
and among:

     ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter referred to as
the "Borrower"); and

     NATWEST  BANK N.A.  (formerly  National  Westminster  Bank USA), a national
banking  association and SUNTRUST BANK, ATLANTA (formerly Trust Company Bank), a
Georgia  banking  corporation  (individually,  a "Bank"  and  collectively,  the
"Banks");

                               W I T N E S S E T H

    WHEREAS:

     A. The  Borrower and the Banks have  entered  into a Loan  Agreement  dated
March 26, 1993 as amended by a Letter Agreement dated August 12, 1993, Amendment
No. 1 dated as of May 16, 1994, and Amendment No. 2 thereto dated as of November
15, 1994 (as so amended,  the "Existing Loan Agreement",  and as amended by this
Agreement  and as it may  hereafter by amended,  modified  and/or  supplemented,
hereinafter the "Loan Agreement")  pursuant to which the Banks made loans to the
Borrower in an aggregate principal amount of up to $25,000,000;

     B. The  Borrower  has  requested  that the Banks  amend the  Existing  Loan
Agreement to revise the  financial  covenants and make such other changes to the
Existing Loan Agreement as are provided for herein, and the Banks are willing to
make all of such changes on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; and

     C. All  capitalized  terms  that are used  herein  and are  defined  in the
Existing Loan Agreement and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings
ascribed to them in the Existing Loan Agreement;

     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

<PAGE>


                  Article 1.        Amendments to the Existing Loan Agreement.

     Effective upon the  satisfaction  of the conditions  precedent set forth in
Article 5 hereof, the Existing Loan Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

                  (a)      Article I is amended by:

     (i) Adding the following new  definition  in the  appropriate  alphabetical
order: 

     "Net Loss" - for any perod, the consolidated net loss of any Person after
deducting all income taxes of such Person relating to such period, as determined
in accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting  priniciples,  consistently
applied.

     (ii) Deleting the first sentence of the  definition of "Applicable  Margin"
and substituting therefor the following:

     "as at any date of  determination  thereof,  with respect to any Prime Rate
Loans, .75%, and with respect to any Eurodollar Loans, 2.75%, provided, however,
that if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio exceeds 3.00:1.00,  then with respect to
any Prime Rate Loans, .25%, and with respect to any Eurodollar Loans, 2.25%."

                  (b)      Section 6.9 is amended by:

     (i) Deleting  subsection 6.9 (a) in its entirety and substituting  therefor
the following:

               "(a) A Current Ratio of not less than 2.00:1.00."

     (ii) Deleting  subsection 6.9(c) in its entirety and substituting  therefor
the following:

     "(c) The sum of  Tangible  Net Worth  plus  Subordinated  Debt  during  the
periods  set  forth  below at not less  than the  respective  amounts  set forth
opposite each such period:

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                      Minimum Tangible
Period                                Net Worth Plus Subordinated Debt
<S>                                   <C>

October 1, 1995 through
June 29, 1996                         $72,000,000

June 30, 1996 through
September 29, 1996                    $73,000,000

September 30, 1996 through
September 29, 1997                    $75,000,000, which amount shall increase 
                                      as at the last day of each fiscal year ,
                                      ending September 30, 1997 and thereafter 
                                      by an amount equal to the greater of 
                                      (i) $2,000,000 or (ii) 50% of each year's
                                      Net Income, and be maintained at each 
                                      increase level until the last day of each 
                                      of the next followingfiscal years when it 
                                      shall increase again."
</TABLE>

     (iii)  Subsection  6.9(d) is amended by  deleting  such  subsection  in its
entirety and substituting therefor the following:

     "(d) (i) For the  six-month  period  ended March 31,  1996,  the  quotient,
expressed  as a  percentage  (which  may be in excess of  100%),  determined  by
dividing Net Income  available for Debt Service for such six-month period by the
sum of: (x) fifty (50%) percent of the Current Portion of Long-Term Indebtedness
at March 31, 1996,  plus (y)  Interest  Expense for the  six-month  period ended
March 31, 1996, at not less than 25%.

     (ii) For the nine-month period ended June 30, 1996, the quotient, expressed
as a  percentage  (which may be in excess of 100%),  determined  by dividing Net
Income available for Debt Service for such nine-month  period by the sum of: (x)
seventy-five  (75%) percent of the Current Portion of Long-Term  Indebtedness at
June 30, 1996,  plus (y) Interest  Expense for the nine-month  period ended June
30, 1996, at not less than 50%.

     (iii) Debt Service Coverage for the twelve-month  period ended on September
30, 1996 and on each fiscal quarter thereafter at not less than 80%."

     (iv) Deleting subsection 6.9(e) in its entirety and substituting therefor:

     "Fixed Charge  Coverage  Ratio for the twelve month period ended  September
30, 1996 and on each fiscal quarter thereafter at not less than 1.25:1.00."

<PAGE>


     (v) Inserting the following new Section 6.14:

     "Section 6.14 Loss.
                           
     Incur a Net Loss not in excess of  $3,300,000  for the  three-month  period
ended December 31, 1995."

     (c) Article 7 is hereby amended by:

     (i) Amending Section 7.2 by inserting the following new subsection 7.2(f):

     "(f)  Accounts  receivable  to be factored to SunTrust  Bank,  Atlanta
pursuant to a  notification  factoring  agreement to be entered into between the
Borrower  and  the  Bank  for  up to  $10,000,000  of  factoring  advances  (the
"Factoring  Advances") at a minimum 90% factoring  advance  rate." (ii) Amending
Section 7.5 by deleting the proviso  "provided,  however,  that the Borrower may
enter into any of the  transactions  described in subsections (a) and (b) above,
but only if the  amounts  involved do not exceed the  following:  (i) during the
fiscal year  commencing  October 1, 1994,  an aggregate  amount not in excess of
$3,000,000;  and (ii)  during each fiscal  quarter  commencing  October 1, 1994,
cumulatively,  an aggregate amount not in excess of the balance,  if any, of the
$3,000,000  provided for in clause (i) not  distributed or paid to redeem shares
plus, on a cumulative  basis,  50% of consolidated  net income after taxes (less
losses) of the Borrower during the preceding fiscal quarter, less, in each case,
any amount distributed or paid by the Borrower pursuant to this proviso."

     (iii)  Amending  Section 7.7 by deleting  the proviso  "and with respect to
accounts receivable of the Borrower's infantswear business now factored to Trust
Company pursuant to those two certain Factoring Agreements dated as of April 23,
1979 and  December  12,  1988,  respectively,  between  the  Borrower  and Trust
Company, as each of them may be amended, modified, supplemented or replaced from
time to time," and  substituting  therefor  the  following  "and with respect to
accounts  receivable  to be  factored to SunTrust  Bank,  Atlanta  pursuant to a
notification factoring agreement to be entered into between the Borrower and the
Bank for up to  $10,000,000  of  Factoring  Advances at a minimum 90%  factoring
advance rate,  provided that all such Factoring  Advances are repaid on or prior
to the earlier of closing on the new $60 million credit facility contemplated by
the  Borrower  to be  established  in its favor by the  Banks  and  First  Union
National Bank of South Carolina (the "New Facility") or February 28, 1996."

     (iv) Amending Section 7 .15 effective October 1, 1994 by deleting it in its
entirety.

<PAGE>


     Article 2. References and Confirmations.

