Sourcing hat sweatbands from China

UK duty on hat sweatbands

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, hat sweatbands supplied as headgear parts fall within heading 6507, commodity code 6507 00 00 00. Goods from China carry 0% duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension listed. The table shows product variants covered by the same tariff line.

The tariff attaches import controls on cat and dog fur and seal products, plus an export control on cat and dog fur. Imports and exports of cat and dog fur, including products made from it, are banned. Seal products under the traditional indigenous-hunt exemption require a seal catch attestation. For any seal-derived band sourced through China, ask your customs broker to confirm eligibility and the required documents before ordering.

Confirm the commodity code from the material, construction and intended use as a fitted hat part. Finished hats are classified separately. See the wider hat-parts guide for linings, peaks and other components.

Specify forehead contact and fitted dimensions

State the face material, backing, padding, width, thickness, finished length and attachment method. For elasticated bands, agree relaxed dimensions and stretch recovery. Send the hat pattern and approve a sample sewn into the intended hat, checking forehead pressure, seam position and the space left for the wearer.

Confirm with the Health and Safety Executive which UK REACH restrictions apply to azo dyes that release listed aromatic amines in dyed textile sweatbands and to nickel release from metal fittings in prolonged skin contact. Request reports matching the supplied materials and colours. Obtain textile composition information for the finished hat's fibre label, and agree the washing conditions the band must withstand.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 20,000 textile hat sweatbands, illustrative order under 6507 00 00 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,900. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,900, so it is £1,980. 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

Fit: measure width and finished length against the approved pattern, then fit sampled bands into hats and check pressure, twisting and stretch recovery.

Colour: check each colour for transfer to damp skin-contact surfaces and pale hat fabric, and review perspiration and washing test results.

Construction: check attachment stitching, joined ends, folded edges and padding for roughness, loose threads, exposed adhesive and separation.

Arrival: compare material, colour and size batches with the approved sample and packing list; check for dampness, mould and crushed or permanently creased bands.

What goes wrong

A band can match the flat dimensions but tighten the finished hat after sewing or washing. Dark dye can stain foreheads and pale crowns, elastic can lose recovery, and a bulky joining seam can press against the wearer. Trial the approved band in the actual hat and repeat the agreed wash and fit checks before accepting bulk production.

Keep the approved sample, material specification and test reports tied to the production batch. Compare arrival samples with those records before fitting the bands into saleable hats. Use the quality inspection guide to agree what the inspector checks.

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.