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Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] Purchase Commitment, Excluding Long-term Commitment [Line Items] Purchase Commitment, Excluding Long-term Commitment [Line Items] Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] Withholdings from vesting of restricted stock Payments for Repurchase of Other Equity Deferred Income Tax Liabilities, Net Deferred Income Tax Liabilities, Net Reporting Unit, Percentage of Fair Value in Excess of Carrying Amount Reporting Unit, Percentage of Fair Value in Excess of Carrying Amount Proceeds from Issuance of Debt Proceeds from Issuance of Debt Security Exchange Name Security Exchange Name Tradenames, net Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year Fair value of plan assets at end of year Fair value of plan assets Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Amount Furniture And Fixtures And Computer 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The rights acquired through registration of a business name to gain or protect exclusive use thereof. Schedule of Property, Plant and Equipment [Table] Property, Plant and Equipment [Table] Vesting period (in years) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period Accounting Policies [Abstract] Accounting Policies [Abstract] Five Point Two Five Percent Senior Notes due Twenty Twenty Seven Member [Member] Five Point Two Five Percent Senior Notes due Twenty Twenty Seven Member [Member] Five Point Two Five Percent Senior Notes due Twenty Twenty Seven Member After 2025 Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, to be Paid, after Year Five Retail Store Fixtures, Equipment, and Computers [Member] Furniture and Fixtures [Member] Entity Address, State or Province Entity Address, State or Province Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period Vested (in shares) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period Operating Lease, Payments Operating Lease, Payments Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME Comprehensive Income (Loss) Note [Text Block] Schedule of Cash and Cash Equivalents [Table] Schedule of Cash and Cash Equivalents [Table] INTERNAL-USE SOFTWARE Internal Use Software, Policy [Policy Text Block] Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items] Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items] Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) United States Dollar Credit Facility [Member] United States Dollar Credit Facility [Member] United States Dollar Credit Facility [Member] Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items] Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items] Repayments of Lines of Credit Repayments of Lines of Credit Operating lease assets Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset Loss on extinguishment of debt Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt Weighted-average useful life Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life Income allocated to participating securities Undistributed Earnings (Loss) Allocated to Participating Securities, Diluted Real Estate Investments [Member] Real Estate Investment [Member] 2021 Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, to be Paid, Year One Outstanding, beginning balance (in shares) Outstanding, ending balance (in shares) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number Minimum liquidity Minimum liquidity Minimum liquidity 2024 Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, to be Paid, Year Four Unrecognized compensation cost Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Amount Income allocated to participating securities Undistributed Earnings (Loss) Allocated to Participating Securities, Basic Net deferred tax liability Net deferred tax liability [Table Text Block] A tabular disclosure of net deferred tax liability as classified on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. Canada CANADA State Current State and Local Tax Expense (Benefit) Preferred stock; par value $.01 per share; 100,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding at January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019 Preferred Stock, Value, Issued COVID 19 PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT [Member] COVID 19 PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT [Member] COVID 19 PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT INCOME TAXES Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block] Lease, Cost, Total Lease, Cost Other comprehensive income: Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract] Exercisable (in shares) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Number Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Table] Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Table] Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Table] Common stock, voting; par value (USD per share) Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Premiums paid to extinguish debt Payment for Debt Extinguishment or Debt Prepayment Cost Payment for Debt Extinguishment or Debt Prepayment Cost Marketable Securities Marketable Securities Unredeemed gift cards Contract With Customer Liability Unredeemed Gift Cards Current Contract With Customer Liability Unredeemed Gift Cards Current 2023 Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payment, Year Three Other long-term liabilities Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Increase in the number of shares under the existing plan (in shares) Increase Decrease shares authorized stock compensation plan Increase (decrease) in the number of the duly authorized stock compensation plan. 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Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract] Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract] Entity Small Business Entity Small Business PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block] Settlement of uncertain tax positions Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Tax Settlement, Percent 5600 Retail, Apparel and Accessory Stores [Member] 5600 Retail, Apparel and Accessory Stores [Member] Fair Value, Measurements, Fair Value Hierarchy [Domain] Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Domain] Weighted-average remaining contractual terms (years), Exercisable Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term Prepaid expenses and other current assets Prepaid Expense, Current Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock Selling, General and Administrative Expenses Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member] Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period One [Member] Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period One [Member] Amendment Flag Amendment Flag Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block] Summary of recorded stock-based compensation cost Disclosure of Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award [Table Text Block] Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Major Class Name [Domain] Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Major Class Name [Domain] Skip Hop Goodwill [Member] Skip Hop Goodwill [Member] Skip Hop Goodwill [Member] Stock available under the existing plan (in shares) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized Deferred tax assets: Deferred Tax Assets, Gross [Abstract] Real Estate [Member] Real Estate [Member] Available for grant under the Plan (in shares) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant Secured revolving credit facility Long-term Line of Credit FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS Fair Value Measurement, Policy [Policy Text Block] Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Category [Axis] Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Category [Axis] Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Entity Central Index Key Entity Central Index Key ORGANIZATIONAL RESTRUCTURING AND OFFICE CONSOLIDATION Restructuring and Related Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Minimum hours service participation for the defined contribution plan (in hours) Minimum hours service participation for the defined contribution plan Minimum service requirement in hours for participation in the defined contribution plan. 