1

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT



         EMPLOYMENT  AGREEMENT  (this  "Agreement"),   August  18  ,  1997  (the
"Commencement Date"), between SALANT CORPORATION,  a Delaware corporation,  (the
"Corporation") and Philip A. Franzel (the "Employee").
         WHEREAS,  the  Employee  and the  Corporation  desire to enter  into an
         agreement of employment  between them. NOW THEREFORE,  in consideration
         of the respective premises, mutual covenants and agreements of the
parties  hereto,  and other good and  valuable  consideration,  the  receipt and
sufficiency  of which are  hereby  acknowledged,  the  parties  hereto  agree as
follows:
         Section 1. Nature of Employee's  Services.  The  Corporation  agrees to
employ the  Employee  and the Employee  agrees to serve the  Corporation  as the
senior executive  officer of the Corporation,  having the title,  Executive Vice
President and Chief  Financial  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 Chief Executive  Officer of the Corporation,  the Board
of Directors  or the  Executive  Committee of the Board of Directors  during the
Employment Period (as hereinafter defined) provided,  however,  that such duties
shall be consistent  with those  customarily  performed by the senior  executive
officer  of other  entities  doing  business  in the  industries  in  which  the
Corporation is primarily engaged.
         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 New York metropolitan 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  or  otherwise  engage in  charitable  activities  and  community
affairs,  (b)  deliver  lectures,  fulfill  speaking  engagements  or  teach  at
educational institutions,  and (c) manage personal investments,  so long as such
activities  do not  materially  interfere  with the  performance  of  Employee's
responsibilities  as an  employee of the  Corporation  in  accordance  with this
Agreement.
         Section 2.        Term of Employment.  The term of Employee's
employment under this Agreement shallcommence on the Commencement Date and end
 on December 31, 1999 (the "Employment Period").
         The  Employment  Period shall be  automatically  renewed for successive
one-year terms (the "Renewal  Terms") on the same terms set forth herein (except
salary which shall be at the annual rate immediately  prior to the Renewal Term)
unless at least 180 days  prior to the  expiration  of the  original  Employment
Period or any Renewal  Term,  either  Party  notifies the other Party in writing
that he or it is electing to terminate  this  Agreement at the expiration of the
then current  Employment  Period.  "Employment  Period"  shall mean the original
Employment  Period  (i.e.  the  Commencement  Date to December 31, 1999) and all
Renewal Terms.
         In the event that this Agreement is not renewed because the Corporation
has given the 180-day notice prescribed in the preceding  paragraph on or before
the  expiration  of the original  Employment  Period or any Renewal  Term,  such
non-renewal shall be treated as a termination  following non-renewal pursuant to
Section 6 (f) below.
         Section  3.  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, the annual compensation set forth below.
         (a)  Salary.  As annual  salary for the  services to be rendered by the
Employee  the  Corporation  shall pay a salary at the rate of $300,000 per annum
payable in equal  bi-weekly  installments  during  the  Employment  Period  (the
"Salary").  Commencing  in August of 1998,  the  Salary  shall be  reviewed  for
increase. In no event shall the Salary be less than $300,000 per year.
         (b)  Incentive  Compensation.  Employee  shall be entitled to receive a
bonus (the "Bonus") in accordance with the schedule  annexed hereto as Exhibit 1
comparing  the  Corporation's  performance  during  each  fiscal year which ends
within a particular  Employment Year, to operating  targets for each such fiscal
year. The Employee shall not receive a minimum or guaranteed bonus for any year,
except that for the 1997 Fiscal Year the Employee  shall receive a minimum bonus
equal  to  $150,000  (the  "Minimum  Bonus").  Each  bonus  shall be paid by the
Corporation to the Employee  within ninety (90) days after the end of the fiscal
year  to  which  such  bonus  relates.  If the  employment  of the  Employee  is
terminated or if the Employment  Period  terminates on a day other than the last
day of a fiscal year,  the bonus amount payable with respect to such fiscal year
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 the number of months of  employment  completed by the Employee  during that
fiscal year bears to twelve (12).  Notwithstanding  anything contained herein to
the contrary,  no bonus or Minimum Bonus shall be payable to the Employee (i) if
the  Employment  Period is  terminated  pursuant to Section  6(c) or (ii) if the
Employee terminates the Employment Period other than pursuant to Section 6(e).
         Section 4.  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 the
Corporation's senior level executives or its employees generally (together,  the
"Benefit  Plans").  In the event any new Benefit Plan is established which is in
addition to, and not an alternative to, any existing  Benefit Plan, the Employee
shall  also be  entitled  to  participate  in such  Benefit  Plan to the  extent
permitted by the terms thereof.  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 5.        Expenses and Other Perquisites.
         (a) 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.
         (b) During the  Employment  Period,  the  Corporation  will provide the
Employee with an automobile  allowance in the amount of $680 per month,  payable
with the first pay period of each month.
         Section 6.        Termination.
         (a) Definition of the Termination Date. The "Termination Date" shall be
the date which is earlier of (i) the last day of the Employment Period, (ii) the
