<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains financial information extracted from Forstmann & 
Company, Inc.'s condensed financial statements for the twenty-six weeks ended
May 3, 1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              NOV-01-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 NOV-03-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAY-03-1998
<CASH>                                                  47
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                       50,374
<ALLOWANCES>                                         1,029
<INVENTORY>                                         51,490
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   102,146
<PP&E>                                              27,554
<DEPRECIATION>                                       4,758
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     126,636
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               17,350
<BONDS>                                             58,433
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                                44
<OTHER-SE>                                          50,809
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       126,636
<SALES>                                             78,642
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                    78,642
<CGS>                                               67,423
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       67,423
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     6,766
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       571
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   3,151
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                        419
<INCOME-TAX>                                           142
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                    277
<DISCONTINUED>                                          55
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                           222
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          .05
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          .05