<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule  contains  financial  information  extracted from Forstmann &
Company,  Inc.'s condensed  financial  statements for the twenty-six weeks ended
May 2, 1999 and is qualified  in its  entirety by  reference  to such  financial
statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Oct-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 Nov-02-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   May-02-1999
<CASH>                                         15
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  30,195
<ALLOWANCES>                                   1,609
<INVENTORY>                                    32,198
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               67,892
<PP&E>                                         19,773
<DEPRECIATION>                                 4,541
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 85,254
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          60,526
<BONDS>                                        712
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       44
<OTHER-SE>                                     23,972
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   85,254
<SALES>                                        45,540
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               45,540
<CGS>                                          43,645
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  43,645
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               6,184
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               300
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             2,794
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (7,939)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (7,939)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 54
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                314
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (7,679)
<EPS-BASIC>                                  (1.75)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (1.75)