effective  date of  termination  of  employment as set forth in the notice which
Corporation  delivers to the Employee indicating that the Employee's  employment
hereunder is terminated,  or (iii) the date on which Employee  delivers  written
notice to the Corporation that he is terminating his employment hereunder.
         (b) Termination Due to Death or Disability.  In the event the
 Employee's employment is terminated due to
his death or Disability (as hereinafter defined), he, his estate or his
 beneficiaries, as the case may be shall
be entitled to:
                  (i)  Salary through the date of death or disability and any
 Bonus for any fiscal year earned
but not yet paid;
                  (ii) pro-rated Bonus through the date of death or Disability,
 payable in accordance with
Section 3(b);
                  (iii) in the case of death only,  a lump sum payment  equal to
three  months  Salary at the  annual  rate in effect at the date of death,  paid
promptly after his death;
                  (iv) the  right to  exercise  all  stock  options  granted  to
Employee at the time of his death or Disability (whether or not then vested) for
a period of one year  following  such event or for the remainder of the exercise
period, if shorter;
                  (vi)  any amounts earned, accrued or owing to the Employee
 but not yet paid under Sections 4 or
5;
                  (vii) the right to receive all applicable benefits pursuant to
the Corporation's Employee Long Term Disability Coverage plan (the "Plan") as if
he were fully covered thereunder, provided however, if the Employee is precluded
from receiving such benefits (e.g. due to the fact that he is no longer employed
by the Corporation),  the Corporation shall pay to Employee cash payments equal,
on an after-tax  basis,  to the amount of benefits he would have received had he
continued to be eligible to participate in the Plan; and
                  (viii)  other or  additional  benefits  then due or  earned in
accordance with applicable plans and programs of the Corporation.
         For purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" shall mean any physical or
mental  illness which as a result  thereof,  the Employee is unable to discharge
his duties for a period of six (6) consecutive months or for a total of 180 days
during any twelve month period.
         (c)  Termination by the Corporation for Cause.
                  (i)  "Cause" shall mean:
                           (A)  the Employee is convicted of a felony or
engages in conduct which is determined
by a court to constitute an act involving moral turpitude; or
                           (B)  the Employee engages in conduct that
constitutes (i) willful gross neglect, (ii)
willful  gross  misconduct  in carrying out his duties  under this  Agreement or
(iii) a violation of the Company's Code of Conduct,  resulting, in each case, in
material harm to the financial condition or reputation of the Corporation.
                  (iii) In the event the  Corporation  terminates the Employee's
employment for Cause he shall be entitled to:
                           (A)  Salary through the Termination Date;
                           (B)  any amounts earned, accrued or owing to the 
Employee but not yet paid under
Sections 4 or 5; and
                           (C)  other or additional benefits then due or earned
 in accordance with applicable
plans or programs of the Corporation.
         (d)  Termination by the Corporation Without Cause.
         In the event the Employee's employment is terminated by the Corporation
without Cause (which  termination shall be effective as of the date specified by
the Corporation in a written notice to the Employee), other than due to death or
Disability  the Employee  shall be entitled to and his sole remedies  under this
Agreement shall be:
                  (i)  Salary through the Termination Date;
                  (ii)  Salary,   at  the  annualized  rate  in  effect  on  the
Termination  Date for a  period  which  is the  longer  of  twelve  (12)  months
following such termination or the balance of the then existing Employment Period
(the "Severance Period");
                  (iii) pro-rated Bonus for the fiscal year in which
termination occurs, payable in accordance
with Section 3(b);
                  (iv) the  right  to  exercise  any  stock  option  held by the
Employee at the  Termination  Date (whether or not then vested),  such option to
remain  exercisable  for six (6) months after the  Termination  Date, or for the
remainder of the exercise period, if shorter;
                  (v)  Any amounts earned, accrued, or owing to the Employee
 but not yet paid under Sections 4 or
5; and
                  (vi) continued  participation in all medical,  dental,  health
and life insurance plans and in other employee  benefit plans or programs at the
same benefit level at which he was  participating  on the Termination Date until
the earlier of:
                           (A)  the end of the Severance Period; or
                           (B)  the date, or dates, he receives equivalent 
coverage and benefits under the plans
and  programs  of a  subsequent  employer  (such  coverage  and  benefits  to be
determined on a  coverage-by-coverage,  or benefit-by-benefit,  basis); provided
that if the Employee is  precluded  from  continuing  his  participation  in any
benefit  plan or program as provided in this clause (vi) of this Section 6(d) as
a  matter  of  law  or in  the  case  of  life  insurance,  as a  result  of the
requirements  of such benefit  plan or program,  the  Corporation  shall have no
obligation to continue to provide such benefits; and
                  (vii)  other or  additional  benefits  then due or  earned  in
accordance with applicable plans and programs of the Corporation.
                  "Termination   Without   Cause"  shall  mean  the   Employee's
employment  is  terminated  by the  Company  for any reason  other  than  death,