     (a)  Upon  the  effectiveness  of this  Amendment,  all  references  in the
Existing Loan Agreement and all references in the other Loan Documents:

     (i) to the "Loan" or "Loans" shall be deemed to refer  collectively  to the
"Loan" or "Loans" as defined in the Existing  Loan  Agreement as amended by this
Amendment; and

     (ii) to this "Agreement" or "Loan  Agreement",  and all other references to
provisions of the Loan  Agreement,  in the Existing Loan Agreement and the other
Loan  Documents  shall be  deemed to refer to the  Existing  Loan  Agreement  as
amended by this Amendment; and

     (b) The parties  hereto  acknowledge  that the Loan Agreement and the other
Loan  Documents  shall be deemed  amended to the full extent  necessary  to give
effect to the provisions of this Amendment.

     Article 3. Amendment Fee

     Simultaneously  with and in  consideration of the execution and delivery by
NatWest Bank N.A. of this Third  Amendment,  the  Borrower  shall pay to NatWest
Bank N.A.  a fee in the  amount of  $25,000.  If the New  Facility  has not been
closed by  February  28,  1996,  then (i) it should  be an  additional  Event of
Default  under the Loan  Agreement  (and the Loan  Agreement  is  hereby  deemed
further  amended to affect  same) and (ii) the  Borrower  shall pay to  SunTrust
Bank,  Atlanta a fee in the amount of $25,000 in  consideration of the execution
and delivery by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta of this Third Amendment.

     Article 4. Representations and Warranties.

     The Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Banks that:

     Section 4.1 Existing Representations.

     Each and  every  one of the  representations  and  warranties  set forth in
Article 3 of the Existing Loan  Agreement is true in all respects as of the date
hereof and with the same effect as though made on the date hereof, and is hereby
incorporated  herein in full by  reference  as if fully  restated  herein in its
entirety,  except for changes in the ordinary  course of business  which are not
prohibited by the Existing Loan Agreement as amended by this Amendment and which
are not,  either  singly or in the  aggregate,  material  to the  operations  or
financial condition of the Borrower.

<PAGE>


     Section 4.2 No Defaults.

     There  exists no Default or Event of  Default,  as defined in the  Existing
Loan  Agreement as amended by this  Amendment  and no event or condition  exists
which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such
a Default or Event of Default.

     Section 4.3 Power, Authority, Consents.

     (a) The Borrower has the power or capacity to execute,  deliver and perform
this Amendment.

     (b) The Borrower has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution,
delivery and  performance  of this  Amendment and the other Loan  Documents.  No
consent  or  approval  of  any  Person  (including,   without  limitation,   any
stockholder  of the  Borrower),  no  consent  or  approval  of any  landlord  or
mortgagee,  no waiver of any Lien or right of distraint or other  similar  right
and  no  consent,  license,  approval,   authorization  or  declaration  of  any
governmental  authority,  bureau or agency, is required as of the date hereof in
connection with the execution,  delivery or performance by the Borrower,  or the
validity,  enforcement  or  priority,  of  this  Amendment  and the  other  Loan
Documents or any Lien created, granted or confirmed thereunder.

     Section 4.4 No Violation of Law or Agreements.

     The execution and delivery by the Borrower of this  Amendment and the other
Loan Documents and performance by it hereunder and thereunder,  will not violate
any provision of law presently in effect and will not conflict with or result in
a breach of any order, writ, injunction, ordinance, resolution, decree, or other
similar document or instrument  presently in effect of any court or governmental
authority,  bureau  or  agency,  domestic  or  foreign,  or the  certificate  of
incorporation or by-laws of the Borrower,  or create (with or without the giving
of notice or lapse of time, or both) a default under or breach of any agreement,
bond, note or indenture presently in effect to which the Borrower is a party, or
by which it is bound or any of its  properties or assets is affected,  or result
in the  imposition  of  any  Lien  of  any  nature  whatsoever  upon  any of the
properties  or assets  owned by or used in  connection  with the business of the
Borrower.

     Section 4.5 Due Execution, Validity, Enforceability.

     This  Amendment  and each of the other Loan  Documents  being  executed  in
connection  herewith has been duly  executed  and  delivered by the Borrower and
each  constitutes  the valid and legally  binding  obligation  of the  Borrower,
enforceable  in  accordance  with its terms  except as such  enforcement  may be
limited by applicable bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium,  or
other similar laws, now or hereafter in effect, relating to or affecting the

<PAGE>


enforcement  of creditors'  rights  generally and except that the remedy of
specific  performance  and other  equitable  remedies  are  subject to  judicial
discretion.

     Article 5. Conditions to the Effectiveness.

     The effectiveness of this Amendment shall be subject to the fulfillment (to
the satisfaction of the Banks) of the following conditions precedent:

     (a) The  Borrower  shall  have  executed  and  delivered  to the Banks this
Amendment.

     (b) The Borrower  shall have paid to NatWest Bank N.A. an amendment  fee of
$25,000.

     (c) All legal matters  incident to the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Amendment shall be satisfactory to legal counsel to the Banks.

     (d) The  Borrower  shall  have  paid all  legal  expenses  of the  Banks in
connections  with the  preparation,  negotiation and execution of this Amendment
and any documents, instruments and agreements required hereby or thereby.

     (e)  The  Borrower  shall  have  executed  and  delivered  to the  Banks  a
commitment  letter for the New Facility,  which letter shall also be executed or
accepted by each Bank and First Union National Bank of South Carolina.

     Article 6. Miscellaneous.

     Section 6.1 Continued Effectiveness.

     Except as specifically amended herein, the Existing Loan Agreement and each
of the other Loan Documents  shall remain in full force and effect in accordance
with  their  respective  terms  and are  hereby  in all  respects  ratified  and
confirmed.

     Section 6.2 Construction.

     The  provisions  of Article 9 of the Existing Loan  Agreement  shall govern
this  Amendment  with  respect to the  subject  matter set forth  therein.  THIS
AMENDMENT,  THE EXISTING LOAN  AGREEMENT AS AMENDED BY THIS  AMENDMENT,  AND THE
OTHER  LOAN  DOCUMENTS  AS  ACKNOWLEDGED  AND  CONFIRMED  HEREBY,  AND ALL OTHER
DOCUMENTS AND  INSTRUMENTS  EXECUTED AND  DELIVERED IN  CONNECTION  HEREWITH AND
THEREWITH,  SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND  CONSTRUED AND  INTERPRETED  IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

<PAGE>


     Section 6.3 Modifications.

     No  modification  or waiver of or with  respect  to any  provision  of this
Amendment or any other  agreement,  instrument  or document  delivered  pursuant
hereto,  nor consent to any  departure by the Borrower  from any of the terms or
conditions hereof, shall in any event be effective unless it shall be in writing
and signed by the Banks and then such waiver or consent shall be effective  only
in the specific  instance and for the purpose for which given.  No consent to or
demand on the Borrower in any case shall, of itself,  entitle it to any other or
further  notice or demand in  similar  or other  circumstances.  This  Amendment
together with the Existing Loan  Agreement and the documents  referenced  herein
and therein  embodies the entire agreement and  understanding  between the Banks
and the Borrower and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating
to the subject mater hereof.

     Section 6.4 Severability.

     The  provisions  of this  Amendment  are  severable,  and if any  clause or
provision  shall be held  invalid  or  unenforceable  in whole or in part in any
jurisdiction,  then such invalidity or  unenforceability  shall affect only such
clause or provision,  or part thereof, in such jurisdiction and shall not in any
manner affect such clause or provision in any other  jurisdiction,  or any other
clause or provision in this Amendment in any jurisdiction.

