Sourcing knitted detachable collars from China

Collar classification and duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6117 covers made-up knitted or crocheted clothing accessories and knitted garment or accessory parts. Its other-accessory and parts lines carry 12% duty from China; the elasticated or rubberised accessory line carries 8%. The supplied tariff facts show no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no suspensions.

The tariff attaches CITES, cat and dog fur, and seal-product import controls. Cat and dog fur products are banned from import. Materials from species within CITES permit categories require a permit. Seal products brought into Great Britain for trade need a seal catch certificate. For collars containing animal materials, ask your customs broker to confirm the species, eligibility and documents before ordering.

Describe whether the collar is a finished accessory or a garment part, and disclose any elasticated or rubberised construction when confirming the commodity code. The table distinguishes collar styles sharing a code; shape alone does not establish classification. See the wider knitted accessories guide for the heading.

Specify the neckline and fastening

State whether the collar is worn independently or attached to a garment. Specify yarn composition, knit structure, neck opening, collar depth, point or rounded-edge shape, front overlap and fastening position. Approve a sample worn with the intended shirt or jumper, checking that the collar lies flat and its edges remain visible.

Agree button, press-stud or hook construction, reinforcement and the washing method. Require fibre-content labelling, as described in the wider accessories guide, and confirm the applicable fibre-name requirements with the relevant authority. Test bulk yarn or finished collars against wool or cashmere claims, and agree acceptable changes in neck opening and collar shape after washing.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 3,000 knitted detachable collars under 6117 80 80 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,400. Duty at 12% is £768. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,168, so it is £1,433.60. Import taxes total £2,201.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £768 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit: measure the neck opening, collar depth and fastening overlap against the approved sample; check symmetry and whether the collar lies flat.

Knitting: check dropped stitches, loose yarn ends, uneven ribs, rough seams and edge curling across each colour.

Fastenings: operate closures repeatedly and pull-test their attachments against the agreed specification; check buttonholes for stretching and metal edges for snagging.

Fibre and washing: compare labels with fibre-test results, check colour transfer onto pale clothing, and measure the collar again after the agreed wash.

What goes wrong

A collar can match the flat measurements yet sit badly when worn. Uneven knitting pulls the points out of alignment, a tight seam curls the edge, and misplaced closures make the front overlap twist. Washing can enlarge the neck opening or shrink the collar depth, changing how it sits over a neckline.

Loose fastening stitches, stretched buttonholes and rough yarn can make an otherwise acceptable sample unsuitable for sale. Approve the worn fit and washed sample before bulk production, then compare shipment samples with both. Arrange checks through testing and certification.

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.