Sourcing silk gazar fabric from China

UK duty and classification for silk gazar

Heading 5007 covers woven fabrics of silk or silk waste. Gazar is a fabric name rather than a dedicated commodity line. The table gives candidate lines for gazar containing at least 85% silk or silk waste other than noil silk. An open-weave fabric and a denser fabric can follow different branches. For the wider heading, see our silk organza guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, all the candidate lines shown carry 6% duty for goods from China. Across the heading, rates range from 2% to 6%; the lower rates cover noil silk and specified unbleached or scoured fabrics. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls.

Confirm the commodity code using the tested fibre composition, actual weave, processing and whether the fabric is handwoven. Do not select an open-weave line merely because the supplier calls the fabric gazar. Silk fabric is declared in square metres; finished garments use different headings.

Specify gazar body and shape retention

Describe the intended use, such as structured bridal skirts, pleats or sculpted sleeves. Approve a physical sample for crispness, transparency, surface texture and ability to hold a fold. Record usable width, mass per unit area, yarn construction, weave and finish. Agree whether the required body comes from the yarn and weave or from an applied finish.

Test fibre composition rather than accepting the silk description alone. Compare sewn and pressed samples with the approved fabric, including seam slippage and the effect of the intended cleaning method on stiffness. Agree colour-fastness checks for the end use. For dyed silk, confirm any applicable azo-dye restrictions with HSE and agree appropriate tests, using the site's silk fabric guide to plan the checks.

For sale in Great Britain, textile labels must show fibre content. Match the composition information to the tested fabric rather than its trade name. Use testing and certification support to agree the laboratory brief.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 3,000 square metres of dyed silk gazar under 5007 20 59 90, invoiced at £24,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £24,900. Duty at 6% is £1,494. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £26,394, so it is £5,278.80. Import taxes total £6,772.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,494 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Body: compare fold retention, spring and transparency with the approved sample; repeat after the agreed cleaning and pressing trial.

Rolls: measure usable width and length, check mass per unit area, and inspect for pulled yarns, slubs, water marks and permanent creases.

Shade: compare across the width and between rolls under consistent lighting; keep dye lots identified for cutting.

Seams and packing: check a sewn sample for yarn movement; inspect roll tubes, protective bags and signs of crushing or moisture. Agree coverage through a quality inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A sample holds a sculpted shape, but the bulk fabric collapses after pressing or cleaning. Extra finish can disguise a lighter or softer construction. Compare both untreated and cleaned samples, and ask the supplier to identify changes to yarn, weave or finishing before approving production.

Uneven stiffness and shade can make panels behave differently within the same garment. Tight seams may expose yarn slippage, while crushed rolls leave visible fold lines. Keep an approved sample, inspect each lot and trial the intended seam and pressing method before cutting the 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.