<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM WILSONS THE
LEATHER EXPERTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES AS OF JULY 29, 2000 AND FOR THE THREE
MONTHS AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JULY 29, 2000, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          FEB-03-2001             FEB-03-2001
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-30-2000             JAN-30-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-29-2000             JUL-29-2000
<CASH>                                           4,586                   4,586
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   10,747                  10,747
<ALLOWANCES>                                       678                     678
<INVENTORY>                                    125,249                 125,249
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               146,315                 146,315
<PP&E>                                          75,763                  75,763
<DEPRECIATION>                                  17,191                  17,191
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 206,452                 206,452
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           56,205                  56,205
<BONDS>                                         30,590                  30,590
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           167                     167
<OTHER-SE>                                     115,820                 115,820
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   206,452                 206,452
<SALES>                                         56,551                 146,859
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                56,551                 146,859
<CGS>                                           49,633                 109,827
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   79,342                 169,381
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 2,393                   4,396
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 488                      11
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (25,672)                (26,929)
<INCOME-TAX>                                  (10,269)                (10,772)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (15,403)                (16,157)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                   (623)
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (15,403)                (16,780)
<EPS-BASIC>                                     (0.92)                  (1.01)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.92)                  (1.01)




</TABLE>