
<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM BLAIR
CORPORATION'S 9/30/98 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH THIRD QUARTER, 1998 10-Q FILING FOR BLAIR CORPORATION.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000071525
<NAME> BLAIR CORPORATION
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                       7,477,532
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                              144,783,814<F1>
<ALLOWANCES>                                37,318,798
<INVENTORY>                                115,076,089
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           292,769,957
<PP&E>                                     104,340,193
<DEPRECIATION>                              54,891,360
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             343,086,231
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      120,964,858
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       419,810
<OTHER-SE>                                 220,280,563<F2>
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               343,086,231
<SALES>                                    354,486,140
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           387,460,531
<CGS>                                      175,840,448
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              364,863,987
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                            16,372,456
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           1,508,575
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             22,596,544
<INCOME-TAX>                                 7,398,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         15,198,544
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                15,198,544
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.70
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.70
<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>