     Section 6.5 Counterparts

     This  Amendment may be signed in any number of  counterparts  with the same
effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

     Section 6.6 Successors.

     This  Amendment  shall be  binding  upon and  inure to the  benefit  of the
Borrower and its successors and to the benefit of the Banks and their respective
successors  and assigns.  The rights and  obligations of the Borrower under this
Amendment  shall not be assigned or delegated  without the prior written consent
of the Banks,  and any purported  assignment or delegation  without such consent
shall be void.

<PAGE>


IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have caused this  Amendment to be duly
executed on the date first above written.


                                                ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.


                                                By: /s/ William H. Boyd
                                                Vice President           Title

                                                NATWEST BANK N.A.


                                                By /s/Christopher Mendelsohn
                                                Vice President           Title

                                                SUNTRUST BANK, ATLANTA


                                                By /s/David Westerfield
                                                Group Vice President     Title


                                                By /s/Elizabeth C. Goss
                                                Vice President           Title









                        AMENDMENT NO. 5 TO NOTE AGREEMENT

     THIS AMENDMENT NO. 5 TO NOTE AGREEMENT (this "Amendment"),  is entered into
as of December  28, 1995,  by and between THE  PRUDENTIAL  INSURANCE  COMPANY OF
AMERICA ("Prudential") and ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC. (the "Company").

                                   WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS,  the parties  hereto have executed and delivered that certain Note
Agreement,  dated as of December  20,  1988 (as  heretofore  amended,  the "Note
Agreement";  capitalized  terms not  otherwise  defined  herein  shall  have the
meanings ascribed thereto in the Note Agreement);

     WHEREAS,  Prudential  is the holder of the single Note issued to date under
the Note Agreement; and

     WHEREAS,  the  Company  has  requested  that,  subject  to  the  terms  and
conditions set forth herein,  the Note Agreement be amended to the effect and as
set forth herein and that a replacement Note be issued in accordance herewith;

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  foregoing  and other  good and
valuable  consideration,  the  receipt  and  sufficiency  of  which  are  hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

     1. Amendment of Paragraph  6C(1).  Paragraph 6C(1) of the Note Agreement is
hereby  amended  by (i)  deleting  the word  "and" at the end of  clause  (viii)
thereof, (ii) adding the word "and" at the end of clause (ix) thereof, and (iii)
adding a new clause (x) thereto, which shall read as follows:

     "(x) any Liens on accounts receivable sold by the Company pursuant to sales
permitted by paragraph 6C(7),"

     2. Amendment of Paragraph  6C(2)(a).  Clause (vi) of paragraph  6C(2)(a) of
the Note Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

     "(vi) Current Debt of the Company in an aggregate  amount not to exceed (x)
at any time during the period commending on October 31, 1995 and ending on March
31, 1996, inclusive $35,000,000, and (y) at any other time, $25,000,000,"


<PAGE>

     3. Amendment of Paragraph  6C(7).  Paragraph 6C(7) of the Note Agreement is
hereby amended by adding the following clause  immediately  before the period at
the end of said paragraph:

     ", except that after  December 1, 1995,  the Company may factor to SunTrust
Bank,  Atlanta pursuant to that certain  factoring  Agreement dated December 27,
1995,  between  SunTrust  Bank,  Atlanta  and  the  Company,  specific  accounts
receivable  in  return  for up to  $10,000,000  in the  aggregate  of  factoring
advances  at a  minimum  90%  factoring  advance  rate,  provided  that all such
factoring  advances  are  repaid on or prior to the  earlier  of (i) the date on
which the Loan  Agreement  (as defined in paragraph 6E) is replaced on terms and
conditions  satisfactory to Required Holders in their sole  discretion,  or (ii)
February 28, 1996."

     4. Amendment of Paragraph 6E(4). Effective as of the date hereof, paragraph
6E(4) of the Note Agreement is hereby  amended by amending and restating  clause
(viii)  thereof in its  entirety as follows and adding new clauses  (ix) and (x)
thereto, which shall read as follows, respectively:

     "(viii) For the twelve  month period ended on June 30, 1995 and on the last
day of the fiscal  quarter of the Company  ended on  September  30,  1995,  Debt
Service Coverage equal to less than 125%.

     "(ix)  On the last day of the  fiscal  quarter  of the  Company  ending  on
December  31,  1995 and on the last day of the  fiscal  quarter  of the  Company
ending on March 31, 1996, Debt Service Coverage equal to less than 40%.

     "(x) On the last day of each fiscal  quarter of the Company after march 31,
1996, Debt Service Coverage equal to less than 125%."

<PAGE>


     5. Amendment of Paragraph  6E(5).  Effective as of the date hereof,  clause
(ii) of paragraph  6E(5) of the Note Agreement is hereby amended and restated in
its entirety as follows:

     "(ii) Fixed Charge  Coverage  Ratio for each period set forth below at less
than the respective ratios set forth below opposite each such period:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                         Period                              Minimum Fixed
                                                        Charge Coverage Ratio
         <S>                                                  <C>

         Three months ended December 31, 1993                 1.10:1.00
         Six months ended March 31, 1994                      1.50:1.00
         Nine months ended June 30, 1994                      1.40:1.00
         Twelve months ended September 30, 1994               1.50:1.00
         Twelve months ended December 31, 1994                1.50:1.00
         Twelve months ended March 31, 1995                   1.50:1.00
         Twelve months ended June 30, 1995                    1.75:1.00
         Twelve months ended September 30, 1995               2.00:1.00
         Twelve months ended December 31, 1995                0.01:1.00
         Twelve months ended March 31, 1996                   Not Applicable
         On the last day of each fiscal quarter of the        2.00:1.00"
         Company thereafter

</TABLE>

     6. Amendment of paragraph 6F. Effective as of the date hereof, paragraph 6F
of the Note Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

     "6F.  Reduction of Certain  Debt.  The Company  covenants  that it will not
permit the principal amount  outstanding under the Loan Agreement (as defined in
paragraph  6E), or under the line of credit with First  Union  National  Bank of
South  Carolina,  to be reduced at any time  during  the  period  commencing  on
December 15, and ending when such agreement ans such line of credit are replaced
on  terms  and  conditions  satisfactory  to  Required  Holders  in  their  sole
discretion."

     7.  Effective  Date.  Each of  Sections  1  through 6  (inclusive)  of this
Amendment  shall  become  effective  on the date hereof  (the"Effective  Date"),
subject in all cases to the following  having  occurred to the  satisfaction  of
Prudential:

<PAGE>

     (a) receipt by Prudential of executed copies of (i) the Factoring Agreement
dated  December  27, 1995  between Sun Trust Bank,  Atlanta and the Company (the
"Factoring  Agreement") and all financing  statements related thereto,  and (ii)
Amendment  No. 3 to the Loan  Agreement  (as defined in paragraph 6E of the Note
Agreement),  in each case, in form and substance  satisfactory  to Prudential in
its sole  discretion and certified by a senior officer of the Company as being a
true and complete document which is in full force and effect with all conditions
therein having been fully satisfied;

     (b) receipt by  Prudential  of an  Officer's  Certificate  (i) stating that
immediately  after the  Effective  Date,  there  exists no Event of  Default  or
Default or any  "Default",  "Event of Default" or other  default (or event which
with the  passage  of time or the giving of notice or both  would  constitute  a
default) under any Debt agreement of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries and
(ii)  demonstrating   compliance,  in  reasonable  detail,  with  the  covenants
contained in paragraph 6 of the Note Agreement, as of, and for the period ended,
September 30, 1995;

     (c)  receipt by  Prudential  of a $50,000  modification  fee,  paid by wire
transfer of immediately  available funds to Prudential's  Account No. 050-54-526
at Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, 23 Wall Street, New York, New York
10015 (ABA No.: 021-000-238); and

     (d) receipt by  Prudential of an executed  replacement  Note in the form of
Exhibit A attached hereto.

