EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of December 21, 1993 (this "Agreement"),
between SALANT CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, (the "Corporation"),
and ELLIOT M. LAVIGNE (the "Employee").

WHEREAS, the Employee and the Corporation are now parties to an
Employment Agreement dated as of May 1, 1991(the "Prior Employment
Agreement"), which expires by its terms on April 30 1994, and the
Employee and the Corporation wish to cancel such Agreement and enter
into a new employment agreement;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:

Section 1.  Certain Definitions.  When used in this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings will be
applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

"Affiliate" shall mean any natural person, firm, corporation,
partnership or other legal entity that, directly or indirectly,
controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the
Corporation.

"Fiscal Year" shall mean the fiscal year of the Corporation.

"PEM" shall mean the Perry Ellis Men's Division of the Corporation.

"Person" shall mean any natural person, corporation, partnership, trust,
association, governmental authority or unit, or any other entity,
whether acting in an individual, fiduciary or other capacity.

Section 2. Prior Employment Agreement.  The Prior Employment Agreement
is hereby cancelled by mutual consent.

Section 3.  Nature of Employee's Services.  The Corporation agrees to
employ the Employee and the Employee agrees to serve the Corporation as
Executive Vice President - Marketing, of the Corporation and Chairman of
PEM, or with such other corporate title as may be designated, from time
to time, by the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation.  The
Employee shall perform such services and duties as shall be assigned to
him or delegated to him, from time to time, by the Board of Directors of
the Corporation (the "Board of Directors"), the Executive Committee of
the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation
during the Employment Period (as hereinafter defined).  The Employee's
duties shall include, without additional compensation, the performance
of similar services for any subsidiaries of the Corporation.  The
Employee agrees that, except as otherwise provided herein, he shall
devote substantially all of his business time, attention and energy to
the business of the Corporation and its subsidiaries in the advancement
of the best interests of the Corporation and its subsidiaries.  The
Employee will perform his duties hereunder principally in the
metropolitan New York area.  During the Employment Period it shall not
be a violation of this Agreement for the Employee to (a) serve on
corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees, (b) deliver
lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educational
institutions and (c) subject to Section 12 hereof, manage personal
investments, so long as such activities do not interfere with the
performance of Employee's responsibilities as an employee of the
Corporation in accordance with this Agreement.

Section 4.  Term of Employment.  The term of the Employee's employment
hereunder shall become effective on January 3, 1994 and, unless
terminated earlier pursuant to Section 10 hereof, shall terminate on 
December 31, 1996 (the initial term of the Employee's employment being
hereinafter referred to as the "Basic Term"), except that, commencing on
the expiration date of the Basic Term, and on each anniversary
thereafter, the term  of employment may be extended for an additional
year on the terms set forth in this Agreement if, not later than 120
days preceding the expiration date of the Basic Term or each succeeding
year-to-year extension of the term of employment pursuant to this
Section 4 (together, the Basic Term and the cumulative year-to-year
extensions of the term of employment are hereinafter referred to as the
"Employment Period") the Corporation shall have given written notice to
the Employee that it wishes to extend the term of employment (the
"Extension Notice"), and the Employee shall accept the extension of the
term of employment within 30 days from the date the Extension Notice was
sent by the Corporation to the Employee.

Section 5.  Annual Compensation.  Subject to the terms hereof, the
Corporation agrees to pay to the Employee, subject to all applicable
laws and requirements, including, without limitation, laws with respect
to withholding of federal, state or local taxes:

(a) Salary.  An annual salary at the rate of $475,000 per year during
the first Fiscal Year of the Basic Term, $550,000 per year during the
second Fiscal Year of the Basic Term and $600,000 per year during the
third fiscal year of the Basic Term and the balance of the Employment
Period, subject to increase (after the expiration of the Basic Term),
from time to time, in the discretion of the Board of Directors (the
"Salary"), payable in equal semi-monthly installments.