Disability or Cause (as defined in Section 6 (c).
         (e)  Termination  by Employee for Good Reason.  The Employee shall have
the right to terminate the Employment  Period for "good reason" (as  hereinafter
defined),  provided that the Employee shall have given the  Corporation  written
notice of the Employee's  decision to terminate his employment  (specifying  the
alleged "good reason" in reasonable  detail) and, if it is possible to cure, the
Corporation  shall not have cured the same within thirty (30) days after receipt
of such  notice,  or, if cure cannot be fully  accomplished  within  thirty (30)
days,  the  Corporation  shall not have  commenced  cure within thirty (30) days
after  receipt of such  notice and cured the  alleged  "good  reason" as soon as
possible thereafter. For purposes of the foregoing, "good reason" shall mean (i)
the  assignment to the Employee of duties  inconsistent  with, or the diminution
of, the Employee's  positions,  titles,  offices,  duties,  responsibilities  or
status with the Corporation as a senior executive  officer,  or a change without
good cause in the Employee's reporting  responsibilities,  or any removal of the
Employee from, or any failure to elect the Employee to any positions,  titles or
offices  specified in this Agreement and held by the Employee,  (ii) a reduction
in the Employee's Salary,  (iii) a material reduction in the Employee's benefits
or perquisites  (other than a reduction  pursuant to the second to last sentence
of Section 4 hereof);  or (iv) a requirement  that Employee  change his place of
principal employment to a location other than the metropolitan New York area.
         In the event that the  Employment  Period is terminated by the Employee
for "good  reason",  the Employee  shall be entitled  to, and his sole  remedies
shall be, the same  benefits  provided for in Section 6(d)  "Termination  by the
Corporation Without Cause".
         (f)  Termination   following   Non-renewal.   In  the  event  that  the
Corporation  notifies  the  Employee  in  writing at least 180 days prior to the
expiration  of the  original  Employment  Period or any Renewal  Term that it is
electing to  terminate  this  Agreement  at the  expiration  of the then current
Employment Period and the Employee's employment terminates upon such expiration,
whether  at the  Corporation's  initiative  or the  Employee's  initiative,  the
Employee shall be entitled to:
                  (i)  Salary through the Termination Date;
                  (ii)  Salary,   at  the  annualized  rate  in  effect  on  the
Termination  Date for a period of six (6) months  following the Termination Date
(the "Non-renewal Severance Period");
                  (iii) pro-rated Bonus for the fiscal year in which termination
occurs payable in accordance with Section 3(b) and any Bonus for any fiscal year
earned but not yet paid,  payable in a lump sum within  fifteen  (15) days after
the Termination Date;
                  (iv) the  right  to  exercise  any  stock  option  held by the
Employee  at the date of his  termination,  to the  extent  vested at such date,
during the Non-renewal  Severance Period and for sixty (60) days thereafter,  or
for the remainder of the exercise period, if shorter;
                  (v)  any amounts earned, accrued or owing to the Executive
 but not yet paid under Sections 4 or
5; and
                  (vi) continued  participation in all medical dental health and
life insurance plans at the same benefit level at which he was  participating on
the Termination Date until the earlier of:
                           (A)  the end of the Non-renewal Severance Period; or
                           (B)  the date, or dates, he receives equivalent 
coverage and benefits under the plans
and  programs  of a  subsequent  employer  (such  coverage  and  benefits  to be
determined on a  coverage-by-coverage,  or benefit-by benefit,  basis); provided
that if the Employee is  precluded  from  continuing  his  participation  in any
benefit plan or program as provided in this clause (vi) of this Section 6(f), as
a  matter  of  law  or in  the  case  of  life  insurance,  as a  result  of the
requirements  of such benefit  plan or program,  the  Corporation  shall have no
obligation to continue to provide such benefits; and
         (vii) other or  additional  benefits  then due or earned in  accordance
with applicable plans and programs of the Corporation.
         (g)      Voluntary Termination.  In the event of a termination of 
employment by the Employee on his own
initiative, other than a termination due to death, Disability or Good Reason,
the Employee shall have the same
entitlement as provided in Section 6 (c) above for a termination for Cause.
         (i)  Condition to Receipt of Severance  Payments.  The Employee  hereby
acknowledges  that the "Severance  Payment" (as hereinafter  defined) is greater
than the amount provided by the  Corporation's  normal  severance  policy and is
being  offered to the  Employee in reliance  upon the  Employee's  agreement  to
release the Corporation  from any liability and to waive any claims the Employee
may have against the  Corporation,  including,  without  limitation,  any claims
relating  to the  Employment  or  separation  from  employment.  Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary  contained herein,  nothing shall impair the Employee's
(i) right to enforce the  obligations  of the  Corporation  as set forth in this
Agreement,  or (ii)  right  to seek  indemnification  or  contribution  from the
Corporation  in the event the Employee is the subject of any  third-party  claim
arising out of or relating  to any act or  omission by the  Employee  during the
course of his employment by the Corporation, to the extent such right would have
otherwise existed. For purposes of this Agreement,  Severance Payment shall mean
any amount  paid to the  Employee  during a  Severance  Period or a  Non-renewal