     8.  Representations and Warranties.  The Company represents and warrants as
follows:

     (a) Organization.  Each of the Company and each Subsidiary is a corporation
duly  organized and existing in good standing under the laws of the state of its
incorporation.

     (b) Power and Authority.  The Company has all requisite  corporate power to
execute,  deliver and perform its  obligations  under this  Amendment,  the Note
Agreement,   as  amended,   and  the   replacement   Note  delivered   hereunder
(collectively,   the  "Transaction  Documents").  The  execution,  delivery  and
performance  by  the  Company  of  the  Transaction  Documents  have  been  duly
authorized by all  requisite  corporate  action on the part of the Company.  The
Company  has duly  executed  and  delivered  each of the  Transaction  Documents
constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company,  enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms.

     (c) No Conflicts.  Neither the  execution  and delivery of the  Transaction
Documents by the Company, nor the consummation of the transactions  contemplated
thereby, nor fulfillment of nor compliance with the terms and

<PAGE>

provisions  thereof will conflict with, or result in a breach of the terms,
conditions or provisions  of, or  constitute a default  under,  or result in any
violation of or result in the creation of any security  interest,  lien or other
encumbrance  upon  any  of the  properties  or  assets  of  the  Company  or any
Subsidiary pursuant to, the charter or by-laws of the Company or any Subsidiary,
any award of any  arbitrator or any  agreement  (including  any  agreement  with
stockholders),  instrument,  order,  judgment,  decree,  statute,  law,  rule or
regulation to which the Company or any Subsidiary is subject.

     (d) Consents.  Neither the nature of the business  conducted by the Company
or any Subsidiary,  nor any of their respective properties, nor any relationship
between the company or any Subsidiary and any other Person, nor any circumstance
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Amendment is such as to
require any authorization,  consent,  approval,  exemption or other action by or
notice to or filing with any court or administrative or governmental body or any
other Person in connection  with the execution and delivery of this Amendment or
any other  Transaction  Document or fulfillment of or compliance  with the terms
and provisions hereof or thereof.

     (e)  No  Material  Adverse  Change.   Except  as  previously  disclosed  to
Prudential  in  writing,  there  has  been no  material  adverse  change  to the
business, operations,  affairs, financial condition, assets, properties, profits
or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole since June 30,
1995.

     (f) First Union  National  Bank of South  Carolina.  No default or event of
default has occurred and is  continuing,  or will occur upon the  execution  and
delivery of the  Factoring  Agreement or the  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated thereby, under the documents governing the company's line of credit
with First Union  National  Bank of South  Carolina,  and no amendment to any of
such documents or waiver of any provision thereof is necessary or desirable,  or
will be necessary  or desirable  upon  execution  and delivery of the  Factoring
Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby.

     9. Miscellaneous.

     (a) Upon and after the Effective Date, each reference to the Note Agreement
in the Note  Agreement  and each Note shall mean and be a reference  to the Note
Agreement as amended by this Amendment.

     (b) Except as specifically  amended herein, the Note Agreement shall remain
in full force and effect, and is hereby ratified and confirmed.

     (c) The execution,  delivery and  effectiveness of this Amendment shall not
operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of Prudential,  nor constitute
a waiver of any provision of the Note Agreement, the Note or any other

<PAGE>

document, instrument or agreement executed and delivered in connection with
the Note Agreement.

     (d) The Company  confirms its  agreement,  pursuant to paragraph 11B of the
Note  Agreement,  to pay  promptly all  expenses of  Prudential  related to this
Amendment and all matters contemplated hereby,  including without limitation all
fees and expenses of Prudential's special counsel.

     (e) THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE  WITH, AND
THE  RIGHTS OF THE  PARTIES  SHALL BE  GOVERNED  BY, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.

     (f) This Amendment may be executed in counterparts,  each of which shall be
deemed an original and all of which taken together shall  constitute one and the
same  document.  Delivery  of this  Amendment  may be made by telecopy of a duly
executed counterpart copy hereof.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have caused their duly  authorized
officers to execute this Amendment as of the day and year first above written.

                                         THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE
                                         COMPANY OF AMERICA


                                         By:  /s/ Robert Derrick
                                         Name: Robert Derrick
                                         Title: Senior Vice President


                                         ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.


                                         By: /s/ James L. Ford
                                         Name: James L. Ford
                                         Title: Vice President


<PAGE>

                                                               EXHIBIT A


                             ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.

                        SENIOR NOTE DUE OCTOBER 31, 1998


No. A-1
$20,000,000                             Original Issue Date:  December 20, 1988


     FOR VALUE RECEIVED,  the  undersigned,  ONEITA  INDUSTRIES,  INC.,  (herein
called the  "Company"),  a corporation  organized and existing under the laws of
the  State of  Delaware,  hereby  promises  to pay to THE  PRUDENTIAL  INSURANCE
COMPANY OF AMERICA, or registered  assigns,  the principal sum of TWENTY MILLION
DOLLARS on October 31, 1998 with  interest  (computed  on the basis of a 360-day
year -- 30-day month) (a) on the unpaid balance  hereof at the "Specified  Rate"
(as defined below) from the original issue date hereof, payable semi-annually on
the final day of October and April in each year,  commencing with October 31, or
April 30 next  succeeding  the original  issue date hereof,  until the principal
hereof  shall  have  become  due and  payable,  and (b) on any  overdue  payment
(including any overdue prepayment) of principal,  any overdue payment of premium
and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any overdue payment of interest,
payable  semiannually  as aforesaid (or, at the option of the registered  holder
hereof,  on demand),  at a rate per annum from time to time equal to the greater
of (i) the  Specified  Rate  plus  1.00% or (ii) the rate of  interest  publicly
announced by Morgan  Guaranty Trust Company of New York from time to time in New
York City as its Prime Rate.

     Payments of  principal,  premium if any, and interest are to be made at the
main office of Morgan  Guaranty Trust Company of New York in New York City or at
such other place as the holder hereof shall designate to the Company in writing,
in lawful money of the United State of America.

     This Note is one of a series of Senior  Notes  (herein  called the "Notes")
issued pursuant to a Note  Agreement,  dated as of December 20, 1988 (as amended
or otherwise modified,  herein called the "Agreement"),  between the Company and
The  Prudential  Insurance  Company of America and is  entitled to the  benefits
thereof.  As provided in the Agreement,  this Note is subject to prepayment,  in
whole or from time to time in part,  in certain  cases  without  premium  and in
other cases with a premium as specified in the Agreement.

     This Note is a  registered  Note and as  provided  in the  Agreement,  upon
surrender  of  this  Note  for  registration  of  transfer,  duly  endorsed,  or
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed, by the registered
holder hereof or such


<PAGE>


holders  attorney  duly  authorized  in writing a new Note for a like  principal
amount will be issued to, and registered in the name of, the  transferee.  Prior
to due  presentment  for  registration  of  transfer,  the company may treat the
person to whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for the purpose
of receiving  payment and for all other  purposes,  and the Company shall not be
affected by any notice to the contrary.

