Sourcing shapewear girdles from China

UK duty on shapewear girdles

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 8 October 2026, girdles and panty girdles under 6212 20 00 00 carried 6% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls for this line.

Heading 6212 covers bras, girdles, corsets, corselettes and related articles, whether knitted or otherwise. The table shows different girdle forms sharing the same tariff line. For the wider family, see bras and lingerie.

Confirm the commodity code against the actual garment construction before ordering. Give the broker photographs, a sample and the panel specification rather than relying on the supplier's description of 'shapewear'.

Specify the panels, fit and recovery

Specify waist height, leg length, waist and hip measurements, measurement tolerances, gusset construction and fastening position. Record measurements both relaxed and stretched using an agreed method. Approve samples across the size range on the intended wearers, including seated movement, so that waistband roll and restrictive leg openings are caught before production.

Agree the fibre composition and stretch behaviour of the front, rear and side panels, lining and waistband. For girdles, confirm with the relevant authority whether composition should be stated for the whole product or, together or separately, for the front, rear and side panels. Match the chosen label format to the fabric records.

UK businesses importing or selling consumer products are responsible for their safety. Assess seams, exposed fastening edges and stays on the finished garment. Agree wash-and-wear checks for elastic recovery, panel distortion and colour transfer, using the approved sample as the comparison.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 1,000 panty girdles; illustrative FOB value and freight under 6212 20 00 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,800. Duty at 6% is £408. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,208, so it is £1,441.60. Import taxes total £1,849.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £408 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit: measure production garments from each size against the approved chart; check waist height, hip width, gusset position and leg openings.

Recovery: stretch and release panels using the agreed method, then compare shape and waistband roll before and after washing.

Construction: pull-check hooks and seams; inspect stay channels, sharp edges, skipped stitches and bulky seams against the skin.

Labels and fabric: check fibre composition against fabric results and the chosen corsetry label format; compare shade and colour transfer. Include these checks in the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A sample can fit while production garments differ because the factory changes elastic, panel fabric or grading. Waistbands roll down, leg openings dig in, seams split during dressing and stretched panels fail to recover. Keep the approved fabric and garment samples, and compare production pieces across the size range.

Different panel blends can be hidden behind a generic composition label. Approve the label alongside the panel specification, then check both against the finished garment. Hooks can detach and stays can work through their channels, so repeat construction checks after washing rather than judging appearance alone.

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.