GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Dec. 28, 2013
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization costs	$ 2,300,000	$ 6,300,000	$ 14,200,000	$ 7,300,000
Goodwill, Gross amount	184,196,000	188,006,000	184,196,000	188,006,000	186,077,000
Goodwill, Net amount	184,196,000	188,006,000	184,196,000	188,006,000	186,077,000
Finite intangible assets, Accumulated amortization	28,505,000	8,019,000	28,505,000	8,019,000	14,324,000
Total, Gross amount	344,551,000	344,615,000	344,551,000	344,615,000	344,582,000
Total, Net amount	316,046,000	336,596,000	316,046,000	336,596,000	330,258,000
Carter's Goodwill [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross amount	136,570,000	136,570,000	136,570,000	136,570,000	136,570,000
Goodwill, Net amount	136,570,000	136,570,000	136,570,000	136,570,000	136,570,000
Bonnie Togs Goodwill [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross amount	47,626,000	51,436,000	47,626,000	51,436,000	49,507,000
Goodwill, Net amount	47,626,000	51,436,000	47,626,000	51,436,000	49,507,000
Carter's Tradename [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite intangible assets	220,233,000	220,233,000	220,233,000	220,233,000	220,233,000
Oshkosh Tradename [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite intangible assets	85,500,000	85,500,000	85,500,000	85,500,000	85,500,000
Tradenames [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite intangible assets, Accumulated amortization	28,286,000	7,855,000	28,286,000	7,855,000	14,150,000
Intangible assets, Gross amount	344,281,000	344,324,000	344,281,000	344,324,000	344,302,000
Indefinite-lived trademarks	315,995,000	336,469,000	315,995,000	336,469,000	330,152,000
Other Tradenames [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization costs	2,300,000	6,300,000	14,200,000	7,300,000
Future amortization expense, remainder of fiscal year	2,300,000		2,300,000
Future amortization expense, 2015	6,200,000		6,200,000
Future amortization expense, 2016	1,800,000		1,800,000
Weighted-average useful life			3 years	3 years	3 years
Finite intangible assets, Gross amount	38,007,000	38,007,000	38,007,000	38,007,000	38,007,000
Finite intangible assets, Accumulated amortization	27,745,000	7,271,000	27,745,000	7,271,000	13,588,000
Finite intangible assets, Net amount	10,262,000	30,736,000	10,262,000	30,736,000	24,419,000
Bonnie Togs Tradename [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted-average useful life			2 years	2 years	2 years
Finite intangible assets, Gross amount	541,000	584,000	541,000	584,000	562,000
Finite intangible assets, Accumulated amortization	541,000	584,000	541,000	584,000	562,000
Finite intangible assets, Net amount	0	0	0	0	0
Non-compete Agreements [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted-average useful life			4 years	4 years	4 years
Finite intangible assets, Gross amount	270,000	291,000	270,000	291,000	280,000
Finite intangible assets, Accumulated amortization	219,000	164,000	219,000	164,000	174,000
Finite intangible assets, Net amount	$ 51,000	$ 127,000	$ 51,000	$ 127,000	$ 106,000