WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This Schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
financial statements contained in the body of the accompanying Registration
Statement and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
statements.
</LEGEND>
<NAME> STEEL HEDDLE GROUP, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-02-1999             JAN-02-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-03-1998<F1>         MAY-25-1998<F1>
<CASH>                                           1,652                       0
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    9,079                       0
<ALLOWANCES>                                     (107)                       0
<INVENTORY>                                     17,690                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                29,217                       0
<PP&E>                                          42,031                       0
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (2,730)                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 193,752                       0
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           12,701                       0
<BONDS>                                        144,774                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             2                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                      14,952                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   193,752                       0
<SALES>                                         23,745                  29,631
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                23,745                  29,631
<CGS>                                           17,983                  18,628
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   17,983                  18,628
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 1,190                     412
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               6,698                   1,549
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (4,950)                   5,209
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (1,419)                   1,868
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (3,531)                   3,341
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (3,531)                   3,341
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0                       0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0
<FN>
<F1>On May 26, 1998, SH Group consummated the acquisition of Old Holdings and
recorded such purchase in accordance with APB 16 "Business Combinations".
Accordingly, the financial information presented for the nineteen weeks ended
october 3, 1998 is not comparable iwht that for prior periods.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>