<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM 
WILSONS THE LEATHER EXPERTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES AS OF AUGUST 2, 1997 AND FOR 
THE THIRTEEN AND TWENTY-SIX WEEK PERIODS ENDED AUGUST 2, 1997 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>                         JAN-31-1998              JAN-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                            MAY-04-1997              FEB-02-1997
<PERIOD-END>                              AUG-02-1997              AUG-02-1997
<CASH>                                         24,091                   24,091
<SECURITIES>                                        0                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  12,334                   12,334
<ALLOWANCES>                                    4,843                    4,843
<INVENTORY>                                    87,177                   87,177
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              119,578                  119,578
<PP&E>                                         20,622                   20,622
<DEPRECIATION>                                  1,911                    1,911
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                140,041                  140,041
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          43,281                   43,281
<BONDS>                                        61,311                   61,311
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0                        0
<PREFERRED>                                         0                        0
<COMMON>                                           95                       95
<OTHER-SE>                                     33,358                   33,358
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  140,041                  140,041
<SALES>                                        36,471                   93,422
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               36,471                   93,422
<CGS>                                          36,957                   84,222
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  54,250                  120,713
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                  955                    1,842
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0                        0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              1,248                    1,919
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              (19,982)                 (31,052)
<INCOME-TAX>                                  (7,401)                 (11,208)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          (12,581)                 (19,844)
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0                        0
<CHANGES>                                           0                        0
<NET-INCOME>                                 (12,581)                 (19,844)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (1.22)                   (2.06)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (1.22)                   (2.06)
        

</TABLE>