Sourcing ski socks from China

Duty and controls for ski socks

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6115 covers knitted or crocheted hosiery. The ordinary ski-sock lines selected here carry 12% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures or suspensions recorded. This guide concerns ordinary ski socks; see the wider socks and hosiery guide for other products within the heading. For grip styles, see our grip socks sourcing guide.

The supplied tariff record attaches CITES import and export controls to 6115 94 00 00 and 6115 99 00 00. Check the species behind any animal-fibre yarn. CITES permit requirements depend on the species listing. For a shipment from China, ask your customs broker to confirm whether the control applies and which UK import and Chinese export documents are needed before dispatch.

Confirm the commodity code against the actual fibre composition and construction, including whether the product is a sock or a stocking. Do not choose a code solely from the product name or a supplier's description of the yarn.

Specify boot fit and cushioning

Specify the yarn blend, foot length, leg height, calf fit, cuff stretch and toe-closing method. Map cushioning at the shin, heel and sole, and agree how thick it should feel inside the intended ski boot. Keep an approved sample for each size and construction rather than approving the range from a loose sock on a table. For individual toe pockets, see our toe sock sourcing guide.

Agree washing, dimensional-change, elastic-recovery, abrasion and colour-transfer checks with the factory. Match the fibre label to the actual yarn blend: textile labels must show fibre content. Confirm label durability, legibility, visibility and accessibility requirements with Trading Standards. Before sale, demonstrate compliance with applicable product safety requirements.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative mixed-size stock order of synthetic-fibre ski socks under 6115 96 99 00, invoiced at £8,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,200. Duty at 12% is £1,104. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,304, so it is £2,060.80. Import taxes total £3,164.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,104 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit: check foot length, heel position, leg height and calf fit against the approved size chart. Try production samples inside the intended boots and check for bunching, slipping and a cuff that rolls.

Construction: check shin cushioning placement, sole thickness, toe-seam bulk, loose yarns and matching pairs. Compare production stock with the approved sample, including any shaped left and right feet.

Washing: compare dimensions, cuff recovery and surface condition before and after the agreed wash procedure. Check for pilling, colour transfer and cushioning that becomes uneven.

Labels and arrival: match fibre composition, size and colour to the approved packaging. Check label durability and readability, carton contents, dampness and packing damage. Put these checks in the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A thick sample can feel comfortable without a boot but bunch inside it. Misplaced shin cushioning, a bulky toe seam or a heel that sits too far forward can spoil the fit. Approve the sock and boot together, then check that production knitting tension and cushioning match the sample.

Yarn substitution can change stretch, wash behaviour and the fibre label. Shrinkage can move the heel and shorten the leg, while a loose cuff lets the sock slide. Keep the yarn specification, approved sample and packaging artwork together, and resolve differences before shipment.

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.