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Receivables, Net, Current Receivables, Net, Current Depreciation Deferred Tax Liabilities Depreciation The amount as of the balance sheet date of the estimated future tax effects attributable to the difference between the tax basis of depreciation expense and the basis of depreciation expense computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Total assets Assets Corporate expenses Corporate Expenses Corporate expenses generally include expenses related to incentive compensation , stock-based compensation, executive management, severance and relocation, finance, building occupancy, information technology, certain legal fees, consulting, and audit fees during the reporting period. 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Interest paid in cash Interest Paid, Including Capitalized Interest, Operating and Investing Activities USE OF ESTIMATES IN THE PREPARATION OF THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block] Current assets: Assets, Current [Abstract] Interest income Investment Income, Interest Performance-based restricted stock awards to the CEO Performance-based Restricted Stock Awards to the CEO [Member] Performance-based restricted stock awarded to the CEO. 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Total Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest IMPAIRMENT OF OTHER LONG-LIVED ASSETS Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block] Other Products [Member] Other Products [Member] Other Products [Member] Deferred employee benefits Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Deferred Expense, Compensation and Benefits, Employee Benefits Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Domain] Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Domain] Proceeds from senior notes due 2027 Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss Land, Buildings, and Improvements [Member] Land, Buildings and Improvements [Member] Disaggregation of Revenue [Table] Disaggregation of Revenue [Table] Percentage of total net sales Percentage Of Total Net Sales The percentage of net product revenue to total net revenue from the sale of goods for the reporting period. Operating Lease, Impairment Loss Operating Lease, Impairment Loss Expected contribution and benefit payment, five years subsequent to 2017 2026-2030 Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payment, after Year Five for Next Five Years Carters Mexico Customer Relationships [Member] Carters Mexico Customer Relationships [Member] Carters Mexico Customer Relationships [Member] Benefit Related to Sale of Inventory Previously Reserved Benefit Related To Sale Of Inventory Previously Reserved Benefit Related To Sale Of Inventory Previously Reserved Stock Repurchased During Period, Value Stock Repurchased During Period, Value Long-term Debt, Type [Domain] Long-term Debt, Type [Domain] Stock-based compensation expense Stock-based compensation Share-based Payment Arrangement, Noncash Expense Lease exit costs Lease exit costs [Member] Lease exit costs [Member] Marketing Fixtures [Member] Marketing Fixtures [Member] Capitalized costs of marketing fixtures. 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Alternatively, disclosure of the required information may be within the footnotes to the financial statements or a supplemental schedule to the financial statements. 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Member Award Type [Domain] Award Type [Domain] Planned Store Closures Planned Store Closures Planned Store Closures Postretirement Benefit Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member] Trading Symbol Trading Symbol Weighted-average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding: Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding Reconciliation [Abstract] Weighted- average exercise price per share, Exercisable (in dollars per share) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Tenant allowances and other receivables [Member] Tenant allowances and other receivables [Member] Amounts due from property owners for tenant allowance and other receivables due from third parties. Schedule of Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Table] Schedule of Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Table] Customer relationships, net Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Customer Relationships Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Customer Relationships Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping [Table] Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping [Table] Maximum disclosure percentage for gross accounts receivable Maximum disclosure percentage gross accounts receivable The maximum customer concentration of sales or accounts receivable being separately disclosed, as of the balance sheet date. Tax reserve for which statute of limitations is expected to expire Tax Reserve Statue Of Limitation Expected To Expire Tax reserve for which statute of limitations is expected to expire. Reclassification of Accounts Receivable Gross Current Reclassification Of Accounts Receivable Gross Current Reclassification Of Accounts Receivable Gross Current Purchase Commitment, Excluding Long-term Commitment [Table] Purchase Commitment, Excluding Long-term Commitment [Table] EARNINGS PER SHARE Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Impairment of Operating lease and Other long-Lived Asset Impairment of Operating lease and Other long-Lived Asset Impairment of Operating lease and Other long-Lived Asset Pension Plans Pension Plan [Member] Wholesale shipping and handling costs Wholesale shipping and handling costs Wholesale shipping and handling costs Discount rate Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Benefit Obligation, Discount Rate Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] Current liabilities: Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Statutory federal income tax rate Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent Foreign Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Foreign Entity Shell Company Entity Shell Company Debt Instrument Redemption [Table] Debt Instrument Redemption [Table] Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] Withholdings from vesting of restricted stock (in shares) Share-based Payment Arrangement, Shares Withheld for Tax Withholding Obligation Weighted- average exercise price per share, Vested and Expected to Vest (in dollars per share) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price Expired (in dollars per share) Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Expirations in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block] Borrowings under secured revolving credit facility Proceeds from Lines of Credit Entity Public Float Entity Public Float Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]