Sourcing polyester-viscose crepe fabric from China

A flat 8% duty on the relevant crepe fabrics

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 5515 covers other woven fabrics of synthetic staple fibres. This guide concerns polyester staple mixed mainly or solely with viscose rayon staple, with synthetic staple content below 85%. Crepe describes the fabric texture; confirm the actual fibres rather than choosing a code from that name alone.

The relevant unbleached or bleached, printed and other lines all carry 8% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff snapshot lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control for these lines. Unbleached and bleached fabric share a code and are shown separately in the table.

Confirm the commodity code using the tested composition and whether the fabric is bleached, printed, dyed or yarn-dyed. See the wider polyester-viscose fabrics guide for other fabrics in this family.

Specify the crepe surface and finished handle

State the polyester-viscose blend, staple or filament construction, yarn specification, weave, finished weight and usable width. Keep an approved fabric sample that fixes the crepe grain, drape, opacity and handle. Ask the mill to explain how the texture is produced and which finishing steps affect it.

Agree the intended garment, wash method, acceptable dimensional change, shade band and seam performance. Check a washed sample as well as the delivered finish. Fibre composition labelling is required for consumer sales. Confirm with HSE which UK REACH restrictions apply to azo dyes and aromatic amines in textiles intended for skin contact; request relevant reports for dyed or printed qualities.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 8,000 metres of dyed polyester-viscose crepe fabric, illustrative only under 5515 11 90 00, invoiced at £16,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £17,200. Duty at 8% is £1,376. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £18,576, so it is £3,715.20. Import taxes total £5,091.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,376 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Composition and dimensions: test the blend and compare finished weight, usable width and roll lengths with the order.

Crepe surface: compare grain, drape and opacity with the approved sample; inspect for flattened areas, streaks and uneven texture across the width.

Wash and wear: check shrinkage, distortion, pilling and seam slippage after the agreed wash process, including changes in the crepe surface.

Shade and packing: compare rolls against the approved shade band, check colour transfer and inspect for dampness, stains and crushed roll edges. Use the quality inspection guide to organise the checks.

What goes wrong

A small swatch can hide uneven crepe texture across a roll. A finishing change can also alter the handle or leave the washed fabric looking different from the approved sample. Inspect full-width cloth and make a garment trial before releasing the fabric for cutting.

An incorrect blend undermines the fibre label, while shrinkage, seam slippage and shade differences can spoil a garment batch. Keep lot identities separate, retain washed comparison samples 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 repeat volumes, see container programmes.