(b) Corporate Incentive Compensation.  Corporate incentive compensation,
payable in accordance with the Corporation's customary practices for
executive employees, based upon the schedule comparing the Corporation's
performance during each Fiscal Year which ends within the Employment
Period to operating targets for each such Fiscal Year, which schedule is
set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto. 

(c)  PEM Bonus.  The Corporation agrees to pay to the Employee in
respect of each Fiscal Year during the Employment Period, commencing
with the Fiscal Year of the Corporation ending on or about December 31,
1993, an annual bonus during the Employment Period in an amount equal to
five (5%) per cent of the Pre Tax Income of PEM.

The following principles shall apply in calculating the Pre Tax Income
of PEM which term shall mean the aggregate income  of PEM before
provision for the following: (i) all Federal, State and local income
taxes thereon; (ii) all royalty income (iii) all foreign income and (iv)
all income received from Perry Ellis International, Inc.  In calculating
such Pre Tax Income, all items of income and deductions shall be
determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
applied on a consistent basis in a manner consistent with their
application to other divisions and subsidiaries of the Corporation,
subject, however, to the provisions of the following subparagraphs: 

(i) There shall be excluded from income:  all extraordinary or
nonrecurring items of income such as gains and losses on the sale of
fixed assets or intangible assets; all insurance recoveries other than
from business interruption; non-recurring gains or losses including,
without limitation, gains or losses on the termination of any employee
benefit plans or gains or losses realized on the sale of quota or other
intangibles.

(ii) Deductions from income shall include all fixed charges and
reasonable provisions for depreciation, amortization and obsolescence,
inventory write-offs and the salary and bonus payable to the Employee
hereunder.  Interest shall be charged and deducted in calculating the
Pre Tax Income of PEM.  Interest on all funds provided or advanced to
PEM shall be charged at the same rate as the Corporation charges
interest expense to its other divisions.

(iii) Deductions shall be made from income in determining the Pre Tax
Income of PEM for the fair value of all services provided by the
Corporation for PEM whether obtained from third parties or provided by
employees of the Corporation.

For purposes of calculating any bonus payable to the Employee during the
Employment Period, Pre Tax Income shall continue to be reduced by the
amount of the royalties that would have been payable by PEM (and the
Corporation) to Perry Ellis International, Inc. at the respective
royalty percentage rates in effect on December 31, 1990 (for example, 6%
of net sales on men's dress shirts) not withstanding that such royalty
percentage rates have been reduced as part of a settlement of certain
outstanding differences between the Corporation and Perry Ellis
International, Inc.

(d) Minimum Compensation . Provided that the Employment Period has not
terminated pursuant to Section 10(d) hereof, the Employee shall receive
a minimum compensation 
(inclusive of the bonuses set forth in Sections 5(b) and 5(c) hereof)
for each Fiscal Year of the Employment Period of 
$910,000.

(e) Payment of Bonuses.  Each bonus, including the bonuses set forth in
Section 5(b) and 5(c) hereof, shall be paid by the Corporation to the
Employee within ninety (90) days after the end of the Fiscal Year for
which such bonus is payable.  If the employment of the Employee is
terminated (other than pursuant to Section 10(d) hereof) or if the
Employment Period terminates on a day other than the last day of a
Fiscal Year, the bonus amount payable shall be the amount to which the
Employee would have been entitled had his employment continued for all
of that Fiscal Year, prorated by the proportion that (x) the number of
days from the beginning of such Fiscal Year to the date of termination
of the Employment Period bears to (y) 365.

