
<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM BLAIR
CORPORATIONS' 3/31/96 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FIRST QUARTER, 1996 10-Q FILING FOR BLAIR CORPORATION.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000071525
<NAME> BLAIR CORPORATION
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                       6,364,732
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                              201,591,814<F1>
<ALLOWANCES>                                52,984,248
<INVENTORY>                                 84,401,076
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           314,465,209
<PP&E>                                      98,184,604
<DEPRECIATION>                              42,663,913
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             371,025,861
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       80,210,641
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       419,810
<OTHER-SE>                                 208,388,410<F2>
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               371,025,861
<SALES>                                    140,727,028
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           151,820,114
<CGS>                                       69,823,696
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              141,433,220
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                             9,929,165
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           1,294,327
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             10,386,894
<INCOME-TAX>                                 3,964,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          6,422,894
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 6,422,894
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .69
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .69
<FN>
<F1>AMOUNT REPRESENTS NET ACCOUNT RECEIVABLES.
<F2>AMOUNT INCLUDES ADDITIONAL PAID-IN CAPITAL, RETAINED EARNINGS, TREASURY
STOCK, AND THE EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN RECEIVABLE.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>
