UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT


     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 18, 2001



                          COLLINS & AIKMAN CORPORATION
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             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



                                    DELAWARE
             ------------------------------------------------------
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)



            1-10218                                        13-3489233
-----------------------------------           ---------------------------------
     (Commission File Number)                 (IRS Employer Identification No.)




                    5755 New King Court, Troy, Michigan 48098
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               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)


                                 (248) 824-2500
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              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                                       N/A
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          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)



                                   Page 1 of 3
                             Exhibit Index at Page 3

<PAGE>

ITEM 5.
                                  OTHER EVENTS

      On April 18, 2001 Collins & Aikman Corporation issued a news release
announcing that it has signed a letter of intent to acquire the automotive
fabric operations of Joan Fabrics Corporation and all of the operating assets in
Joan Fabrics Corporation's affiliated yarn dying operation, Western Avenue
Dyers, L.P. A copy of the news release is attached hereto as an exhibit and
hereby incorporated into and made a part hereof.

ITEM 7.
                                    EXHIBITS

(c)
      EXHIBIT NO.                           EXHIBIT

         99                     News Release of Collins & Aikman
                                Corporation dated April 18, 2001.



                                    SIGNATURE

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


Date:  April 25, 2001             COLLINS & AIKMAN CORPORATION
                                  (Registrant)



                                  By: /S/ RONALD T. LINDSAY
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Ronald T. Lindsay
                                      Senior Vice President,
                                        General Counsel and Secretary














                                        2

<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



      EXHIBIT NO.                           EXHIBIT

         99                     News Release of Collins & Aikman
                                Corporation dated April 18, 2001.









































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