Section 6.  Stock Options.  The Corporation shall grant to the Employee
nonqualified stock options to purchase 100,000 shares of common stock,
par value $1.00 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Corporation
pursuant to the Corporation's 1987 Stock Plan, 1988 Stock Plan and/or
1993 Stock Plan at such time as shares of Common Stock become available. 
The stock options shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth
in the Corporation's 1987 Stock Plan, 1988 Stock Plan and/or 1993 Stock
Plan, as the case may be, and an agreement or agreements to be entered
into, pursuant to the applicable plan or plans, between the Corporation
and the Employee.  Such agreement or agreements will provide, among
other things, that the purchase price per share of Common Stock subject
to the options will be an amount equal to the Fair Market Value (as such
term is defined in the Corporation's 1987 Stock Plan, 1988 Stock Plan
and/or the 1993 Stock Plan, as the case may be) of the Common Stock on
the date the options are granted and that the options will vest with
respect to 33-1/3% of the shares of Common Stock subject to the options
upon each of the first three anniversaries of the date on which the
options are granted.

Section 7.  Loans to Employee.  

(a) Prior Loan.  Employee is presently indebted to the Corporation in
the amount of $450,000 as evidenced by a Promissory Note, dated May 1,
1991 (the "Old Note").  Interest is payable by the Employee on the
entire unpaid principal balance of the Old Note at the prime rate in
effect from time to time at Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company plus one
and one half (1- 1/2%) percent per annum.  The Corporation agrees that
it will not demand payment on the Old Note prior to the earlier to occur
of; (i) March 1, 1994; or (ii) the date that the Employee is no longer
employed by the Corporation.

The Corporation and the Employee acknowledge that the planned Pre Tax
Income budget for PEM for the 1991, 1992 and 1993 fiscal years was as
follows:

     1991 - $  8,574,000
     1992 - $ 11,181,000
     1993 - $ 15,291,000
            $ 35,046,000

(i) If PEM achieves total Pre Tax Income for the three Fiscal Years
1991, 1992 and 1993 of at least 90% of $35,046,000, but not more than
94% of $35,046,000, the Corporation agrees on March 1, 1994, to forgive
$150,000 of the principal indebtedness of the Old Note;

(ii) If PEM achieves total Pre Tax Income for the three Fiscal Years
1991, 1992, and 1993 of more than 95% of $35,046,000, but not more than
100% of $35,046,000, the Corporation agrees on March 1, 1994 to forgive
$200,000 of the principal indebtedness of the Old Note;

(iii) If PEM achieves total Pre Tax Income for the three Fiscal Years
1991, 1992 and 1993 of at least $35,046,000 but not more than 105% of
$35,046,000, the Corporation agrees, on March 1, 1994, to forgive the
entire principal amount of the Old Note plus all interest accrued
thereon and to pay to the Employee a super achievement bonus of
$150,000;

(iv) If PEM achieves total Pre Tax Income for the three Fiscal Years
1991, 1992 and 1993 of more than 105% of $35,046,000, but not more than
110% of $35,046,000, the Corporation agrees, on March 1, 1994, to
forgive the entire principal amount of the Old Note plus all interest
accrued thereon and to pay to the Employee a super achievement bonus of
$175,000; and

(v) If PEM achieves total Pre Tax Income for the three Fiscal Years
1991, 1992 and 1993 of, more than 110% of $35,046,000, the Corporation
agrees, on March 1, 1994, to forgive the entire principal amount of the
Old Note plus all interest accrued thereon and to pay to the Employee a
super achievement bonus of $250,000.

(b) New Loan.  Simultaneously with the execution of this Employment
Agreement, the Corporation is advancing the Employee an additional
$750,000 and the Employee is executing a Demand Promissory Note (the
"New Note") payable to the order of the Corporation.  Interest is
payable by the Employee on the entire unpaid principal balance of the
Note at the prime rate in effect from time to time at Chemical Bank plus
one and one half (1-1/2%) percent per annum.  The Corporation agrees
that it will not demand payment on the New Note prior to the earlier to
occur of; (i) December 31, 1996; or (ii) the date that the Employee is
no longer employed by the Corporation.  