Severance Period, as the case may be.
         Section 7. Covenant Not to Compete.  The Employee  covenants and agrees
that he will not, at any time during the Restriction  Period (as defined below),
whether  as owner,  principal,  agent,  partner,  director,  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 own, or 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, the business in which the
Corporation,  or any of  its  subsidiaries  are  primarily  engaged,  including,
without limitation,  any retail customer of the Corporation that accounts for 5%
or more of the Company's net sales on an annualized  basis,  without the 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. In
addition,  for one year after the end of the  Restriction  Period,  the Employee
covenants and agrees that he will not,  directly or indirectly,  hire any person
who is employed by the Corporation on the  Termination  Date whose annual salary
on such date is equal to or greater than $100,000, or solicit, induce, entice or
hire any such person to leave the employment of the Corporation. For purposes of
this Section 7, the "Restriction  Period" shall mean the period beginning on the
Commencement Date and ending on the last day of either (i) the Employment Period
(determined  without giving effect to any termination of  employment),  (ii) the
Severance Period or (iii) the Non-renewal Severance Period, whichever is longer.
         Section 8.  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 clause (b) above,  the Employee  will, to the extent
legally  permissible  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.
         The provisions of this Section 8, shall not be applicable to
information which
                  (i) was at the time of the  disclosure by the  Corporation  to
                  the Employee,  in the public domain;  (ii) has subsequent,  to
                  the disclosure by the  Corporation,  become part of the public
                  domain,
through           no  fault,  act or  omission  of  the  Employee,  directly  or
                  indirectly, in violation of such obligation; (iii) was, at the
                  time of the disclosure by the Corporation to the Employee,  in
                  the Employee's
possession and was not otherwise, directly or indirectly acquired from the
 Corporation;
                  (iv)  was  received  by the  Employee  from any  third  party,
provided  that such  information  was not  obtained by said third party from the
Corporation improperly, directly or indirectly, and was not improperly disclosed
by the third party.
         Section 9. Indemnification. On the same terms and conditions applicable
to other  directors  and  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 (as hereinafter defined), 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  6(c) of this  Agreement,  the  Corporation  shall have no
obligation to indemnify the Employee under this Section 9 against any liability,
loss  or  expense  arising  from  conduct  that  constitutes   grounds  for  the
Corporation to terminate the Employment  Period pursuant to Section 6(c) of this
Agreement.  At all times during the Employment Period, the Corporation shall pay
for  and  maintain  professional  liability  insurance  for the  benefit  of the
Employee to the extent provided on the Commencement Date.
         Section  10.  Stock  Options.   The  Corporation  shall  grant  on  the
Commencement  Date to the  Employee  non-qualified  Stock  Options  (the  "Stock
Options")  representing the right to purchase 75,000 shares of the Corporation's
common stock,  par value $1.00 per share (the "Common  Stock"),  pursuant to the
Corporation's  1996 Stock Plan. The exercise price for the Stock Options will be
the market price of the Common Stock on the Commencement Date. The Stock Options
shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Corporation's 1996
Stock Plan and an agreement or agreements  to be entered into,  pursuant to such
plan (the "Stock Option Agreements"),  between the Corporation and the Employee,
provided however, there shall be no restrictions on any Common Stock acquired by
Employee by exercise of any options granted by the Corporation, except for those
restrictions pursuant to applicable law.
         Notwithstanding  anything  contained  herein  or in  the  Stock  Option
Agreements to the contrary, all Stock Options outstanding shall immediately vest
upon a "Change of Control" (as hereinafter defined).
         During  the  Employment  Period,   Employee  shall  also  receive  such
additional options as the Board deems appropriate in its sole discretion.
         Section 11. Vacations. The Employee shall be entitled to paid vacations
in accordance  with the policies of the Corporation in effect from time to time,
but not 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 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 12. Legal Expenses.  The  Corporation  shall pay all legal fees
and related expenses  incurred by the Employee as a result of (i) the Employee's
termination  of  employment  (including  all  such  fees and  expenses,  if any,
incurred in contesting or disputing any such  termination  to employment) if the
Corporation has been found to be in breach of its obligations  hereunder or (ii)
the  Employee's  seeking to obtain or enforce  any right or benefit  provided by
this  Agreement,  if  the  Employee  prevails  against  the  Corporation  in any
proceeding in which rights hereunder are contested.
         Section 13.  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  13  shall  in any  way  limit,  or be  construed  to  limit,  the
obligations  to the  Employee  under this  Agreement or the  obligations  of the
Corporation or the Corporation's successors or assigns. This Agreement shall not
be assignable by the Employee.
         Section 14. 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
Executive Vice President
General Council

