<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule  contains  financial  information  extracted from Forstmann &
Company,  Inc.'s condensed consolidated financial statements for the thirty-nine
weeks ended August 1, 1999 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements.

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Oct-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 Nov-02-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   Aug-01-1999
<CASH>                                         204
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  29,329
<ALLOWANCES>                                   1,778
<INVENTORY>                                    23,499
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               54,507
<PP&E>                                         19,664
<DEPRECIATION>                                 5,188
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 70,903
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          47,531
<BONDS>                                        265
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       44
<OTHER-SE>                                     16,779
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   70,903
<SALES>                                        68,930
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               68,930
<CGS>                                          66,203
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  66,203
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               8,390
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               469
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             4,311
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                13,787
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (13,787)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 1,400
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                314
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (14,873)
<EPS-BASIC>                                  (3.38)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (3.38)