GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 29, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 29, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 30, 2017
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross amount	$ 229,611,000	$ 234,193,000	$ 229,611,000	$ 234,193,000	$ 230,424,000
Goodwill, Net amount	229,611,000	234,193,000	229,611,000	234,193,000	230,424,000
Finite intangible assets, Gross amount		48,176,000		48,176,000
Finite intangible assets, Accumulated amortization		1,554,000		1,554,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		46,622,000		46,622,000
Amortization costs	900,000	800,000	2,800,000	1,700,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Next Twelve Months	3,751,000.000		3,751,000.000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Two	3,751,000		3,751,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Three	3,751,000		3,751,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Four	3,751,000		3,751,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Five	3,708,000		3,708,000
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
Canada Acquisition Goodwill [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross amount	41,074,000	42,514,000	41,074,000	42,514,000	42,223,000
Goodwill, Net amount	41,074,000	42,514,000	41,074,000	42,514,000	42,223,000
Skip Hop Goodwill [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross amount	45,976,000	49,190,000	45,976,000	49,190,000	45,997,000
Goodwill, Net amount	45,976,000	49,190,000	45,976,000	49,190,000	45,997,000
Carters Mexico [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross amount	5,991,000	5,919,000	5,991,000	5,919,000	5,634,000
Goodwill, Net amount	5,991,000	5,919,000	5,991,000	5,919,000	5,634,000
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 Trade Name [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
Skip Hop Trade Name [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite intangible assets	56,800,000	56,800,000	56,800,000	56,800,000	56,800,000
Tradenames [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite intangible assets, Accumulated amortization	690,000	38,978,000	690,000	38,978,000	532,000
Intangible assets, Gross amount	366,444,000	404,573,000	366,444,000	404,573,000	366,083,000
Indefinite-lived trademarks	365,754,000	365,595,000	365,754,000	365,595,000	365,551,000
Other Tradenames [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite intangible assets, Gross amount	3,911,000	42,040,000	3,911,000	42,040,000	3,550,000
Finite intangible assets, Accumulated amortization	690,000	38,978,000	690,000	38,978,000	532,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	3,221,000	3,062,000	3,221,000	3,062,000	3,018,000
Customer Relationships [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite intangible assets, Gross amount	50,589,000		50,589,000		50,435,000
Finite intangible assets, Accumulated amortization	5,064,000		5,064,000		2,439,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	45,525,000		$ 45,525,000		47,996,000
Skip Hop Customer Relationships [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted-average useful life			15 years
Finite intangible assets, Gross amount	47,300,000	44,800,000	$ 47,300,000	44,800,000	47,300,000
Finite intangible assets, Accumulated amortization	4,686,000	1,554,000	4,686,000	1,554,000	2,304,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	42,614,000	43,246,000	$ 42,614,000	43,246,000	44,996,000
Carters Mexico Customer Relationships [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted-average useful life			10 years
Finite intangible assets, Gross amount	3,289,000	3,376,000	$ 3,289,000	3,376,000	3,135,000
Finite intangible assets, Accumulated amortization	378,000	0	378,000	0	135,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	$ 2,911,000	$ 3,376,000	$ 2,911,000	$ 3,376,000	$ 3,000,000
Minimum \| Other Tradenames [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted-average useful life			5 years
Maximum \| Other Tradenames [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted-average useful life			20 years

[Line Items] for Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Table]

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- Definition

Indefinite and Finite Lived Intangible Assets, Gross

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Weighted average amortization period of finite-lived intangible assets acquired either individually or as part of a group of assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16265-109275

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- Definition

The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275

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- Definition

Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275

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- Definition

Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References