Sourcing textile espadrilles from China

Espadrille soles and UK import duty

Heading 6404 covers textile uppers with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather. For classification, identify the material with the most ground contact. A rope-wrapped edge alone does not establish the outer-sole material. The table separates outdoor footwear from indoor slippers; confirm which description fits the actual product.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 8 October 2026, all supplied lines carried 16% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions recorded. The selected lines attach CITES and seal-product import controls; leather-sole lines also attach cat-and-dog-fur controls. CITES specimens need an import permit. The traditional-hunt exemption for seal products requires a seal catch attestation. For a Chinese consignment, have your customs broker confirm the applicable controls and documentary requirements, including cat-and-dog-fur controls.

Send the broker sole photographs, a material breakdown and the intended use before confirming the commodity code. Do not apply these rates automatically to a sole whose ground-contact material is rope. See the wider footwear guide for other constructions. For cycling footwear, see our textile-upper cycling shoe sourcing guide. For dance footwear, see our textile jazz shoe sourcing guide.

Specify the canvas upper and rope construction

Specify the upper fabric, weave, colour, lining, sock material and ground-contact sole separately. State whether the rope forms the sole structure or only wraps the edge. Agree the rope fibre, braid appearance, attachment method, toe shape, heel support and any wedge or ankle ties against an approved sample.

Agree the quantity by size and colour, then assess fit across the proposed size run. Include upper-to-sole stitching, outsole adhesion and colour transfer in the sample checks. Confirm footwear composition labelling requirements with Trading Standards, including how to describe the upper, lining and sock, and outer sole materials and which materials to identify in blends.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative mixed-size order of textile espadrilles; FOB value and freight are hypothetical under 6404 19 90 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 16% is £1,472. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,672, so it is £2,134.40. Import taxes total £3,606.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,472 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit: compare internal length, toe space, heel hold and left-right matching with the approved samples.

Rope and seams: check braid consistency, loose ends, skipped stitches, upper attachment and exposed glue.

Sole attachment: flex production pairs and check for lifting between the tread, rope construction and upper.

Labels and packing: check composition labels against the actual materials, size markings against the packing list, and shoes and cartons for dampness or mould.

What goes wrong

A neat rope edge can conceal weak attachment underneath. Flexing may expose separation, while uneven stitching can distort the toe shape or leave the upper pulling away from the sole. Compare production pairs with the approved construction sample rather than approving appearance alone.

Fit can change when the lining or sock thickness changes. Dye transfer, fraying rope and damp packing are further checks to agree before production. Keep a signed sample and record defects by size and colour so the factory can correct the affected batch.

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.