Sourcing knitted swim dresses from China

UK duty on knitted swim dresses

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 6112 covers knitted or crocheted tracksuits, ski suits and swimwear. This guide focuses on swim dresses within the women's or girls' swimwear lines.

The relevant lines carry 8% duty from China where rubber thread accounts for at least 5% by weight, and 12% on the other lines. The supplied records show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls. Obtain the actual material breakdown before selecting a line.

Confirm the commodity code with your customs broker using the finished garment, knit construction, intended wearer and composition. Ask the broker to review designs sold as beach dresses or separate cover-ups. For the wider swimwear heading, see knitted bikinis.

Specify the skirt, lining and wet fit

Define whether the skirt is attached to an integrated swimsuit or supplied separately. Specify skirt length and fullness, attachment position, underlying coverage, bust support, cup construction, strap adjustment and leg openings. Provide a size chart with agreed tolerances and approve movement and coverage on a physical sample.

Record fibre composition and fabric weight for the outer fabric, skirt and lining. Agree stretch recovery, wet opacity, colour transfer, resistance to pool water and the care method. Check whether the wet skirt pulls on the bodice or restricts movement.

For sale in Great Britain, the label must show fibre content, including any fur or other animal parts. Consumer products must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Review straps, fastenings and attached decorations, especially on girls' styles. Ask a laboratory to agree a relevant test scope through testing and certification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 500 women's synthetic-fibre knitted swim dresses; FOB value and freight are illustrative, not a quotation. under 6112 41 90 00, invoiced at £7,000 free on board, with £700 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,700. Duty at 12% is £924. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,624, so it is £1,724.80. Import taxes total £2,648.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £924 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit and coverage: measure bodice, skirt, straps and leg openings against the approved size chart; check skirt position, bust support and coverage during movement.

Wet performance: wet production samples and check opacity, skirt drag, colour transfer and stretch recovery; repeat the agreed pool-water and care checks.

Seams and fittings: stretch skirt attachments, crotch seams and strap joins; check skipped stitches, puckering, exposed cup edges and sharp or loose fittings.

Labels and arrival condition: compare fibre wording, size labels and care instructions with approved artwork; check shade consistency, quantities, dampness and mould across cartons. Plan sampling with the inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A swim dress can fit when dry but become transparent, heavy or distorted when wet. An overly full skirt can pull down the bodice; weak skirt attachments can open under stretch. Changes to lining, elastic or cup construction can alter coverage and support even when the outer fabric looks unchanged.

Seal the approved sample and record the fabric, lining, elastic and construction in the order. Inspect production garments before shipment and repeat wet-fit checks on arrival. Resolve material substitutions and failed coverage checks before accepting the batch.

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.