<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information for Marisa Christina,
Inc.'s Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 1996 and the Consolidated
Statement of Earnings for the year then ended and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                       1,044,094
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                               15,120,974
<ALLOWANCES>                                  (73,344)
<INVENTORY>                                 10,097,123
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            29,333,530
<PP&E>                                       4,817,052
<DEPRECIATION>                             (2,144,229)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              66,199,933
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       11,707,146
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        85,868
<OTHER-SE>                                  54,128,919
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                66,199,933
<SALES>                                    115,536,726
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           115,536,726
<CGS>                                     (75,584,880)
<TOTAL-COSTS>                             (29,777,439)
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                             (309,774)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           (918,189)
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             11,920,367
<INCOME-TAX>                               (4,543,826)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          7,376,541
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 7,376,541
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.87
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.87