If to the Employee, then to the following:

Philip A. Franzel
c/o Salant Corporation
1114 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036

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

         Section 15. Entire Agreement;  Amendments.  This Agreement embodies the
entire agreement and understanding  between the parties and supersedes all prior
agreements  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 16.  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 17. Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in several
 counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed to be an original.
         Section 18. Governing Law; Resolution of Disputes. This Agreement shall
be governed by, and construed in accordance  with,  the laws of the State of New
York. The Employee hereby acknowledges that irreparable damage will occur in the
event that  Sections 7 and 8 of this  Agreement  are not performed in accordance
with their  specific  terms or are  otherwise  breached by the  Employee.  It is
accordingly  agreed that the  Corporation  shall be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions  to prevent  breaches or such  provisions in any Court of the United
States or any states  having  jurisdiction,  this being in addition to any other
remedy to which the Corporation  may be entitled to at law or in equity.  Except
in the event the Corporation is attempting to seek injunctive or other equitable
relief for a breach by the Employee of Sections 7 and 8 of this  Agreement,  the
parties  agree that as a condition  precedent  to the filing of any claim as set
forth  below,  the parties and their  attorneys  must attempt to confer at least
twice, in person,  in an effort to resolve any dispute.  Should such efforts not
be successful, such dispute shall be resolved by binding arbitration, to be held
in New York City in  accordance  with the rules and  procedures  of the American
Arbitration  Association.  Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s)
may be entered in any court having jurisdiction  thereof.  Each party shall bear
his or its own  costs  of the  arbitration  or  litigation,  including,  without
limitation,  attorneys' fees. Pending the resolution of any arbitration or court
proceeding,  the Corporation  shall continue payment of all amounts and benefits
due the Employee under this Agreement.
         Section 19.       Certain Definitions.
         "Affiliate" shall mean any person,  firm,  corporation,  partnership or
other legal entity that, directly or indirectly,  controls,  is controlled by or
is under common control with, the Corporation.
         "Change  of  Control"  shall mean an event or series of events by which
(i) any Person is or becomes the  "beneficial  owner" (as defined in rules 13d-3
and 13d-5 under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except that
a person shall be deemed to have  "beneficial  ownership" of all shares that any
such  Person  has the  right to  acquire,  whether  such  right  is  exercisable
immediately or after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of a majority
of the  aggregate  Voting  Stock of the  Corporation;  or (ii)  the  Corporation
consolidates with or merges into another Person or conveys,  transfers or leases
all or substantially all of its assets to any Person, or any Person consolidates
with or merges into the  Corporation,  in either event pursuant to a transaction
in which the  outstanding  Voting  Stock of the  Corporation  is changed into or
exchanged  for  cash,  securities  or  other  properties,  other  than  any such
transaction where the holders of the Voting Stock of the Corporation immediately
prior to such transaction own,  directly or indirectly,  immediately  after such
transaction  Voting Stock of such  surviving  corporation  entitling them to not
less  than  50% of the  aggregate  voting  power  of all  Voting  Stock  of such
surviving corporation.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change of Control shall
not be deemed to occur if the Person  described  in clause (i) or (ii) is Apollo
Apparel Partners, L.P. or is an Affiliate of Apollo Apparel Partners, L.P.
         "Voting  Stock"  shall  mean  securities  of any class or  classes  (or
equivalent  interests) of any entity,  if the holders of the  securities of such
class or classes (or  equivalent  interests) are  ordinarily,  in the absence of
contingencies,  entitled to vote for the election of the  directors  (or natural
persons or entities  performing similar  functions) of such entity,  even though
the right to so vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.
         "Control"  shall  mean the power to direct the  affairs of any  person,
firm,  corporation,  partnership or other legal entity by reason of ownership of
voting stock, by contract or otherwise.
         "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,  or any group of Persons
acting in concert.
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
dates set forth below.

