Sourcing polyester faille fabric from China

UK duty on polyester faille fabric

Heading 5407 covers woven fabrics of synthetic filament yarn. Polyester faille is a ribbed woven fabric: the trade name alone does not establish its commodity code. The relevant lines distinguish textured from non-textured polyester filaments, fibre content by weight and whether the fabric is unbleached, bleached, dyed, woven from different-coloured yarns or printed.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, all the polyester faille candidate lines shown here carry 8% duty for goods from China. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines. The suspension elsewhere in the heading concerns a specifically described technical fabric, rather than ordinary polyester faille.

Obtain the mill's fibre composition and yarn specification before confirming the commodity code. These table descriptions assume the stated filament content by weight. For other synthetic filament constructions, see the polyester and nylon woven fabrics guide.

Specify the ribs, yarn and handle

Agree a retained fabric sample showing rib spacing, rib prominence, surface lustre, stiffness and drape. Specify polyester content by weight, textured or non-textured yarns in warp and weft, yarn size, weave, usable width, weight per square metre and finish. State the intended garment and cleaning method so the mill can submit a relevant sewing and cleaning sample.

For fabric intended for direct and prolonged skin contact, confirm applicable dye restrictions with the relevant authority. Ask for colour-specific test reports and identify any finishing treatment. Fabric sold to consumers by the metre needs fibre-content labelling; faille describes the construction rather than the fibre composition.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 3,000 metres of dyed polyester faille fabric; illustrative order and values under 5407 61 30 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,600. Duty at 8% is £768. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,368, so it is £2,073.60. Import taxes total £2,841.60; 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

Ribs and surface: compare the bulk fabric with the retained sample; inspect for uneven ribs, missing yarns, snags, creases and flattened areas.

Shade and colour transfer: compare roll ends and fabric across the width under the same light; check rubbing and cleaning performance against the agreed specification.

Dimensions and sewing: measure usable width, roll length and weight; check bow and skew, then sew trial seams to assess slippage and puckering.

Packing and records: match roll and dye-lot identifiers to the packing list, check dry wrapping and intact cores, and compare fibre labels with composition records. Use the quality inspection guide to arrange checks before dispatch.

What goes wrong

A sample can have clear ribs and a firm handle while the bulk fabric feels softer or looks flatter. Different yarns or finishing can change the appearance and drape. Shade differences between rolls become visible when adjacent garment panels are joined; loose construction can allow seams to open.

Retain an approved sample and agree acceptance criteria for rib appearance, shade, dimensions and sewing performance. Inspect fabric from different rolls and dye lots, and clean sewn samples using the intended method before accepting the bulk shipment.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.