If the Corporation's total operating income (before amortization of
intangibles and after reserve for contingencies)("Operating Income"), as
shown on its audited financial statements for the three Fiscal Years
1994, 1995, and 1996 ("Actual Operating Income") is greater than the sum
of (i) the aggregate amount of Operating Income provided for in the
Corporation's annual business plan for each of those Fiscal Years and
(ii) the outstanding principal of and accrued interest on the New Note
(together, the "Overachievement"), the Corporation shall forgive such
portion of the outstanding principal of and accrued interest on the New
Note to the extent of the Overachievement.  The Corporation shall apply
any Overachievement to the accrued and unpaid interest on the New Note
before applying funds to the outstanding principal. 

For purposes of this Section 7(b), Actual Operating Income shall be
calculated without giving effect to unusual or nonrecurring items of
income or expense. 

Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary, the Employee must be
employed by the Corporation at the end of the 1996 Fiscal Year for the
Corporation to forgive any portion of the outstanding principal of and
accrued interest on the New Note; provided, however, that in the case of
a termination pursuant to Sections 10(b) or 10(c) hereof, the
Corporation shall forgive such portion of the outstanding principal of
and accrued interest on the New Note to the extent of the
Overachievement for the three year period, prorated by the portion that
the number of months of employment completed by the Employee during such
three year period bears to thirty-six (36); and provided, further, that
if the Corporation terminates the Employment Period prior to the end of
the 1996 Fiscal Year without cause, the Corporation shall forgive the
entire outstanding principal of and accrued interest on the New Note. 

Section 8.  Employee Benefit Plans.  The Employee shall, during the
Employment Period, be eligible to participate in and receive benefits
under and in accordance with the provisions of any pension plan, welfare
plan or other similar plan or policy of the Corporation maintained for
the benefit of its employees (together, the "Benefit Plans") in which he
now participates, and the Employee shall be entitled to continue to
participate in such plans (or any successors thereto) during the
Employment Period, to the extent permitted by the respective terms
thereof.  In the event any new Benefit Plan is established which is in
addition to, and not an alternative to, any Benefit Plan in which the
Employee now participates, the Employee shall be entitled to participate
in such Benefit Plan to the extent permitted by the terms thereof.  The
Corporation will not take any action directed solely at the Employee,
with respect to the Benefit Plans or the Employee's participation in the
Benefit Plans, that results in a material adverse change from the
benefits the Employee now enjoys.  The Corporation shall have the right,
however, to make changes in Benefit Plans  applicable to its senior
executives or employees generally and the Employee agrees that such
changes shall also be applicable to the Employee.

Section 9.  Expenses.  Subject to compliance by the Employee with such
policies regarding expenses and expense reimbursement as may be adopted
from time to time by the Corporation, the Employee is authorized to
incur reasonable expenses in the performance of his duties hereunder in
the furtherance of the business of the Corporation and its subsidiaries,
and the Corporation shall reimburse the Employee for all such reasonable
expenses.

Section 10.  Termination.

(a) Termination Date and Termination of Rights and Obligations.  On the
earlier of (i) the date of expiration of the Employment Period or
(ii) the date on which termination of employment becomes effective
pursuant to subsections (b) through (d) of this Section 10 (the
"Termination Date"), the Employee's salary and other rights under this
Agreement shall terminate, provided, however, that the Corporation shall
pay to the Employee his Salary and benefits accrued prior thereto.

(b) Death of Employee.  In the event of the death of the Employee, the
Employment Period shall terminate on the last day of the calendar month
within which such death shall have occurred.

(c) Disability of Employee.  The Corporation shall have the right to
terminate the Employment Period, upon written notice to the Employee, if
the Corporation determines that the Employee has been disabled (either
mentally or physically) so as to be unable to substantially perform his
duties hereunder for a period of two months or more.