                                                     SALANT CORPORATION


                                By:_______________________________
                                              Jerald S. Politzer
                                             Chairman of the Board
                                           and Chief Executive Officer


                                        ----------------------------------
                                              Philip A. Franzel


EXHIBIT 1

INCENTIVE COMPENSATION SCHEDULE


         (a)      If the Corporation's "Pre-tax Income", as shown on its audited
                  financial statements for any fiscal year during the Employment
                  Period  ("Actual  Annual  Pre-tax  Income"),  is  equal  to or
                  greater than 100% of the amount of Pre-tax Income provided for
                  in the Corporation's annual business plan for that fiscal year
                  ("Planned Annual Pre-tax Income"),  the Employee shall receive
                  a cash bonus  equal to 50% of his annual  Salary at the end of
                  the applicable fiscal year ("Annual Salary").

         (b)      If Actual  Annual  Pre-tax  Income is equal to or greater than
                  90% and less than 100% of Planned Annual Pre-tax  Income,  the
                  Employee shall receive a cash bonus equal to 40% of his Annual
                  Salary.

         (c)      If Actual Annual Pre-tax Income exceeds 100% of Planned Annual
                  Pre-tax  Income,  then in addition to the bonus  specified  in
                  paragraph (a) above,  the Employee  shall  receive  additional
                  cash bonuses,  each equal to 5% of his Annual Salary, for each
                  full 5% increment  (after rounding to the nearest 1/100th of a
                  percent) by which Actual Annual Pre-tax Income exceeds 100% of
                  Planned Annual Pre-tax Income.

         (d)      The  following  principles  shall  apply  in  calculating  the
                  "Pre-tax Income" which term shall mean the aggregate income of
                  the Corporation  before provisions for all Federal,  State and
                  local income  taxes  thereon.  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, subject, however, to
                  the provisions of the following subparagraphs:

                           (i)  There  shall  be  excluded   from  income:   all
                  extraordinary  items of income such as gains and losses on the
                  sale of fixed  assets  or  intangible  assets;  all  insurance
                  recoveries other than for 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 quota.

                           (ii)   Deductions   from  income  shall  include  all
                  interest expenses, fixed charges and reasonable provisions for
                  depreciation,amortization    and    obsolescence,    inventory
                  write-offs  and the  salary  and bonus  payable  to all of the
                  employees of the Corporation and the Employee hereunder.

(iii) The amount of "Planned  Annual Pre-tax  Income" for each fiscal year shall
be determined by the Corporation's Board of Directors.