Sourcing knitted netball dresses from China

UK duty on knitted netball dresses

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6104 covers women's or girls' knitted or crocheted garments, including dresses. The selected netball dress lines all carry 12% duty on goods from China; the duty range therefore has no variation. No anti-dumping or countervailing measures or suspensions are recorded for these lines.

The tariff attaches cat and dog fur import and export controls and seal-product import controls. Cat and dog fur products are banned from import and export. Seal products imported into Great Britain for sale must qualify under the Inuit and other indigenous communities' exemption and have a seal catch certificate. For a China shipment containing such materials, confirm eligibility and documents with your customs broker.

The other-textile-materials dress line also carries CITES import and export controls. If a dress contains CITES-listed material, apply for the relevant permission and contact China's management authority for corresponding documents. Confirm the commodity code against construction and fibre composition. For the wider heading, see knitted tennis dresses.

Specify movement fit, team artwork and bib patches

Specify the fibre blend, knitted construction, fabric weight, stretch direction, recovery and coverage when stretched. Supply a graded measurement chart covering chest, waist, hip, body length, armholes and hem width, with measurement methods and tolerances. Approve samples during reaching, turning and lunging, using the intended playing layers underneath.

Agree team colours, print placement, player names and position lettering against approved artwork. Where removable bibs are used, specify attachment patch position, dimensions, stitching and compatibility with the actual bib. Check that patch edges and armhole seams do not rub, and that the dress does not restrict overhead movement.

For sale in Great Britain, fibre composition labelling is required and consumer garments must meet the general product safety requirement. Agree care instructions and size labels as purchase specifications. Compare composition wording with fabric test results, and approve each colour in the intended production fabric.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 knitted netball dresses under 6104 43 00 00, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £19,200. Duty at 12% is £2,304. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £21,504, so it is £4,300.80. Import taxes total £6,604.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £2,304 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit and movement: measure production dresses across the ordered sizes. Check armhole clearance, hem coverage and recovery after reaching and lunging against the approved samples.

Fabric and washing: inspect stretched coverage under agreed lighting. Wash production samples and check shrinkage, seam twisting, colour transfer and whether team prints crack or fade.

Seams and bib attachments: stretch side and shoulder seams to check for skipped stitches or opening. Attach the intended bib, remove it repeatedly and inspect patch stitching, alignment and exposed abrasive edges.

Labels and arrival packing: compare fibre labels, size markings and player artwork with the order. On arrival, reconcile size and colour assortments with the packing list and inspect for dampness or staining. Give the inspector a written quality inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A dress can fit when standing yet pull across the shoulders during overhead movement or ride up during a lunge. Pale panels may become transparent when stretched. Bib patches can sit at different heights across sizes, while weak attachment stitching tears the surrounding knit.

A substituted fabric can change fit, coverage and print colour even when the artwork is unchanged. Compare arrival samples with retained production samples and inspection records. Separate affected stock while investigating mixed sizes, incorrect names, colour transfer or failed seams, and agree acceptance criteria before production.

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.