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                                                              July 18, 1997


Michael A. Lubin
767 Third Avenue
New York, N.Y.  10017

Dear Mike:

             This   letter   (this   "Letter   Agreement")   will   confirm  the
understanding  between you and Lubin Delano & Company ("Lubin  Delano"),  on the
one hand and Salant Corporation,  a Delaware  corporation  (together with all of
its  subsidiaries and affiliates,  "Salant") on the other hand,  concerning your
separation of  employment  with Salant.  Salant and you have mutually  agreed as
follows:

             1.  Cancellation  of  Employment,  Employment  Agreement  and Stock
Options.  Subject to the Effective Date (as defined below), your employment with
Salant will end on July 31, 1997 (the "Separation  Date").  As of the Separation
Date (i) the  Employment  Agreement  dated  February  11, 1997 (the  "Employment
Agreement"),  (ii) the Salant Corporation 1993 Stock Plan Nonstatutory  Employee
Stock Option  Agreement  dated October 10, 1995 and, to the extent not therefore
exercised, all options thereunder, and (iii) the Letter Agreement dated December
1, 1995 between  Salant and Lubin Delano (the "Lubin  Delano  Agreement")  shall
each be  considered  null and  void.  At 6:00 P.M.  eastern  standard  time,  on
December 31, 1997, the Salant Corporation 1993 Stock Plan Nonstatutory  Employee
Stock Option  Agreement dated February 11, 1997 and all options  thereunder (the
"1997 Options"), to the extent not therefore exercised, shall be considered null
and void.

             2. Effective  Date. The term  "Effective  Date" means the date that
Salant receives this Letter  Agreement  executed by you and you have not revoked
this Letter Agreement pursuant to Paragraph 16 herein. In the event that (i) you
fail to sign and return this Letter  Agreement on or prior to August 15, 1997 or
(ii) you  revoke the Letter  Agreement  pursuant  to  Paragraph  16 herein,  the
Effective Date and this Letter Agreement shall be null and void.

             3. Monetary  Obligations.  Subject to the  Effective  Date and your
continued performance and compliance with the terms of this Letter Agreement (i)
Salant  shall  continue  to pay you your salary in effect on the date hereof and
pay Lubin Delano its consulting fee pursuant to the Lubin Delano  Agreement,  in
each case until July 31, 1997 and (ii) on the Effective Date Salant shall pay to
Lubin  Delano a one-time  lump sum payment of $368,149.  Salant shall  reimburse
Lubin Delano  within ten (10)  business days  following  submission  thereof for
actual business  expenses  incurred by you or it on or prior to July 31, 1997 in
connection with the performance by you or Lubin Delano of services for Salant in
an  amount  not to  exceed  $_______.  Until  April  30,  1998 you agree to make
yourself available to Salant by phone for consultation from time to time.

             4.  Non-Disclosure  and Covenant  Not to Compete.  (a) Both you and
Lubin  Delano  agree not to  communicate  with any person or  entity,  including
without limitation, any of Salant's creditors,  customers, suppliers, licensors,
licensees  or  employees or any member of the press,  about any  proprietary  or
confidential  aspect  of  the  business,  prospects,   operations  or  financial
condition of Salant,  unless such  communication is (i) authorized in writing by
the Board of  Directors of Salant or any  successor  to Salant,  or (ii) legally
required in the written  opinion of counsel;  provided  that in the event you or
Lubin Delano are so required to disclose such confidential  information,  you or
Lubin Delano as the case may be, will give Salant at least ten (10) days' notice
(or  shorter,  but prompt,  notice to the extent you are  required to respond to
legal  process  in  fewer  than  ten  (10)  days)  prior  to any  disclosure  of
confidential  information,  setting forth the reasons for the  disclosure of the
confidential  information,  and you will not oppose any  appropriate  protective
order  sought  by  Salant.  Notwithstanding  anything  contained  herein  to the
contrary, you and Lubin Delano understand that Salant may be legally required to
disclose the existence and terms of this Letter Agreement.

