Sourcing detachable dress straps from China
Heading 6217 carries 6% to 12% UK duty from China; detachable woven dress straps classified as garment parts carry 12%, with no listed trade remedy or suspension. Textile products generally need fibre composition labelling. Check hook fit and attachment strength. Cambridge China Bridge sources detachable textile dress straps.
Dress straps as garment parts: 12% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 6217 covers other made-up clothing accessories and garment or accessory parts, excluding goods of heading 6212. Accessories carry 6%; parts under 6217 90 00 00 carry 12% for goods from China. The supplied data lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The table shows strap variants within the same parts line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.
The parts line attaches CITES, cat and dog fur, and seal-product import controls. CITES specimens need an import permit. Cat and dog fur and products made from it are banned from import. Seal products for trade need a seal catch certificate; confirm eligibility with your broker before ordering animal trims. The accessory lines also attach a torture-and-repression import prohibition and related export restrictions; ask your broker to confirm the requirements if an accessory code is proposed.
For detachable woven straps supplied as dress components, use the parts line as a classification starting point. Give your broker the fabric construction, intended garment, attachment design and sample photographs. Confirm the commodity code before ordering, especially for knitted straps or products intended for underwear. See the replacement woven shirt-collars guide for the wider garment-parts heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detachable woven satin dress straps, as garment parts | 6217 90 00 00 | 12% | None |
Specify straps against the actual dress
Specify fibre composition, woven construction, strap width, finished length and the adjustable range. State whether length includes the hooks and how it is measured. Agree the fabric face, colour, stretch and recovery, edge finish, seam position and whether straps are packed as matched pairs.
Supply the dress attachment loops with the sample brief. Define hook opening, orientation, material and finish, adjuster shape and the stitching around each folded end. Trial the straps on the dress while moving and after washing. Agree pull, adjustment-slip and colour-transfer checks against an approved sample.
Textile products sold to consumers generally need fibre composition labelling. Confirm with HSE which REACH restrictions apply to azo dyes in skin-contact textile parts and nickel release from metal parts in prolonged skin contact. Include the relevant checks in the testing brief, using the actual fabric colours and hardware finishes.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order, not a quotation: 1,000 pairs of detachable woven satin dress straps under 6217 90 00 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,800. Duty at 12% is £816. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,616, so it is £1,523.20. Import taxes total £2,339.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £816 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Dimensions: measure finished length, width and adjustable range using the agreed method; compare matched straps and check that the fabric lies flat.
Attachments: fit hooks to the dress loops, check orientation and sharp edges, pull the stitched ends and check that adjusters hold under repeated movement.
Fabric and finish: inspect fraying, seam puckering and snagging; check stretch recovery, washing behaviour and colour transfer onto the dress fabric.
Labels and packing: check fibre information against the specification, confirm matched pairs and separate colours and sizes. Use the quality inspection guide to agree how results are recorded.
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What goes wrong
A hook can look correct in a photograph yet be too open, too thick or reversed for the dress loop. Slippery satin can creep through an adjuster, while weak stitching lets the folded end pull free. A successful loose-strap sample does not establish that the strap works on the finished dress.
Different dye batches leave paired straps visibly mismatched, dark colours transfer onto pale dresses, and rough hook edges snag the fabric. Retain the approved strap and dress-loop samples together, record any material changes and repeat the affected checks before accepting replacement stock.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on detachable dress straps from China?
The supplied tariff data gives 12% for garment parts under 6217 90 00 00. Accessory lines carry 6%. Confirm the classification of your straps; no trade remedy or suspension is listed.
Do detachable textile dress straps need fibre labels?
Textile products sold to consumers generally need fibre composition labelling. Agree the fibre information and labelling arrangement for straps sold separately.
How do I check whether replacement straps fit my dresses?
Send the factory the actual dress loops. Check hook opening and orientation, finished length, adjustment range and whether the hooks stay attached during movement.
What should I test on adjustable dress straps?
Check stitched-end strength, adjuster slip, washing behaviour, stretch recovery and colour transfer. Include applicable REACH checks for skin-contact fabric and metal hardware.