     The Company agrees to make prepayments of principal on the dates and in the
amounts specified in the Agreement.

     "Specified  Rate" means  10.84%  prior to May 16,  1994,  and 11.34% on and
after May 16, 1994.

     In case an Event of Default,  as defined in the Agreement,  shall occur and
be  continuing,  the principal of this Note may be declared or otherwise  become
due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Agreement.

     THIS NOTE IS INTENDED TO BE PERFORMED IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND SHALL BE
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF SUCH STATE.

     The  unpaid  balance  of the  indebtedness  evidenced  by the  Note  in the
original amount of $20,000,000 (the "1994 Note"),  dated May 16, 1994, issued by
the company in favor of The Prudential  Insurance Company of America (which 1994
Note (i) re-evidenced the indebtedness  theretofore evidenced by, (ii) was given
in substitution  for, and not as payment of the  indebtedness  evidenced by, and
(iii) was in no way  intended  to  constitute  a novation or  discharge  of, the
indebtedness  evidenced by the Note in the original  amount of $20,000,000  (the
"Original Note"), dated December 20, 1988, issued by the Company in favor of The
Prudential  Insurance  Company of America)  remains  outstanding  as of the date
hereof. This Note (i) merely re-evidences the indebtedness theretofore evidenced
by the 1994 Note  (including the  indebtedness  evidenced by the Original Note),
(ii) is  given in  substitution  for,  and not as  payment  of the  indebtedness
evidenced  by the 1994  Note),  (ii) is given in  substitution  for,  and not as
payment  of  the  indebtedness   evidenced  by  the  1994  Note  (including  the
indebtedness  evidenced by the Original Note) and (iii) is in no way intended to
constitute  a novation or discharge  of the  indebtedness  evidenced by the 1994
Note (including the indebtedness evidenced by the Original Note).

Dated:  December 28, 1995                       ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.


                                                By: /s/ James L. Ford
                                                Name: James L. Ford
                                                Title: Vice President


SUNTRUST                                                    Factoring Agreement

SunTrust Bank, Atlanta


To:      Oneita Industries, Inc.                     Date:    December 27, 1995
         4130 Faber Place Drive - Suite 200
         North Charleston, SC 29405

Gentlemen:

     This  agreement  sets out the terms,  provisions and conditions on which we
will act as your factor.

1.  PURCHASE OF ACCOUNTS:

     We will  purchase  from  you  and you  will  sell  to us  certain  accounts
receivable  created by your sales of goods to or  performance  of  services  for
customers  approved by us in amounts  approved by us without recourse to you for
insolvency  or  nonpayment,  after the  goods or  services  have  been  actually
delivered to and finally accepted without claim or dispute by your customer.  An
"account  receivable" or "account"  means any right to payment of the net amount
due from a customer  of all sales of goods or  performance  of  services to such
customer whether performed or yet to be performed. You will tender to us for our
approval or rejection certain of your accounts except those which we have agreed
in  writing  that  you may  exclude.  This  agreement  applies  to all  accounts
heretofore or hereafter purchased by us from you. We may at any time in our sole
discretion  revoke our  approval of any of your  customers or reduce the maximum
amount  which you may bill to any  customer,  but such  revocation  or reduction
shall  neither  affect sales where goods have been shipped or services have been
performed nor render us liable to you or any other person or entity for any loss
or damage sustained by reason thereof.

2.  PAYMENT FOR ACCOUNTS:

     You shall deliver to us immediately  after shipment of goods or performance
of services  either  copies of invoices  sent to your  customers or, at our sole
discretion,  such  other  proof  or  evidence,  including,  without  limitation,
electronic  or  computer  data,  as shall in our sole  judgement  satisfactorily
confirm and  substantiate the creation of an account  receivable,  together with
carriers'  receipts or other  evidence  of  shipment  suitable to us showing the
delivery of goods or services  covered by each invoice.  Upon your request,  and
upon your certification  that an account has been created,  we will remit to you
the net amount of accounts  purchased by us, or such portion  thereof as you may
from time to time request,  less the reserve hereinafter provided for. We may at
any time set off against amounts due you or we may bill you for service charges,
interest, expenses, liability for repurchases, or other items chargeable to you.
We will furnish you with advices of charges set off against amounts due you, and
we will send you a statement  as of the closing of business on the  twenty-fifth
day of each calendar  month or such other closing date as we shall advise you of
from time to time in writing. Should you purchase goods or services from another
of our clients and the account arising from such purchase be sold to us, then we
may at any time without notice to you set off the balance due us on such account
against amounts we owe you.

3.  RESERVE REQUIREMENT:

     Ten percent  (10%) of all unpaid  accounts  purchased by us and one hundred
percent  (100%)  of all such  accounts  which are  disputed  or which you may be
obligated to repurchase  (including,  without  limitation,  any  "client's  risk
account"  as  defined  in  Section  4)  shall  be held by us as cash  collateral
(hereinafter  the  "reserve")  against  which  we  may at any  time  charge  any
liability you may now or hereafter owe us, directly or indirectly. We shall have
the right to change the percentage of unpaid  accounts at which the reserve will
be  maintained  at any time without  notice to you as we in our sole  discretion
shall deem  necessary for our  protection.  Should any notice of  termination of
this agreement be sent by either party or should we terminate  without notice as
provided for herein,  then we may hold one hundred  percent (100%) of all unpaid
accounts as such reserve.  The reserve  required  hereunder  shall be maintained
with us in an account designated as the "Factoring Account".

4.  CLIENT'S RISK ACCOUNTS:

     We may in our sole  discretion  from time to time purchase  accounts  which
arise from sales to  customers  not approved by us or which are offered to us at
or after their maturity,  which shall be known as "client's risk accounts".  Any
client's risk account purchased by us shall be with recourse to you for the full
amount  thereof.  You  shall  repurchase  any  client's  risk  account  from  us
immediately  upon our request,  whether or not such account has matured.  Should
our  purchase  of  the  accounts  of  customers  approved  by us  result  in any
indebtedness  of such  customer  to us in an amount  in excess of the  amount of
credit approved by us, then such amount in excess shall be treated between us as
a client's risk account,  and at our request you shall  reimburse us such amount
in excess, but we shall not return such account to you until it is paid in full.
Any  payment  received by either of us from any source on account of a customer,
regardless of how

<PAGE>


designated,  shall be applied  first to the reduction of the credit risk assumed
by us as to such  customer.  If you purchase or lease from you customer goods or
services and your customer claims a right of set-off,  then the accounts arising
from sales to such customers shall also be client's risk accounts.

