<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule  contains  financial  information  extracted from Forstmann &
     COmpany,   Inc's.  condensed  consolidated  financial  statements  for  the
     thirteen  weeks ended  January 31, 1999 and is qualified in its entirety by
     references to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000798246
<NAME>                        Forstmann & Company, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              OCT-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 NOV-02-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   JAN-31-1999
<CASH>                                             40
<SECURITIES>                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  22,139
<ALLOWANCES>                                    1,430
<INVENTORY>                                    39,647
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               67,508
<PP&E>                                         19,436
<DEPRECIATION>                                  4,061
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 84,899
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          59,024
<BONDS>                                           865
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                           44
<OTHER-SE>                                     24,966
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   84,899
<SALES>                                        18,498
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               18,498
<CGS>                                          19,052
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  19,052
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                3,395
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                  121
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              1,407
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (6,662)
<INCOME-TAX>                                        0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (6,662)
<DISCONTINUED>                                     14
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (6,676)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (1.52)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (1.52)