BURLINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.

major American textile manufacturer, producing finished and unfinished fabrics, yarns, rugs, upholstery fabrics, and linens and other home accessories. Headquarters are in Greensboro, N.C. The company was incorporated as Burlington Mills, Inc., in 1923 when J. Spencer Love acquired a mill in the Burlington, N.C., area. His company grew rapidly, soon growing to 30 textile mills. In 1937 the corporate name was changed to Burlington Mills Corporation. In 1955 the name was changed to Burlington Industries to reflect the company's more diversified product line. In 1960 Burlington entered the carpet industry and in 1966 added furniture to its products. Further diversification followed. The company's growth has always been dependent on changing fashions, and, to some extent, has paralleled the development of synthetic fabrics. When the company was founded, cotton fabrics were becoming less fashionable. Burlington moved quickly to begin production of the synthetic fabric rayon, and the company soon dominated the rayon market. By 1974, however, production of synthetics had fallen because of the worldwide shortage of the petroleum-based materials needed to make them. Burlington capitalized on the situation by shifting to the manufacture of polyester-cotton fabrics, blends of synthetic and natural fibres. The company has diversified broadly since its founding. It sells both fabric and finished products, including clothes, towels, sheets, carpets, and draperies. It is a major clothing and home furnishing supplier for such retailers as Sears, Roebuck and Company and J.C. Penney Company, and it produces its own lines of furniture and lighting fixtures.