5.  TITLE AND SECURITY INTEREST:

     Delivery to us either of any invoice or copy  thereof or of  electronic  or
computer data evidencing an account, upon our acceptance thereof, shall transfer
and convey to us title to such  account and its proceeds and all your rights and
interests  in the goods sold or  services  performed  and all of your rights and
powers under the sales  contract and as unpaid  seller,  including  the right of
replevin,  reclamation  and  stoppage  in  transit.  Upon our  request you shall
deliver to us all  documents  of title in your  control  relating to such goods.
Notwithstanding  your failure to deliver to us either an invoice or copy thereof
or  electronic  or computer  data  evidencing  an account,  as security for your
obligations under this agreement and as security for the prompt repayment of any
indebtedness  to us,  whether now  existing or  hereafter  incurred,  including,
without  limitation,  any  indebtedness  arising from your  purchase of goods or
services  from any client of ours where the account  arising from such  purchase
has been  sold to us,  you  hereby  pledge  and  assign  to us and grant to us a
security interest in all your right, title and interest in and to (i)all of your
accounts  factored by us pursuant to this  agreement;  (ii)all of your  contract
rights  related or incident to such  accounts;  (iii)all of your other rights to
the  payment of money  factored  by us  persuant  to this  agreement  including,
without limitation, rights evidenced by instruments or chattel paper; (iv)all of
your interest of whatever kind and description in goods or inventories, the sale
of which has given rise to an account  factored by us persuant to this agreement
including,  without  limitation,  goods billed to the account debtor and held by
you in  accordance  with  the  applicable  purchase  contract;  (v) all  general
intangibles  arising from or related or incident to any of your  accounts or any
of your  goods or  inventories,  the sale of which has given  rise to an account
factored by us persuant to this  agreement;  (vi)all goods,  documents of title,
policies and certificates of insurance, securities,  instruments, chattel paper,
deposits,  cash  or  other  property  that  are now or may  hereafter  be in our
possession  or as to  which  we  may  now or  hereafter  control  possession  by
documents of title or otherwise;  and (vii)all  proceeds and products of each of
the foregoing  (collectively the "Collateral").  We shall have the right to sell
all or any portion of the  Collateral  at public or private  sale,  the right to
collect  and  take  control  of  any  proceeds  of all  or  any  portion  of the
Collateral,  and all other  rights and  remedies  of a secured  party  under the
Uniform Commercial Code of Georgia. You will on our request execute such further
assignments,  conveyances, financing statements and other written instruments as
we may reasonably request to perfect our title and security interest.

6.  NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT AND COLLECTIONS:

     You shall do all billing, and all invoices shall bear the following legend,
or such other legend as we from time to time in our sole discretion may request:

         This  account  has been  assigned  to and is owned  by  SunTrust  Bank,
         Atlanta.  Payment  of this  account  must be  made  in Par  U.S.  Funds
         directly to  SunTrust  Bank,  Atlanta,  Factoring  Division,  Box 4986,
         Atlanta,  Georgia 30302. If this bill is not found to be correct in all
         respects they must be notified at once.

If  necessary  to perfect our title or security  interest or if requested by us,
each page of your books of accounts  receivable or duplicate invoices shall show
thereon a notation that the accounts therein have been sold to us. We may at any
time in our sole discretion give notice of any sale to any person.  Any proceeds
received by you of an account sold to us shall be immediately forwarded to us in
the identical form in which received.

7.  RETURNED GOODS:

     Should any goods billed to an account purchased by us either be rejected or
returned or be recovered by your through the exercise of the rights of replevin,
reclamation or stoppage in transit,  or otherwise,  you shall immediately pay to
us the net sale price of such goods. Until receipt by us of such net sale price,
you shall  hold such goods in trust for us at your own risk and  expense,  which
goods  shall be  segregated  from all other goods set aside and shall be clearly
marked as our  property.  Upon our request you shall deliver to us all documents
of title in your control  relating to such goods.  In addition to our rights and
remedies  provided  in  Section  5 with  regard to the  Collateral,  we may take
possession  of and sell such goods at public or private sale at your expense for
the purpose of paying your  obligation  to us. Such sale shall  extinguish  your
indebtedness  to us only to the  extent  that the net  proceeds  of the sale are
applied  thereto.  Should you or your agent grant any  allowance or rebate,  you
shall immediately pay us the full amount of such allowance or rebate.

8.  DEDUCTIONS AND DISPUTES:

     Should any customer fail or refuse to pay us the full amount of any invoice
or account or request  an  adjustment  because of any claim or dispute  based on
alleged shortage,  defects,  noncompliance or failure to deliver, set-off or for
any other reason other that the financial inability of such customer to pay, you
shall  immediately  notify us and shall adjust any such dispute or claim at your
own expense.  When we first have  knowledge of a deduction,  claim or dispute we
will give you all information we have pertaining to it, but we shall have


<PAGE>


no further  responsibility  to assist you in settling it. It shall be our policy
to permit  you  thirty  (30)  days  [sixty  (60) days in the case of an  alleged
failure  to  deliver]  from the  earlier  of the date we send  you  notice  of a
deduction,  claim or dispute or the date you otherwise  learn of such deduction,
claim or dispute to effect a settlement.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing  policy
and any extension or leniency which we may grant, if at any time we, in our sole
judgment,  deem it  necessary  for  our  protection,  you  shall  on our  demand
repurchase  a disputed  account or claim from us. We may at any time set off the
claimed or disputed amount of any account, or any part thereof, or the amount of
any client's risk account, or any part thereof, against any amount due you or we
may charge such amount  against  the  reserve or any other  collateral  of yours
which we hold. You will indemnify us for and hold us harmless from any liability
for or expense on account  of any  deduction  or claim of any of your  customers
arising from a  merchandise  dispute or claim.  Any  adjustment  or credit to an
account by you shall be immediately communicated to us, and you shall forward to
us  immediately  an amount  equal to the  difference  between  the amount of the
account before adjustment and its adjusted outstanding balance. Should notice of
termination  of this  agreement be sent by either party for any reason you shall
immediately  repurchase all disputed  accounts from us and pay us the net amount
thereof.  After we have demanded that you  repurchase an invoice or account from
us under this paragraph,  we shall not thereafter be obligated to again purchase
such  invoice  or  account  from you  unless  we  elect to do so after  you have
resolved all deductions, claims and disputes affecting it.

9.  REPURCHASE OF ACCOUNTS:

     When you become  obligated to repurchase  an invoice or account,  you shall
thereupon  be  liable  to us for the net  amount  thereof,  and it shall  not be
necessary  for us to tender  such  invoice or account to you until you have paid
us. We may retain  such  account  and will have a security  interest  therein as
security for your  obligation to pay the repurchase  price,  and we may sell any
such account at public or private sale, collect and take control of any proceeds
of any such account,  or exercise any other remedy  available to us as a secured
party under the Uniform Commercial Code of Georgia and apply the net proceeds of
the disposition of an account to the satisfaction of such repurchase price or to
satisfy any other of your obligations hereunder.

10. EXCESS CREDIT MEMORANDA AND OVERPAYMENTS:

     In the event  that you for any reason  whatsoever  issue in favor of any of
your  customers a credit  memorandum  relating to a specific  account that is in
excess of the amount due on such  account or in the event that we for any reason
whatsoever receive payment on an account from any of your customers in an amount
that is in excess of the amount due on such account,  and such credit memorandum
or overpayment is subsequently  remitted to your by us, then you hereby agree to
indemnify  us for  and  hold  us  harmless  from  any  and  all  claims,  suits,
proceedings,  penalties,  assessments,  costs and expenses of whatever  kind and
description  arising from or relating or incident to the holding and  remittance
of credit  memoranda and  overpayments  pursuant to this  paragraph,  including,
without  limitation,  any and all  claims,  penalties  and  assessments  made or
asserted by any  customer,  by and federal,  state or local  governmental  body,
agency or taxing authority, or by any other person or entity.

11. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES:

     By indicating your acceptance of this agreement your represent, warrant and
covenant that: 

     (a) you currently are and during the term of this agreement  shall continue
to be a  corporation,  partnership or  proprietorship  duly  organized,  validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of your  organization,
and duly qualified and in good standing in every other jurisdiction in which the
conduct of your business or the ownership of property  makes such  qualification
necessary under  applicable law; 

     (b) the  execution,  delivery and  performance of this agreement are within
your  organizational  powers and are not in  contravention  of any law,  rule or
regulation, the terms of your organizational papers or any judgment,  indenture,
agreement or undertaking to which you are a party or by which you or any of your
property is bound;  

     (c) you are and during the term of this agreement shall be the owner of all
your goods and inventories,  and,  without our prior written consent,  you shall
not  create  or  suffer  to exist  any lien or  encumbrance  on or any  security
interest in such goods and  inventories or on or in any other of the Collateral,
other than the security  interest  created in our favor by this  agreement;  

     (d) each account  offered to us for  purchase  under this  agreement  shall
represent a bona fide sale of goods from you or  performance  of services by you
to your customer and, with respect to each such account, you shall be the lawful
owner thereof with good right and title to pledge, assign and sell the same; 

     (e) the net amount  shown on each  invoice  shall be legally  owing by such
customer,  and  payment by the  customer  according  to the terms of the invoice
including,  without  limitation,  payment with any applicable late fee, penalty,
charge of interest,  shall not violate any federal,  state or local law, statue,
rule or regulation;  

     (f) there  shall be no  set-off,  counterclaim  or  defense to the right to
payment of such net amount shown as due on each such invoice;


<PAGE>


     (g) the goods sold under each such invoice shall have been delivered to the
customer  or to a carrier  or,  with our  consent,  shall be held by your  after
billing,  all in accordance with the purchase contract;  

     (h) the  sales  evidenced  by each  such  invoice  shall  not have  been in
violation of any law, governmental  regulation or order; 

     (i) the sales evidenced by each such invoice shall have been approved by us
and our  approval  shall not have  expired or been  revoked by us, or shall have
given rise to an account  that we have  elected  to  purchase  from you under to
Section 4 hereof;  

     (j) an invoice shall have been delivered to the customer and you shall take
such other  steps as  required by the laws of your state to perfect our title to
the account and goods  underlying  it; 

     (k)  during  the  term of this  agreement  we  shall  act as your  sole and
exclusive factor and you shall not sell,  assign,  convey,  or otherwise dispose
of, or create or  suffer  to exist any lien or  encumbrance  on or any  security
interest in, any account to or in favor of any other person or entity.

12. BOOKS AND RECORDS:

     You will keep  adequate  and proper  books and  records  showing all sales,
claims,  allowances and losses on goods sold, and such books and records and all
correspondence and papers relating thereto shall be open for inspection by us or
our agent at all reasonable  times.  Annually  within ninety (90) days after the
close of your  fiscal  year you shall  furnish  us with your  balance  sheet and
related  statement  of profit and loss of such year  certified or reviewed as to
their correctness by an independent  certified public  accountant  acceptable to
us, and you will from time to time  furnish us interim  statements  of condition
and other financial information as we may reasonably require.

13. TAXES:

     Should  any  excise,  sale,  use or  other  tax or levy be  imposed  by any
federal,  state or local authorities requiring deduction or withholding from the
proceeds of sale or account,  or if your  customer is  authorized to withhold or
deduct such tax or levy, then you shall immediately pay us the amount of any tax
or levy so withheld, and you will indemnify us for and hold us harmless from any
loss or expenses on account of such tax.

14. SET OFF:

     Any and all sums at any time owed by us to you or  deposited by you with us
shall at all times  constitute  security for any and all liabilities you may now
or  hereafter  owe  us,  and we may  apply  or set off  such  sums  against  any
liabilities you owe us at any time whether or not such sums are then due.

15. BREACH OF WARRANTY AND AGREEMENTS:

     Should you breach or fail to perform any of your obligations or liabilities
hereunder  and such breach  continue  for ten (10) days after you have notice of
such  breach or notice  thereof  has been sent to you, or should you at any time
breach a warranty  made by you under  Section  11  hereof,  then you will on our
demand  immediately  repurchase  from us all accounts then held by us which were
purchased from you, and you will pay us the full amount thereof with interest at
the highest  legal rate from the date of our demand.  You agree to pay all costs
associated with the collection of such amounts,  including,  without limitation,
fifteen  percent  (15%)  of all such  amounts  due to us as  attorney's  fees if
collected  by or  through  an  attorney-at-law.  Our  forbearance,  consent to a
deviation  from the terms  hereof,  or  failure to  exercise  any right or power
arising because of a breach by you hereunder shall not constitute a waiver as to
any  subsequent  breach,  whether or not we know about such breach,  unless such
right or power shall have been expressly waived by us in writing.

16. OFFER AND ACCEPTANCE:

     This  writing is an offer by us to you which shall remain open for ten (10)
days from the date first above  written,  but after ten (10) days from said date
your acceptance  hereof shall be deemed a counteroffer to us which we can accept
or reject.  Upon your acceptance hereof or our acceptance of your  counteroffer,
then this agreement  shall  constitute the sole agreement  between us concerning
our purchase of your  accounts  effective as of the date first above written and
shall  supersede all prior  agreements  between us on the subject  hereof.  Your
acceptance hereof shall be made by your execution and delivery of this agreement
to us at our office in Atlanta, Georgia, and our acceptance or rejection of your
counteroffer will be made at our office in Atlanta, Georgia.

17. TERMINATION:

     This  agreement  shall  terminate  on February 28, 1996 or upon the earlier
closing of the Revolving  Credit  Facility with SunTrust  Bank,  Atlanta,  First
Union National Bank of South Carolina, and National Westminster Bank USA. We may
terminate at any time without  notice to you should you make an  assignment  for
the benefit of  creditors;  make any  transfer  in bulk and not in the  ordinary
course of business of a major part of your materials, supplies,  merchandise, or
other  inventory;  file a  petition  in  bankruptcy;  petition  or  apply to any
tribunal for the appointment of a custodian, receiver, or any trustee for you or
a  substantial  part of your  assets;  or  commence  any  proceeding  under  any
bankruptcy,  reorganization,  arrangement,  readjustment of debt, dissolution or
liquidation law or statue of any


<PAGE>


jurisdiction,  whether  now or  hereafter  in  effect;  or should you have filed
against  you any such  petition  or  application  or should  you have  commenced
against you any such proceeding and, as a result of such petition or application
or in such proceeding an order for relief is entered or such proceeding  remains
unstayed and  undismissed for a period of thirty (30) days or more; or should we
reasonably  believe you to be  insolvent;  or should you breach any agreement or
warranty or default in the prompt performance of any obligation hereunder.  Upon
the effective date of  termination  our obligation to purchase from you and your
obligation  to sell to us shall cease,  but the terms of this  agreement and the
security  interest  granted herein shall continue in full force and effect until
all of your obligations to us are paid in full.

18. CHOICE OF LAW:

     This agreement is made in Atlanta,  Georgia,  and is to be performed  under
and shall in all respects be governed by and  interpreted in accordance with the
substantive laws of the State of Georgia.  Any terms herein which are defined in
the Uniform Commercial Code of Georgia shall be given the same meaning herein as
in the Code (unless otherwise defined herein).