             (b) You  covenant  and  agree  that if at any time  while  the 1997
Options remain outstanding,  you or Lubin Delano engage or take part in, 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, render  services to or
own,  share in the  earnings of, or invest in the stocks,  convertible  bonds or
other  convertible  securities  of, or be  interested in any way in any business
competing with the businesses of Salant or its subsidiaries,  as in existence on
the date hereof, without the written consent of the Board of Directors of Salant
(other than a passive  investment  in a business  which is  competitive  with or
similar to any of the  businesses  of Salant if the  investment is in securities
which are listed on a national  securities exchange or NASDAQ and the investment
in any class of securities does not exceed 2% of the outstanding  shares of such
class or 2% of the aggregate  outstanding principal amount of such class, as the
case may be) the 1997 Options shall  immediately be considered null and void. In
addition,  until  April 30,  1998,  you  covenant  and agree  that you will not,
directly or indirectly, (i) hire any person who is employed by Salant as of July
1, 1997  whose  annual  compensation  on such date is equal to or  greater  than
$100,000 or (ii)  solicit,  induce,  entice or hire any such person to leave the
employment of Salant.

             5.  Future  Employment.  You agree that you will  neither  seek nor
accept employment with Salant or any other company affiliated with Salant at any
time in the  future.  You  understand  and  agree  that by  entering  into  this
Agreement, you waive the right to reinstatement of employment with Salant.

             6.  Proprietary  Documents.  All  written  materials,  records  and
documents made by you or coming into your  possession  during your employment by
Salant  concerning  the  business or affairs of Salant are the sole  property of
Salant and, prior to the Separation Date, you shall deliver the same to Salant.

             7.     Company Property.  You agree that prior to the Separation
 Date you will return any and all of
Salant's credit cards, cars, keys, office equipment, computers and any and all
 other property of Salant.

             8.  Cooperation.  You hereby agree that,  at the request of Salant,
from time to time, on a reasonable  basis, you will be available to Salant,  its
counsel  and  accountants  to  discuss  any  aspects  of  Salant's   businesses,
prospects, operations or financial condition with which you are familiar. Salant
agrees to reimburse you for all out-of-pocket  expenses  reasonably  incurred by
you in connection with any activities you undertake at Salant's request.

             9.  Further  Actions.  From  and  after  the  date of  this  Letter
Agreement, you and Lubin Delano, on the one hand, and Salant, on the other hand,
shall,  at the other  party's  request , execute and deliver all  documents and
instruments and take such other action as the other party may reasonably request
in order to effect the transactions  contemplated by this Letter Agreement. Each
of Salant and Lubin Delano  represents  and warrants that this Letter  Agreement
has been  duly  and  validly  authorized,  executed  and  delivered  by it,  and
constitutes  a valid and binding  obligation  of each of Salant and Lubin Delano
enforceable in accordance with its terms.

