Sourcing Invisible Dress Zips from China

UK duty on invisible dress zips

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 November 2026, heading 9607 covers slide fasteners and their parts. All listed lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control.

For nylon-coil invisible dress zips, the relevant starting point is 9607 19 00 00, covering slide fasteners other than those with base metal chain scoops. A metal slider does not describe the material of the chain scoops. The table includes the neighbouring metal-chain and parts lines to distinguish complete zips from component orders.

Confirm the construction and whether the shipment contains complete zips or parts before checking the commodity code. For other clothing fasteners, see our buckles, eyelets and rivets guide.

Specify the concealed coil and sewn seam

Specify coil material and size, closed-end construction, usable opening length, tape width and fibre, slider material, locking action, pull shape and bottom-stop construction. Define where length is measured. Approve tape and pull colours against the dress fabric, with tolerances agreed against a retained sample.

Sew samples into the intended fabric and lining using the production seam and zip foot. Check that the coil stays concealed, the seam lies flat and the slider passes the waist seam without catching. Agree checks after the intended washing, drying or pressing process.

Consumer products supplied in Great Britain must be safe under the General Product Safety Regulations. For metal parts in direct and prolonged skin contact, confirm applicable REACH nickel-release restrictions with HSE; for children's trims, also ask HSE whether the lead restriction discussed in our metal-trims guide applies. Agree relevant finish testing through testing and certification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 60,000 invisible dress zips across assorted lengths and colours under 9607 19 00 00, invoiced at £27,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £29,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £29,500, so it is £5,900. 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

Construction: compare coil, tape, slider, pull and stops with the approved sample; measure opening length and tape width using the agreed method.

Operation: open and close sampled zips, check locking action under garment tension, and inspect for coil separation, slider jamming and loose stops.

Sewn performance: fit samples into the actual fabric and lining; check concealment, puckering and passage across seam junctions before and after the agreed care process.

Colour and packing: compare tape and pulls with approved colour samples, check colour transfer onto pale fabric, and verify length, colour and batch identification on packs. Use an agreed inspection plan.

What goes wrong

A zip can run smoothly loose but catch after sewing because stitches sit too close to the coil or the waist seam is bulky. Uneven tape shrinkage can pucker the dress, while a mismatched slider can jam or let the chain separate under tension.

Tape shades drift between dye batches, pulls rub against delicate fabric and weak stops allow the slider to escape. Retain approved sewn samples and compare incoming lots with them before releasing zips to the sewing line.

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.