
<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM BLAIR
CORPORATION'S 12/31/97 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH YEAR END, 1997 10-K FILING FOR BLAIR CORPORATION.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000071525
<NAME> BLAIR CORPORATION
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                       3,468,483
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                              157,636,096<F1>
<ALLOWANCES>                                38,479,888
<INVENTORY>                                 78,727,409
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           256,632,932
<PP&E>                                     103,265,268
<DEPRECIATION>                              51,322,255
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             309,497,568
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       95,385,522
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       419,810
<OTHER-SE>                                 212,009,236<F2>
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               309,497,568
<SALES>                                    486,581,737
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           526,513,314
<CGS>                                      242,828,539
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              505,622,386
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                            32,222,092
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           4,102,148
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             20,890,928
<INCOME-TAX>                                 7,637,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         13,253,928
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                13,253,928
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.45
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.45
<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>
