<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
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          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>