Sourcing grip socks from China

Duty and classification for grip socks

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6115 covers knitted or crocheted hosiery and footwear without applied soles. This guide concerns ordinary grip socks with grip dots or printing. Submit samples for classification if the construction includes an applied sole. See the wider socks and hosiery guide.

The selected lines all carry 12% duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duties or suspensions. The wool and other-textile lines have attached CITES import and export controls. If materials come from CITES-listed Annex A or B species, an import permit is required. Ask your customs broker to confirm species coverage, restrictions and the documents required for the Chinese shipment before ordering.

Confirm the commodity code against the fibre composition, sock construction and grip application. Describe the yarn blend and provide photographs of the underside rather than relying on the supplier's description of the product as a yoga or Pilates sock.

Specify the grip surface and sock fit

Specify the yarn blend, size chart, toe closure, heel position, cuff stretch and grip material. Draw the grip pattern, including coverage under the heel and forefoot, and agree acceptable placement and thickness. Identify the intended floor or mat surfaces and whether use will be dry or damp.

Agree a repeatable grip comparison on those surfaces, using the approved sample as the reference. Include grip adhesion, stretching and performance after the agreed washing procedure. Avoid approving a product solely because the dots feel sticky by hand.

Textile labels must show fibre content. Use a durable, legible, visible and accessible label, matching the yarn specification. UK businesses importing or selling consumer products are responsible for their safety. Keep material details, sample approvals and grip-test results with the order.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative mixed-size order of cotton grip socks for a studio retailer under 6115 95 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

Grip: check pattern position, missing dots, uneven deposits and peeling when the fabric stretches. Compare performance on the agreed surfaces.

Fit: check heel position, toe seams, cuff recovery and movement of the sock around the foot. Confirm that the grip pattern sits beneath the foot when worn.

Washing: compare grip adhesion, cracking, dimensions, colour transfer and elastic recovery before and after the agreed wash procedure.

Packaging: check fibre composition, size and pair matching against the approved artwork. Include these checks in the inspection brief, then repeat them on arrival.

What goes wrong

Grip deposits can detach, crack or stick to neighbouring pairs in the pack. A pattern that works on a studio mat may behave differently on a smooth floor. Changing the grip compound or its curing process can make production stock differ from the approved sample.

The sock can also rotate around the foot while its underside grips the floor. Check fit alongside surface grip. Record the intended surfaces and washing instructions in the specification, and resolve changes to yarn, grip material or artwork before releasing the shipment.

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.