Sourcing plaited straw bucket hats from China

Duty and material controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 6504 covers headgear plaited or assembled from strips, whether lined or trimmed. Its single commodity line, 6504 00 00 00, carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures or suspensions recorded. The table shows product variants sharing that code.

The tariff attaches CITES import and export controls, cat and dog fur import and export controls, and a seal-product import control. Cat and dog fur products cannot be imported. Seal products for sale in Great Britain must qualify under the Inuit and other indigenous communities’ exemption and have a seal catch attestation certificate. For a China shipment containing listed species or animal trims, confirm the applicable permits and documents with your customs broker.

Send the broker the straw species, construction details, lining and trim materials, photographs and sample to confirm the commodity code. Confirm CITES permit requirements for listed materials before ordering. The plaited straw cloche hat guide covers another shape within the wider heading. See import duty and VAT for the calculation method.

Specify the bucket crown and downward brim

Name the straw species and distinguish natural straw from paper or synthetic substitutes. Specify plait width, weave openness, crown height, head circumference, brim width and downward angle. Agree acceptable natural colour variation using physical samples, rather than relying on photographs.

Approve the sweatband, lining, brim-edge binding, ribbon attachment and any stiffening treatment. Ask the factory to demonstrate how the hat recovers after being nested and unpacked. Agree packing supports and nesting depth against the approved shape.

Consumer hats must be safe when sold or supplied. Review sharp straw ends, exposed wire and detachable decorations during sample approval. Include the intended wearer and care instructions in the specification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 1,980 plaited straw bucket hats, illustrative order under 6504 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

Shape and fit: measure head circumference, crown height and brim width against the sample; check the brim slopes evenly and the sweatband does not tighten the fit.

Plait and finish: check broken strands, open joins, uneven rows, sharp ends, glue marks and loose edge binding; compare material and colour with the approved samples.

Sweatband and trims: check attachment stitching, loose decorations and colour transfer from the band using the agreed test method; inspect the inside for rough seams.

Arrival and packing: open cartons from across the shipment, check for dampness, mould and crushed crowns, and reconcile sizes, colours and counts with the packing list. Use the quality inspection guide to prepare the brief.

What goes wrong

A sample can have a rounded bucket crown while bulk hats arrive with flattened tops or flared brims. Tight nesting, weak stiffening and inconsistent plait tension can change the silhouette. Assess unpacked production hats against the physical sample before accepting the packing method.

Material substitution changes stiffness, colour and feel. Rough straw ends catch hair, dark sweatbands transfer colour, and damp packing leaves mould or staining. Keep an approved material sample and record defects by carton so the factory can trace the affected packing.

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.