
<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM BLAIR
CORPORATION'S 3/31/98 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FIRST QUARTER, 1998 10-Q FILING FOR BLAIR CORPORATION.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000071525
<NAME> BLAIR CORPORATION
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                      10,985,979
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                              149,490,002<F1>
<ALLOWANCES>                                36,498,410
<INVENTORY>                                 89,844,666
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           268,348,152
<PP&E>                                     103,555,382
<DEPRECIATION>                              52,560,720
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             320,246,377
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      103,323,786
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       419,810
<OTHER-SE>                                 214,934,781<F2>
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               320,246,377
<SALES>                                    115,886,876
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           126,812,465
<CGS>                                       56,915,445
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              117,950,115
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                             5,528,778
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             575,876
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              8,862,350
<INCOME-TAX>                                 3,344,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          5,518,350
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 5,518,350
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .61
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .61
<FN>
<F1>AMOUNT REPRESENTS NET ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE.
<F2>AMOUNT INCLUDES ADDITIONAL PAID-IN CAPITAL, RETAINED EARNINGS, TREASURY 
STOCK, AND THE EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN RECEIVABLE.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>
