Sourcing women's knitted bloomers from China

UK duty on women's knitted bloomers

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6108 covers women's or girls' knitted or crocheted underwear, nightwear and similar articles. The supplied lines all carry 12% duty for goods from China. For bloomers intended as underwear, compare the briefs and panties lines by fibre composition. For bed jackets, see our women's knitted bed jackets sourcing guide.

The record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. No controls are attached to the briefs lines. Elsewhere in heading 6108, CITES import and export controls attach to 6108 99 00 10, and an export control to 6108 99 00 90. For listed materials from China, permits are required for species in Annex A, B or C; confirm the species and documentation with your customs broker.

Confirm the commodity code using a sample, fibre composition, knitted construction and intended use. Use the residual cotton comparison row only after your broker confirms classification as an 'other' article. See women's knitted briefs for the wider underwear guide. For thermal underwear, see our women's thermal long johns sourcing guide.

Specify the gathers, gusset and elastic

Define bloomers as underwear in the buying specification. Approve the rise, seat fullness, crotch width, leg length and gathered openings on a fit sample. Record relaxed and stretched waist and leg measurements, elastic recovery, gusset material, seam placement and lace attachment. Agree whether elastic is enclosed or touches the skin.

Fibre content must appear on the label. Consumer products sold in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Ask for material records and testing suited to prolonged skin contact, including colour transfer and trim security. Agree wash checks and acceptance criteria before production.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,500 women's cotton knitted bloomers under 6108 21 00 00, invoiced at £10,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £12,500. Duty at 12% is £1,500. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £14,000, so it is £2,800. Import taxes total £4,300; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,500 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit and gathers: compare the rise, seat, gusset position and leg openings with the approved sample across the ordered sizes.

Elastic and seams: stretch waist and leg openings, check recovery and twisting, and look for broken stitches, exposed elastic edges or abrasive gusset seams.

Wash and colour: wash samples using the agreed care instructions, then check shrinkage, puckering, dye transfer and differences between fabric, gusset and lace.

Labels and packing: compare fibre labels with material records, check size markings and colour assortments, and inspect for dampness, stains or trapped loose threads. Record findings through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

Leg elastic can grip too tightly while the waist becomes loose after washing. Uneven gathering changes the silhouette, and a misplaced gusset or bulky crotch seam makes the garment uncomfortable. Lace can shrink differently from the body fabric. Approve a washed fit sample and inspect bulk garments against it before accepting the 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.