Sourcing dance tights from China

Duty and classification for dance tights

Heading 6115 covers knitted or crocheted tights and other hosiery. For dance tights, specify fibre composition and single-yarn fineness: the synthetic tights lines divide at 67 decitex. Do not classify by the word dance alone. The fashion tights guide covers the wider product family. For waterproof hosiery, see our guide to sourcing knitted waterproof socks. For mesh styles, see our fishnet tights sourcing guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the selected lines carried 12% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or import control. Elsewhere in this heading, 6115 94 00 00 and 6115 99 00 00 have CITES controls attached. If considering those materials, ask your customs broker to confirm the requirement for the actual species and product.

Confirm the commodity code using the yarn specification and a finished sample, particularly for footless or convertible designs. Keep tights distinct from leggings and graduated compression hosiery when briefing your broker.

Specify foot style, shade and movement

State whether the tights are footed, footless or convertible, and show the required opening and edge finish on the approved sample. Specify the fibre blend, single-yarn fineness, waistband, gusset, toe seam and size chart. Agree stretched opacity and a physical colour reference for each shade.

Assess fit during dance movement, including knee bends and pointed feet. Compare waistband comfort, crotch position and recovery after stretching and washing. In Great Britain, consumer products must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Fibre composition labelling is required; confirm the applicable label or marking requirements with the relevant authority.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative dance-school stock order of synthetic tights in assorted sizes under 6115 22 00 00, invoiced at £8,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,200. Duty at 12% is £1,104. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,304, so it is £2,060.80. Import taxes total £3,164.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,104 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit and recovery: compare production pairs across the size range with the approved sample, including waistband roll, crotch position and bagging at the knees.

Knit and seams: stretch the fabric to expose ladders, thin patches and dropped stitches; inspect toe seams, gusset joins and convertible openings.

Shade and washing: compare pairs and batches under the same lighting, then check colour transfer, dimensional change and stretch recovery after the agreed wash procedure.

Labels and packing: match fibre composition to the yarn records, check size and shade identification, and reconcile packs with the packing list. Arrange quality inspection before dispatch and repeat arrival checks against the retained sample.

What goes wrong

A sample can look opaque when relaxed but become visibly thin over bent knees. A convertible opening can ladder if its edge finish differs from the approved sample. Reject changes to yarn, knitting or finishing without reviewing a replacement sample.

Shade drift can leave a dance group with mismatched legs, while poor recovery produces sagging during use. Keep a sealed reference pair for repeat orders and record defects by size, shade and batch rather than accepting a general factory assurance.

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.