19. JURISDICTION AND VENUE:

     You agree that any civil suit or action arising from or in any way relating
or incident to this agreement may be brought  against you either in the Superior
Court of Fulton County,  Georgia, or in the United States District Court for the
Northern  District  of Georgia,  Atlanta  Division,  and you hereby  irrevocably
waive,  to the fullest extent  permitted by law, any objections that you may now
or  hereafter  have to the  laying of the venue of any such civil suit or action
and any claim that such civil suit or action has been brought in an inconvenient
forum,  and you  further  agree that final  judgement  in any such civil suit or
action  shall be  conclusive  and binding upon you and may be enforced by a suit
upon such judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction.

20. ATTORNEY-IN-FACT

     You hereby appoint us to be your  attorney-in-fact,  authorized to (i) sign
and execute in your name any transfer,  conveyance or instrument in writing that
may, in our sole judgment,  be necessary or desirable to effect a disposition of
all or any portion of the  Collateral,  (ii) endorse in your name all checks and
drafts  received on an account  that we own or have a security  interest in, and
(iii) do all other  things  that may, in our sole  judgement,  be  necessary  or
desirable  to protect our  security  interest or to carry out the intent of this
agreement.  You hereby ratify and approve,  to the fullest  extent  permitted by
law,  all acts that we, as your  attorney-in-fact,  shall do. You further  agree
that we shall not be liable to you or to any other person or entity for any loss
or  damage  resulting  from any act of  commission  or  omission,  any  error of
judgment,  or any mistake of fact or of law.  This power of  attorney,  which is
coupled  with an  interest,  is  irrevocable  so long  as you are  obligated  or
indebted to us under this agreement.

21. INDEMNITY:

     You hereby agree to protect,  indemnify and hold harmless us and all of our
directors,  officers,  employees  and agents  from and  against  any and all (i)
claims,  demands  and causes of action of any nature  whatsoever  brought by any
third party and arising  from or related or  incident  to this  agreement,  (ii)
costs and expenses incident to the defense of such claims, demands and causes of
action  including,  without  limitation,  reasonable  attorney's  fees and court
costs, and (iii) liabilities,  judgments, settlements, penalties and assessments
arising from such claims,  demands and causes of action. The indemnity contained
in this paragraph shall survive the termination of this agreement.

22. HEADINGS:

     The headings used in this  agreement are for your  convenience to generally
identify  the subject  matter of each  section,  but they are not a part of this
agreement and are not a  representation  that different  subject matter does not
appear in a section.

23. INTEREST AND FACTORING SERVICE CHARGES:

     In  consideration  of the  services  and  risks  undertaken  by us in  this
agreement,  you will pay us the  following  service  charges  and the  following
interest  calculated  on the basis of a 360 day year and  computed  at a rate of
interest equal in amount to the greater of eight percent (8%) per annum or LIBOR
plus 2.25%, with any change in the rate of interest resulting in a change in the
LIBOR Rate being effective as of the opening of business on the 26th day of each
calendar  month  based upon the LIBOR Rate in effect at the close of business on
the 25th day of said calendar  month,  and remaining in effect up to the opening
of business on the 26th day of the next succeeding calendar month.

FACTORING SERVICE CHARGE 
          0.40% on all daily factored sales.


<PAGE>

INTEREST CHARGE:

Interest  calculated on the basis of the Average Net Daily  Outstandings  (ANDO)
Method shall be charged on the average net daily balance of advances made to you
pursuant to paragraph 2 of this agreement,  including a three (3) day collection
period, and shall be payable monthly on the 25th day of each calendar month.

24. FACTORING MANUAL:

     Contemporaneously  with this letter we have  delivered to you a copy of the
SunTrust Bank,  Atlanta,  Factoring  Division  Operating Manual,  which has been
created to acquaint you with our procedures,  policies, reports and terminology.
It is important for you and your personnel to be familiar with the manual and to
keep it any amendments and revisions to it for your future reference.

25. SPECIAL PROVISIONS:

     The  following are special  terms and  provisions  which are a part of this
letter  agreement  and prevail  over any printed  provisions  to the contrary or
inconsistent  therewith:  (a) We will  impose a 0.50%  surcharge  upon  accounts
receivable due from any customer that we deem to be high-risk.  Attached  hereto
and  marked  "Exhibit  A" is a list of  customers  upon which the  surcharge  is
currently being imposed.  We may from time to time add or delete  customers from
this list by giving you written notice of such addition or deletion. If you sell
to us any  accounts  receivable  due from any  customers  appearing  on the then
current list, you will be deemed to have agreed to pay the applicable surcharge.
We retain the right to decline the purchase of accounts  receivable that are due
from any customer upon which a surcharge is being  imposed.  (b) This  Factoring
Agreement  shall  also be  governed  by the  letter  concerning  sharing of risk
attached  hereto as Exhibit B. (c) The  legend  required  by Section 6 hereof is
suspended  until  further  notice by us.  While such  notice is  suspended,  all
payments by account debtors shall be made to a lockbox maintained by us.

                                                Yours very truly,
                                                SunTrust Bank, Atlanta
                                                Factoring Division

                                             by: /s/ Thomas S. Matthesen
                                                 Thomas S. Matthesen
                                                 First Vice President

                                             by:

Accepted this 27th day of December, 1995

Oneita Industries, Inc.
4130 Faber Place Drive, Suite 200
North Charleston, SC 29405

by:      /s/ Willim H. Boyd, V.P.
         authorized signature

by:      /s/ E. Frank Impson Jr. - V.P.
         authorized signature






                             ONEITA INDUSTRIES, INC.
              Statement Regarding Computation of Per Share Earnings
              For the Years Ended September 30, 1995, 1994 and 1993
                    (In thousands, except per share amounts)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                           Years Ended September 30,
                                                    1995              1994           1993
                                                    --------------------------------------
Net income (loss) per share:

   <S>                                              <C>               <C>             <C>

   Net income (loss)                                $2,820              $(6,821)           $(2,977)
                                                    =======             ========           ========

   Shares:
     Weighted average shares                         6,922                6,961              6,753
     Add shares related to dilutive effect of
       outstanding stock options                        62                   18                143
                                                    -------               ------            ------
     Weighted average number of shares outstanding   6,984                6,979              6,896
                                                    =======               ======            =======

   Net income (loss) per share                        $.40               $ (.98)             $(.43)
                                                    =======              =======            =======

</TABLE>




CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

As independent public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the use of our report,
dated November 17, 1995, included in Oneita Industries,  Inc.'s Form 10K for the
year ended  September  30, 1995,  and to the  incorporation  by reference of our
report into the Company's  previously filed Registration  Statements on Form S-8
(Registration  No.  33-30576,  33-34778,  33-62970  and  33-75834)  and Form S-3
Registration Statements  (Registration Nos. 33-88600 and. 33-70524),  and to all
references to our Firm included in these Registration Statements.



/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP


Columbia, South Carolina,
     December 22, 1995.




<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     The Schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
condensed consolidated financial statements for the year ended September 30,
1995 in its entirety by reference to such statements.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              SEP-30-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1995
<CASH>                                         2,749,000
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  32,894,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                   971,000
<INVENTORY>                                    79,968,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               119,405,000
<PP&E>                                         70,800,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                 27,040,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 165,017,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          46,501,000
<BONDS>                                        37,404,000
<COMMON>                                       1,750,000
                          0
                                    0
<OTHER-SE>                                     76,090,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   165,017,000
<SALES>                                        175,036,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               175,036,000
<CGS>                                          146,820,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  146,820,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               20,838,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               150,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             3,006,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                4,372,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                   1,552,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            2,820,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   2,820,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.40
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.40
        


</TABLE>


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