EXHIBIT 99


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


CONTACTS:
Media:    Aaron Stowell
(248) 824-1656
aaron.stowell@colaik.com
Analysts: Sandra A. Thomas
(248) 824-1645
sandy.thomas@colaik.com


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


               COLLINS & AIKMAN SIGNS LETTER OF INTENT TO ACQUIRE
                 AUTOMOTIVE FABRIC OPERATIONS FROM JOAN FABRICS


      TROY, MICH - Collins & Aikman Corporation (NYSE: CKC) announced today that
it has signed a letter of intent to acquire the automotive fabric operations of
Joan Fabrics (Joan), a leading supplier of bodycloth to the automotive industry,
and all of the operating assets in Joan's affiliated yarn dying operation,
Western Avenue Dyers (WAD). For fiscal 2000, Joan and WAD had combined EBITDA of
approximately $27 million, and total sales - including non-automotive sales, of
approximately $265 million. Consideration is expected to include $100 million in
cash and 12,760,000 shares of Collins & Aikman common stock. Completion of the
transaction is subject to normal terms and conditions, including negotiation of
definitive documentation, and is expected to close within the next several
months. The transaction is anticipated to significantly enhance Collins &
Aikman's automotive fabric capabilities, which should enable the company to
provide its fabric customers with lower costs, while simultaneously enhancing
customer service, product design, delivery, scheduling and coordination.


      Upon completion of the transaction, Elkin McCallum, principal owner of
Joan Fabrics, will join the Collins & Aikman Board of Directors. McCallum is a
skilled and successful veteran of the automotive fabric industry, who brings to
the combined companies extensive product knowledge coupled with strong customer
and supplier relationships.


      "Similar to our recently announced Becker transaction, the pending
acquisition of Joan is another important component in building our position as a
Mega Tier 2 supplier," stated Thomas E. Evans, Collins & Aikman's Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer. "Combining Joan's automotive operations with Collins &
Aikman's will create - in one integrated company - a world-class manufacturer of
automotive woven and knit fabric, with broad capabilities in fabric styling,
development, production and finishing technologies. Very importantly, we
envision this combination creating significant efficiencies for our automotive
fabric operations, as we join together the "best-of-the-best" in terms of
automotive textile people, plants and equipment."


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      Evans continued, "Through operational synergies, more efficient new
product creation and all the years of automotive fabric experience that Elkin
McCallum and his team bring to us, we see the combination of Joan and Collins &
Aikman creating significant benefits for all of our global fabric
customers--which is why we're so very excited about this growth opportunity."


      Collins & Aikman Corporation, with annual sales approaching $2 billion, is
the global leader in automotive floor and acoustic systems and is a leading
supplier of automotive fabric, interior trim and convertible top systems. The
Company's operations span the globe through 72 facilities, 13 countries and
nearly 15,000 employees who are committed to achieving total excellence. Collins
& Aikman's high-quality products combine industry-leading design and styling
capabilities, superior manufacturing capabilities and the industry's most
effective NVH "quiet" technologies. Information about Collins & Aikman is
available on the Internet at www.collinsaikman.com.


      This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may
differ materially from the anticipated results because of certain risks and
uncertainties, including but not limited to general economic conditions in the
markets in which Collins & Aikman operates, fluctuations in the production of
vehicles for which the Company is a supplier, labor disputes involving the
Company or its significant customers, changes in consumer preferences,
dependence on significant automotive customers, the level of competition in the
automotive supply industry, pricing pressure from automotive customers, the
substantial leverage of the Company and its subsidiaries, limitations imposed by
the Company's debt facilities, charges made in connection with the integration
of operations acquired by the Company, the implementation of the reorganization
plan, changes in the popularity of particular car models or particular interior
trim packages, the loss of programs on particular car models, risks associated
with conducting business in foreign countries and other risks detailed from time
to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings including
without limitation, in Items 1 and 7 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year-ended December 31, 2000, and Item 1 in the Company's Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the periods ended April 1, 2000, July 1, 2000 and
September 30, 2000.

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