WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                   FORM 12B-25

                                            Commission File Number     001-11368


                           NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING

     (Check One):  [X] Form 10-K   [ ] Form 11-K  [ ] Form 20-F  [ ]  Form 10-Q
[ ] Form N-SAR

        For Period Ended:    DECEMBER 27, 1998                                  

[ ]  Transition  Report  on  Form  10-K  [ ]  Transition  Report  on Form 10-Q
[ ]  Transition  Report  on  Form  20-F  [ ]  Transition  Report  on Form  N-SAR
[ ]  Transition Report on Form 11-K

        For the Transition Period Ended:                                        

        READ ATTACHED  INSTRUCTION  SHEET BEFORE PREPARING FORM. PLEASE PRINT OR
TYPE.

        Nothing in this form shall be construed to imply that the Commission has
verified any information contained herein.

        If the  notification  relates to a portion of the filing  checked above,
identify the Item(s) to which the notification relates:


                         PART I. REGISTRANT INFORMATION

Full name of registrant:    PARAGON TRADE BRANDS, INC.                          
Former name if applicable
Address of principal executive office (STREET AND NUMBER)
                             180 TECHNOLOGY PARKWAY                             
City, State and Zip Code     NORCROSS, GEORGIA  30092                           


                        PART II. RULE 12B-25 (B) AND (C)

        If the subject report could not be filed without  unreasonable effort or
expense  and  the  registrant  seeks  relief  pursuant  to Rule  12b-25(b),  the
following should be completed. (Check appropriate box.)

[X]     (a) The reasons  described in reasonable detail in Part III of this form
        could not be eliminated without unreasonable effort or expense;

[X]     (b) The subject annual report,  semi-annual report, transition report on
        Form 10-K, 20-F, 11-K or Form N-SAR, or portion thereof will be filed on
        or before the 15th calendar day following  the  prescribed  due date; or
        the  subject  quarterly  report or  transition  report on Form 10-Q,  or
        portion  thereof  will be filed on or  before  the  fifth  calendar  day
        following the prescribed due date; and

[ ]     (c) The  accountant's  statement  or  other  exhibit  required  by  Rule
        12(b)-25(c) has been attached if applicable.






                               PART III. NARRATIVE

        State below in reasonable  detail the reasons why Form 10-K, 11-K, 20-F,
10-Q,  N-SAR or the transition  report portion thereof could not be filed within
the prescribed time period. (Attach extra sheets if needed.)

        Due to the conversion of its operating and accounting  systems beginning
in November  1998, the closing of  Registrant's  books for the fiscal year ended
December  27, 1998 has been  delayed,  which has  resulted  in the  Registrant's
inability to complete  its  financial  statements  in time to file the Report on
Form 10-K on March 29, 1999.



                           PART IV. OTHER INFORMATION

        (1)  Name  and  telephone  number of person to contact in regard to this
notification

               ALAN J. CYRON                        (678)          969-5200
                  (Name)                         (Area code)  (Telephone number)

        (2) Have all other periodic  reports  required under Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30 of the Investment  Company
Act of 1940 during the  preceding 12 months or for such shorter  period that the
registrant was required to file such report(s) been filed?  If the answer is no,
identify report(s).
                                                              [X]  Yes  [  ]  No

        (3)  Is it  anticipated  that  any  significant  change  in  results  of
operations  from the  corresponding  period  for the last  fiscal  year  will be
reflected by the  earnings  statements  to be included in the subject  report or
portion thereof?
                                                              [X]  Yes  [  ]  No

        If so: attach an explanation of the anticipated change, both narratively
and  quantitatively,  and, if  appropriate,  state the reasons why a  reasonable
estimate of the results cannot be made.




                           PARAGON TRADE BRANDS, INC.
                  (Name of registrant as specified in charter)

Has  caused  this  notification  to be signed on its  behalf by the  undersigned
thereunto duly authorized.

Date:   MARCH 29, 1999              By:            /S/ ALAN J. CYRON            
       ---------------                      ------------------------------------
                                    Title: Alan J. Cyron
                                    Name:   Chief Financial Officer




                                      -2-



                                                       ATTACHMENT TO FORM 12b-25

Results of Operations for the Registrant's  1997 fiscal year reflected a reserve
of $200 million taken by the  Registrant in  connection  with an adverse  patent
judgment  issued in the Federal  District  Court for the District of Delaware on
December  30, 1997 (the  "Delaware  Judgment")  in favor of The Procter & Gamble
Company ("P&G"). Results of Operations for the Registrant's 1998 fiscal year are
expected  to  reflect an  additional  reserve  of $78.5  million  related to the
settlement of both of P&G's and Kimberly-Clark  Corporation's  ("K-C") claims in
the Registrant's  Chapter 11 case in the United States  Bankruptcy Court for the
Northern  District of  Georgia,  Atlanta  Division.  The P&G  settlement,  which
includes a settlement  of P&G's claims  related to the  Delaware  Judgment,  was
disclosed  by the  Registrant  in a Form 8-K dated  February 5, 1999 and the K-C
settlement was disclosed by the Registrant in a Form 8-K dated March 26, 1999.











                                      -3-