Note 24 - Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates and Variable Interest Entities (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended	48 Months Ended	72 Months Ended						0 Months Ended										72 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2018	Oct. 30, 2015	Mar. 24, 2013	Jun. 24, 2012	Mar. 25, 2012	Jun. 26, 2011	Dec. 29, 2012 Five Largest Customers [Member] Parkdale America, LLC [Member] Sales Revenue, Goods, Net [Member]	Dec. 29, 2012 Five Largest Customers [Member] Parkdale America, LLC [Member] Accounts Receivable [Member]	Dec. 29, 2012 Largest Customer [Member] Parkdale America, LLC [Member] Sales Revenue, Goods, Net [Member]	Dec. 29, 2012 Largest Customer [Member] Parkdale America, LLC [Member] Accounts Receivable [Member]	Mar. 24, 2013 EAP Program [Member] Parkdale America, LLC [Member]	Dec. 23, 2012 EAP Program [Member] Parkdale America, LLC [Member]	Jun. 24, 2012 EAP Program [Member] Parkdale America, LLC [Member]	Mar. 25, 2012 EAP Program [Member] Parkdale America, LLC [Member]	Dec. 25, 2011 EAP Program [Member] Parkdale America, LLC [Member]	Jun. 26, 2011 EAP Program [Member] Parkdale America, LLC [Member]	Oct. 30, 2015 Customer Concentration Risk [Member] Parkdale America, LLC [Member]	Mar. 30, 2013 Parkdale America, LLC [Member]	Mar. 30, 2011 Parkdale America, LLC [Member]	Mar. 29, 2011 Parkdale America, LLC [Member]	Jun. 30, 1997 Parkdale America, LLC [Member]	Mar. 24, 2013 UNF and UNF America [Member]	Jun. 24, 2012 UNF and UNF America [Member]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage																							34.00%
Number of Manufacturing Facilities					13
Concentration Risk, Percentage									82.00%	77.00%	38.00%	35.00%							95.00%
Number of Months Following the Marketing Year that the Government Subsidy Was Earned by PAL	18 months
Federal Government Susidy Program Per Unit		four cents	three cents
Number of Years Covered by the Supply Agreement Between PAL and HBI				6 years
Number of Times the Supply Agreement Between PAL and HBI Can Be Extended				2
Number of Years the Supply Agreement Between PAL and HBI Can Be Extended Per Extension				3 years
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity																					$ 200,000	$ 100,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value					15,901	10,886	35,820	27,490												24,554
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding																				5,000
Equity Method Investments					92,971	95,763														88,304				4,667
Purchase Commitment, Remaining Minimum Amount Committed																								6,711
Accounts Payable, Related Parties					678	496																		3,744	4,184
Percentage of Current and Total Assets and Total Liabilities Accounted for by Equity Method Investments																								3.00%
Deferred Revenue													$ 6,930	$ 4,990	$ 166	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0