(d) Termination for Cause.  The Corporation shall have the right to
terminate the Employment Period, upon written notice to the Employee, if
the Employee (i) engages in conduct which is determined by a court to
constitute a felony or act of moral turpitude or (ii) commits any act of
willful misconduct, malfeasance or gross negligence that is injurious to
the Company or (iii) breaches this Agreement.

Section 11.  Covenant Not to Compete.  The Employee covenants and agrees
that he will not, at any time during the Employment Period (determined
without giving effect to any termination of employment), whether as
owner, principal, agent, partner, officer, employee, independent
contractor, consultant, shareholder, licensor or otherwise, alone or in
association with any other Person, either directly or indirectly, carry
on, be engaged or take part in, render services to or own, share in the
earnings of, or invest in the stocks, bonds or other securities of, or
be interested in any way in any business competing with or similar to
any of the businesses of the Corporation or its subsidiaries without the
prior written consent of the Board of Directors, provided that the
Employee may hold a passive investment in a business which is
competitive with or similar to any of the businesses of the Corporation
if the investment is in securities which are listed on a national
securities exchange and the investment in any class of securities does
not exceed 1% of the outstanding shares of such class or 1% of the
aggregate outstanding principal amount of such class, as the case may
be.

Section 12. Restrictions on Investments. The Employee covenants and
agrees that he will not, at any time during the Employment Period,
whether as owner, principal, officer or shareholder, alone or in
association with any other person, either directly or indirectly, invest
in the stock, bonds or other securities (the "Securities") of any public
company (other than a Fortune 500 Company) if such investment in the
Securities exceeds 2% of the outstanding shares of such class or 2% of
the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such class or is
convertible into 2% or more of the outstanding shares of such company
without the prior written consent of the Board of Directors.

Section 13.  Non-Disclosure Covenant.  The Employee further agrees that
during the Employment Period and thereafter  without limit, he will not,
either directly or indirectly, communicate or divulge to any person,
firm or corporation other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries, any
information (except that which is generally known to the public)
relating to the business, customers and suppliers, or other affairs of
the Corporation or its subsidiaries ("Confidential Information") except
(a) for the purpose of, or in connection with, the advancement of the
business of the Corporation or (b) in the event that the Employee is
required (by oral questions, interrogatories, requests for information
or documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar legal
process) to disclose Confidential Information, and the Employee is
compelled to disclose such Confidential Information or else stand liable
for contempt or suffer other censure, penalty or violation in a court
proceeding.  In the event that the Employee is required to disclose such
Confidential Information in the circumstances described in Section
13(b), the Employee will either (i) give the Corporation at least ten
days' written notice (or shorter, but prompt, notice to the extent the
Employee is required to respond to legal process in fewer than ten days)
so that the Corporation may seek an appropriate protective order or (ii)
make such disclosure to a court under seal.

Section 14.  Indemnification.  On the same terms and conditions
applicable to other officers of the Corporation, the Corporation shall
continue to indemnify the Employee against  all liability and loss with
respect to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
(other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason
of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates, against
expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid
in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with
such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a
manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action
or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was
unlawful.  The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by
judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo
contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption
that he did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had
reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Corporation's
obligation to indemnify the Employee shall survive the expiration of
this Agreement, provided that in the event that the Employee is
terminated pursuant to Section 10(d) hereof, the Corporation shall have
no obligation to indemnify the Employee under this Section 14 against
any liability, loss or expense arising from conduct that constitutes
grounds for the Corporation to terminate the Employment Period pursuant
to Section 10(d) hereof.

Section 15.  Automobile.  During the Employment Period, the Corporation
will provide the Employee with an automobile allowance in the amount of
$680 per month.

Section 16.  Vacations.  The Employee shall be entitled to paid
vacations in accordance with the policies of the Corporation in effect
from time to time, but no less than four weeks in any of the Fiscal
Years during which the Employee is employed.  To the extent the Employee
does not use the full vacation period during a Fiscal Year, the unused
balance shall accrue and be carried over into subsequent Fiscal Years;
provided, however, that such unused balance may be carried forward only
with the consent of the chief executive officer of the Corporation and,
in any event, no more than an aggregate of two weeks of unused vacation
time may be carried forward from one Fiscal Year to the next Fiscal
Year.