             10.  Releases.  (a) Effective as of the date hereof,  but excluding
any  liabilities or  obligations of Salant arising under this Letter  Agreement,
you  hereby,  on behalf of  yourself,  your  heirs,  administrators,  executors,
forever  release  and  discharge  Salant  and all other  affiliates,  divisions,
subsidiaries  and  each of  their  predecessors,  successors,  assigns,  agents,
directors,  officers,  employees,  representatives,  attorneys,  and all persons
acting by, through,  under or in concert with any of them (collectively referred
to in this Paragraph 10 as "Salant") from any and all charges,  claims, demands,
judgments, actions, causes of action, damages, expenses, costs, attorneys' fees,
and  liabilities  of any kind  whatsoever,  whether known or unknown,  vested or
contingent,  in law, equity or otherwise (collectively referred to as "Causes of
Action"), which you ever had, now have, or may hereafter have against Salant for
or on account of any matter, cause or thing whatsoever which has occurred at any
time up to the date of this Letter Agreement,  including  without  limitation of
the generality of the foregoing,  any and all rights or claims which are related
to your  employment and separation  from  employment by Salant,  and any and all
rights or claims which you have or may have under any law,  rule or  regulation,
including  without  limitation,  Title VII of the Civil  Rights Act of 1964,  as
amended;  the Civil Rights Act of 1991, as amended;  the Age  Discrimination  in
Employment Act of 1967, as amended; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act,
as amended;  42 U.S.C.  '1981, as amended;  the Older Workers Benefit Protection
Act; the Americans  with  Disabilities  Act; the Family and Medical Leave Act of
1993;  or  other  state or  municipal  statutes  or  ordinances  which  regulate
employment;  and the laws of  contracts,  torts,  including  but not  limited to
intentional  infliction of emotional distress,  and other subjects.  The release
set forth  herein is in  consideration  of the receipt of the sum stated  herein
which you  acknowledge  is in  addition  to  anything  of value to which you are
otherwise  entitled.  Nothing  in this  Letter  Agreement  shall  be  deemed  an
admission  of  liability  by Salant  relating in any way to your  employment  by
Salant, the terms of your separation,  or the obligations of Salant with respect
to any of the foregoing.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  nothing in this Letter
Agreement  shall be deemed to affect in any way (i) your or Lubin Delano's right
to seek  indemnification  or contribution  from Salant in the event you or Lubin
Delano are hereafter the subject of any third-party claim or derivative claim on
behalf of Salant  arising  out of or  relating  to any act or omission by you or
Lubin Delano during the course of your  employment  by Salant or Lubin  Delano's
engagement by Salant,  to the extent such right would have otherwise  existed or
(ii) any rights or assets  which you may have with  respect to  pension,  401(K)
plan or other qualified plan under the Employment Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974 or under the Comprehensive Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985.

             (b)  Effective as of the date  hereof,  but  excluding  any of your
liabilities  or  obligations  arising under this Letter  Agreement,  Salant,  on
behalf  of  itself,  its  affiliates,  and  subsidiaries  and  their  respective
successors and assigns, forever releases and discharges you, and your respective
heirs,   administrators,   executors,   relatives,   affiliates,   subsidiaries,
predecessors,  successors, assigns, representatives,  attorneys, and all persons
acting by, through,  under or in concert with any of them (collectively referred
to in the  paragraph  10(b) as "you")  from any and all Causes of Action,  which
Salant or any one or more of them  ever  had,  now has,  or may  hereafter  have
against you for or on account of any matter, cause or thing whatsoever which has
occurred at any time up to the date of this Letter Agreement,  including without
limitation  of the  generality  of the  foregoing,  any and all rights or claims
which are related to your employment and separation from employment from Salant,
and any and all rights or claims  which Salant or any of the  foregoing  persons
has or may have under any law, rule or regulation,  state or municipal  statutes
or ordinances,  and the laws of contracts, torts and other subjects. The release
set forth  herein is in  consideration  of the  execution  and  delivery of this
Letter Agreement by you which Salant  acknowledges is in addition to anything of
value to which it is otherwise entitled.  Nothing in this Letter Agreement shall
be deemed an  admission  of  liability  by you or any of the  foregoing  persons
relating  in any  way to  your  relationship  with  Salant,  the  terms  of your
separation,  or your obligations  that you or any of the foregoing  persons with
respect to any of the foregoing.  Notwithstanding  anything  contained herein to
the contrary, you are not released and Salant reserves its rights in law, equity
or  otherwise,  from any and all  Causes  of  Action  which  are a result  of or
predicted on conduct described in Section 2(b) of the Employment Agreement.

             11. Entire Agreement;  Amendments.  This Letter Agreement  embodies
the entire agreement and understanding between you and Salant and supersedes all
prior agreements and  understandings  relating to the subject matter hereof.  No
amendment,  waiver, modification or discharge of any of the terms of this Letter
Agreement shall be valid unless in writing and signed by the party against which
enforcement is sought.





             12. Successors and Assigns.  This Letter Agreement shall be binding
upon and  inure to the  benefit  of the  successors,  assigns,  representatives,
affiliates,  parents,  subsidiaries,  heirs, executors and administrators of the
parties hereto and their officers, directors, stockholders,  employees, servants
and agents.

