Sourcing brush fringe trimmings from China

UK duty on brush fringe trimmings

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 5808 covers braids and ornamental trimmings in the piece, without embroidery, other than knitted or crocheted, plus tassels, pompons and similar articles. Brush fringe supplied as an ornamental trimming in the piece is relevant to the other-trimmings line, 5808 90 00 00.

The supplied lines both carry 4% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control is recorded. The table contains the relevant brush-fringe line; the supplied facts do not contain enough distinct commodity lines to populate a larger table.

Confirm the construction and commodity code before ordering, especially where a supplier offers embroidered or knitted edging under the same description. See the bullion fringe guide for a related fringe family within the wider heading.

Specify the fringe face and sewing header

Specify the fibre composition of the header and fringe yarn separately, total width, exposed fringe depth, header width and thickness, cut or looped ends, yarn texture and colour reference. Agree the intended fullness against a physical sample, since photographs can hide a sparse fringe or a stiff header.

State whether the trim goes on washable clothing, cushions or curtain edges. Approve it sewn onto the intended fabric and agree care conditions, acceptable joins and roll packing. Provide garment makers with the fibre composition and confirm applicable textile-labelling requirements with Trading Standards. Confirm with HSE which UK REACH azo dye restrictions apply to dyed trims in prolonged skin contact.

For consumer sales, demonstrate compliance with the applicable product safety requirements before selling. Assess loose yarn and attachment security against the intended use, rather than accepting a supplier's generic claim that the fringe is suitable for every application.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20,000 metres of polyester brush fringe under 5808 90 00 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,600. Duty at 4% is £264. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,864, so it is £1,372.80. Import taxes total £1,636.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £264 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Profile: measure fringe depth and header width against the approved sample; check fullness, straightness and an even cut edge after unrolling.

Attachment: pull and brush sampled fringe yarns; check shedding, loose loops, header fraying and whether sewing distorts the trim.

Colour and care: compare rolls with the approved colour sample; test rubbing, washing and shrinkage under the agreed care conditions alongside the receiving fabric.

Rolls: measure sampled lengths, record joins and compare colour references with the packing list; check for crushed fringe, dampness and tangled ends. Plan checks using the inspection guide.

What goes wrong

Brush fringe can arrive flattened, unevenly cut or less full than the approved sample. Loose yarn sheds onto upholstery, a stiff header resists curves, and dark dye transfers onto pale fabric. Different shrinkage between the header and fringe can leave a puckered seam or an uneven edge.

Keep an approved sewn sample and compare production rolls with it before shipment and on arrival. Record recurring defects by colour and batch, and ask the factory to correct the yarn anchoring, cutting or packing process before repeating the order.

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.