<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR MARISA CHRISTINA, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND THE CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF EARNINGS FOR THE SIX MONTHS THEN ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
1996.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                       1,442,525
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                               13,219,276
<ALLOWANCES>                                   220,272
<INVENTORY>                                 11,822,328
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            30,831,685
<PP&E>                                       5,844,331
<DEPRECIATION>                               3,114,995
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              68,123,842
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       16,431,321
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        85,868
<OTHER-SE>                                  51,478,653
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                68,123,842
<SALES>                                     82,797,236
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                     0
<CGS>                                       53,581,250
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               22,286,358
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               265,456
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             644,988
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              7,741,431
<INCOME-TAX>                                 3,015,156
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          4,726,275
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 4,726,275
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.55
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.55