Section 17.  Successors and Assigns.  In the event that the Corporation
shall at any time be merged or consolidated with any other corporation
or shall sell or otherwise transfer substantially all of its assets or
business to another corporation or entity, the provisions of this
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of such
corporation or entity surviving or resulting from such merger or
consolidation or to which such assets or business shall be so sold or
transferred; provided, however, that nothing contained in this
Section 17 shall in any way limit, or be construed to limit, the
obligations to the Employee, under this Agreement, of the Corporation or
the Corporation's successors or assigns.  This Agreement shall not be
assignable by the Employee.

Section 18.  Notice.  Any notice or other communication which is
required or permitted by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person, transmitted by
telecopy or five (5) days after being mailed by registered or certified
mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to such party at the
address shown below:

If to the Corporation, care of the following:
     Salant Corporation
     1114 Avenue of the Americas
     New York, New York  10036
     Attention:  Todd Kahn, Esq.

If to the Employee, then to the following:

     Mr. Elliot M. Lavigne
     24 Sutton Place
     Engelwood, New Jersey  07631


Each party may, by notice to other party, change the above address.

Section 19.  Entire Agreement; Amendments.  This Agreement embodies the
entire agreement and understanding between the parties and supersedes
all prior agreements (including, without limitation, the Prior
Employment Agreement) and understandings as to the employment of the
Employee.  No amendment, waiver, modification or discharge of any of the
terms of this Agreement shall be valid unless in writing and signed by
the party against which enforcement is sought.

Section 20.  Waiver.  The waiver by either party of a breach of any
provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a
waiver of any subsequent breach thereof.

Section 21.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original.

Section 22.  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

Section 23.  Arbitration.  The Employee and the Corporation agree that
any dispute of any kind, nature or description between the parties
hereto, with respect to, relating to or arising out of the Employee's
employment with the Corporation  or the terms of this Agreement, shall
be submitted to arbitration before the American Arbitration Association
in New York, New York in accordance with its rules then in effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first set forth above.

     SALANT CORPORATION


     By: /s/ Nicholas P. DiPaolo       
     Nicholas P. DiPaolo
     Chairman of the Board,
     President and Chief
     Executive Officer


     /s/ Elliot M. Lavigne 
     Elliot M. Lavigne



Exhibit 1


INCENTIVE COMPENSATION SCHEDULE

If the Corporation's operating income (before amortization of
intangibles), as shown on its audited financial statements for any
Fiscal Year during the Employment Period ("Actual Annual Operating
Income"), is equal to or greater than 90% and less than 95% of the
amount of operating income (before amortization of intangibles and after
the reserve for contingencies) provided for in Salant's annual business
plan for that Fiscal Year ("Planned Annual Operating Income"), the
Employee shall receive a cash bonus equal to 10% of his Salary at the
end of the applicable Fiscal Year ("Annual Salary").

If the Corporation's Actual Annual Operating Income is equal to or
greater than 95% and less than 100% of Planned Annual Operating Income,
the Employee shall receive a cash bonus equal to 25% of his Annual
Salary.

If the Corporation's Actual Annual Operating Income is equal to or
greater than 100% of Planned Annual Operating Income, the Employee shall
receive a cash bonus equal to 50% of his Annual Salary.

For each full five percentage points (after rounding to the nearest
1/100th of a percent) by which the Corporation's Actual Annual Operating
Income exceeds 100% of Planned Annual Operating Income, the Employee
shall receive an additional cash bonus equal to 10% of his Annual
Salary.

Actual Annual Operating Income shall be calculated without giving effect
to unusual or nonrecurring items of income or expense.