
<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM BLAIR
CORPORATION'S 6/30/98 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH SECOND QUARTER, 1998 10-Q FILING FOR BLAIR CORPORATION.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000071525
<NAME> BLAIR CORPORATION
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                       6,374,359
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                              147,046,253<F1>
<ALLOWANCES>                                37,179,593
<INVENTORY>                                 81,598,067
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           251,179,421
<PP&E>                                     103,777,511
<DEPRECIATION>                              53,713,160
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             302,129,274
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       81,230,859
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       419,810
<OTHER-SE>                                 218,997,605<F2>
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               302,129,274
<SALES>                                    242,613,611
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           263,118,488
<CGS>                                      118,156,653
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              242,826,399
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                            11,316,607
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           1,059,594
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             20,292,089
<INCOME-TAX>                                 7,682,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         12,610,089
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                12,610,089
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.41
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.41
<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>
