<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM WILSONS THE
LEATHER EXPERTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES AS OF OCTOBER 28, 2000 AND FOR THE THREE
AND NINE MONTH PERIODS ENDED OCTOBER 28, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-03-2001 FEB-03-2001
<PERIOD-START> JUL-30-2000 JAN-30-2000
<PERIOD-END> OCT-28-2000 OCT-28-2000
<CASH> 651 651
<SECURITIES> 0 0
<RECEIVABLES> 13,999 13,999
<ALLOWANCES> 574 574
<INVENTORY> 200,318 200,318
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 220,031 220,031
<PP&E> 84,246 84,246
<DEPRECIATION> 19,881 19,881
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 285,852 285,852
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 136,674 136,674
<BONDS> 30,590 30,590
0 0
0 0
<COMMON> 168 168
<OTHER-SE> 114,319 114,319
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 285,852 285,852
<SALES> 108,592 255,451
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 108,592 255,451
<CGS> 71,770 181,597
<TOTAL-COSTS> 107,803 277,184
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 2,701 7,097
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,029 2,040
<INCOME-PRETAX> (3,941) (30,870)
<INCOME-TAX> (1,577) (12,349)
<INCOME-CONTINUING> (2,364) (18,521)
<DISCONTINUED> 0 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0 (623)
<CHANGES> 0 0
<NET-INCOME> (2,364) (19,144)
<EPS-BASIC> (0.14) (1.15)
<EPS-DILUTED> (0.14) (1.15)
</TABLE>