<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains financial information extracted from Forstmann & Company,
Inc.'s consolidated  financial statements for the fifty-two weeks ended November
1,  1998  and is  qualified  in its  entirety  by  reference  to such  financial
statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000798246
<NAME>                        Forstmann & Company, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                  1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Nov-01-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 Nov-03-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   Nov-01-1998
<CASH>                                         143
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  32,743
<ALLOWANCES>                                   1,309
<INVENTORY>                                    38,818
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               71,003
<PP&E>                                         30,480
<DEPRECIATION>                                 8,245
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 95,243
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          20,008
<BONDS>                                        43,565
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       44
<OTHER-SE>                                     31,626
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   95,243
<SALES>                                        149,597
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               149,597
<CGS>                                          141,760
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  141,760
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               15,890
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               851
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             6,489
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (18,888)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (18,888)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 99
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (18,987)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (4.33)