Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 03, 2015
Dec. 28, 2013
Dec. 29, 2012
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts      
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]      
Balance at the beginning of period $ 45,350us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		$ 48,998us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		$ 54,010us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
Charged to costs and expenses (2,198)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		15,756us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		19,274us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
Deductions 16,458us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		[1] 19,404us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		[1] 24,286us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		[1]
Balance at end of period 26,694us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		45,350us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		48,998us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
Other Accounts Receivable Allowances      
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]      
Balance at the beginning of period 170,242us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= vfc_OtherAccountsReceivableAllowancesMember 		153,934us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= vfc_OtherAccountsReceivableAllowancesMember 		150,406us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= vfc_OtherAccountsReceivableAllowancesMember
Charged to costs and expenses 1,337,161us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= vfc_OtherAccountsReceivableAllowancesMember 		1,487,015us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= vfc_OtherAccountsReceivableAllowancesMember 		1,461,768us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= vfc_OtherAccountsReceivableAllowancesMember
Deductions 1,320,710us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= vfc_OtherAccountsReceivableAllowancesMember 		[2] 1,470,707us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= vfc_OtherAccountsReceivableAllowancesMember 		[2] 1,458,240us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= vfc_OtherAccountsReceivableAllowancesMember 		[2]
Balance at end of period 186,693us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= vfc_OtherAccountsReceivableAllowancesMember 		170,242us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= vfc_OtherAccountsReceivableAllowancesMember 		153,934us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= vfc_OtherAccountsReceivableAllowancesMember
Valuation Allowance of Deferred Tax Assets      
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]      
Balance at the beginning of period 107,521us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember 		99,703us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember 		151,556us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember
Charged to costs and expenses   (3,422)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember 		(33,060)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember
Charged to other accounts (10,719)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember 		[3] 11,240us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember 		[3] (18,793)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember 		[3]
Balance at end of period $ 96,802us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember 		$ 107,521us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember 		$ 99,703us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember
[1] Deductions include accounts written off, net of recoveries, and the effects of foreign currency translation.
[2] Deductions include discounts, markdowns and returns, and the effects of foreign currency translation.
[3] Additions relate to circumstances where it is more likely than not that deferred income tax assets will not be realized, purchase accounting adjustments, and the effects of foreign currency translation.