Sourcing adjustable sewing dummies from China

UK duty on adjustable dressmaking dummies

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 November 2026, heading 9618 covers tailors' dummies and other lay figures, including adjustable dressmaking dummies. The supplied tariff has a single commodity line, 9618 00 00 00. The table shows product variants under that same line, each carrying 0% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension is recorded.

The tariff attaches import and export controls on cat and dog fur. Imports and exports of that fur, and products made from it, are banned, including goods sourced from China. Specify cover and padding materials and obtain the supplier's material declaration; reject any product containing cat or dog fur.

Confirm the commodity code against the finished dummy's construction and dressmaking use before shipment. See the wider mannequins and dress forms guide for the rest of the heading.

Specify usable adjustment ranges

Specify the minimum and maximum bust, waist, hip and neck measurements, back length, torso shape and stand height range. Ask which measurements adjust independently and whether the stated ranges can be achieved together. Approve a sample measured at the settings your customers will actually use.

Define shell material, padding thickness, cover fabric, pinning method, adjustment controls, height lock, base construction and any hem marker. Check whether pins enter the padding or only the cover. For consumer dress forms sold in Great Britain, confirm the applicable requirements under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 with the relevant authority; assess stability, sharp fittings and trapping points during adjustment.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 300 adjustable dressmaking dummies under 9618 00 00 00, invoiced at £36,000 free on board, with £4,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £40,200. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £40,200, so it is £8,040. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Measurements: measure the assembled torso at agreed settings and compare actual circumferences and back length with the approved specification.

Adjustment: operate every dial or slider through its travel; check for binding, slipping, cracked controls and panels that fail to hold their setting.

Stand: assemble the supplied base, check wobble and height locking, and examine fittings for sharp edges and accessible trapping points.

Cover and packing: check seams, padding adhesion and pinning performance; protect adjustment controls and pack stand parts so they cannot dent the torso.

What goes wrong

A nominal size range can hide incompatible settings: the bust reaches the required size while the waist or back length does not. Large panel gaps can distort a garment during fitting. Other failure points include slipping height clamps, stiff adjustment dials, loose stand joints and cover seams that lift when pinned.

Approve the assembled sample at representative fitting settings, then repeat those checks before shipment and on arrival. Photograph damaged cartons before unpacking and compare damaged controls with the packing arrangement. Use the quality inspection guide to prepare the inspection brief.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.