             13.  Governing  Law;  Submission  to  Jurisdiction.  The  validity,
performance  and  enforcement of this Letter  Agreement shall be governed by the
internal laws of the State of New York. For purposes of any action or proceeding
involving this Agreement,  you, Lubin Delano and Salant hereby  expressly submit
to the  jurisdiction  of all federal and state courts of competent  jurisdiction
sitting within the area comprising the Southern District of New York on the date
of this  Letter  Agreement  and  consent to service of any  process or papers by
registered mail or by personal service within or without the State of New York.

             14.  Headings.  The headings of the various sections hereof are
for convenience of reference only
and will not modify any of the terms or provisions of this Letter Agreement.

             15. Method of Notice. All notices or other communications  required
to be given pursuant to this Letter  Agreement  shall be in writing and shall be
mailed, by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested,  and shall be
addressed as follows:

                  a)  if to Salant:
                  Salant Corporation
                  1114 Avenue of the Americas
                  New York, New York  10036
                  Attn:  Todd M. Kahn
                         Vice President and General Counsel

                  b)  if to Michael A. Lubin or Lubin Delano
                  Michael A. Lubin
                  c/o Lubin, Delano & Company
                  767 Third Avenue
                   New York, N.Y.  10017

Any party may,  from time to time,  change its  address  for future  notices and
other  communications  hereunder by giving notice in the manner described herein
to the other party hereto.

             16. Revocation Period. YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE TWENTY-ONE (21)
DAYS WITHIN  WHICH TO CONSIDER AND SIGN THIS  AGREEMENT  AND THAT YOU MAY REVOKE
THIS  AGREEMENT BY WRITTEN  NOTICE SENT IN ACCORDANCE  WITH PARAGRAPH 15 HEREIN,
ANY TIME BEFORE THE  EXPIRATION  OF SEVEN (7) DAYS  FOLLOWING  EXECUTION OF THIS
AGREEMENT.





THIS AGREEMENT  SHALL NOT BECOME  EFFECTIVE OR ENFORCEABLE  UNTIL THE REVOCATION
PERIOD HAS EXPIRED.

             17.  Acknowledgement. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SALANT HAS ADVISED YOU 
TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY PRIOR
TO THE EXECUTION OF THIS AGREEMENT.  YOU FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE HAD
 THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT EACH AND EVERY PROVISION OF THIS
AGREEMENT AND THAT YOU FULLY  UNDERSTAND THE EFFECT OF THE PROVISIONS  CONTAINED
HEREIN UPON YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS.  SALANT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT YOU HAVE CONSULTED WITH
AND BEEN ADVISED BY NIXON,  HARGRAVE,  DEVANS & DOYLE LLP CONCERNING THIS LETTER
AGREEMENT AND WAIVES ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST THAT MAY ARISE OUT OF OR RELATE TO
SUCH REPRESENTATION OF YOU BY NIXON, HARGRAVE, DEVANS & DOYLE LLP.

                                                     Very truly yours,
                                                    SALANT CORPORATION

                                   By:
                                            Todd Kahn
                                       Executive Vice President and
                                             General Counsel


ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO as of _______________, 1997:


MICHAEL A. LUBIN



LUBIN, DELANO & COMPANY:


By:_________________________
      Its





STATE OF ____________,
COUNTY OF

On ______________, 1997, before me personally came Michael A. Lubin to me known,
and known to me to be the  individual(s)  described  in,  and who  executed  the
foregoing  Letter  Agreement,  and duly  acknowledged to me that he executed the
same.




STATE OF ____________,
COUNTY OF

On  ______________,  1997,  before me personally came  __________________  to me
known  and  known to me to be the  _______________________  of  Lubin,  Delano &
Company,  and who executed the  foregoing  Letter  Agreement on behalf of Lubin,
Delano & Company, and duly acknowledged to me that he executed the same .