Sourcing women's knitted robes from China
Women's knitted dressing gowns from China carry 12% UK duty across the listed fibre lines. Confirm the applicable adult-nightwear fire-safety labelling requirements with Trading Standards, and fibre content must be labelled. Specify robe overlap, belt attachment and wash shrinkage before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources women's knitted dressing gowns.
UK duty on women's knitted dressing gowns
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6108 covers women's or girls' knitted or crocheted underwear, nightwear, bathrobes, dressing gowns and similar articles. This guide focuses on adult women's knitted dressing gowns. The listed dressing-gown lines all carry 12% duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. For underwear sourcing, see our women's knitted camiknickers guide.
The tariff attaches CITES import and export controls to 6108 99 00 10, and an export control to 6108 99 00 90. For animal hair, identify the species before ordering. CITES-listed materials may require permits for import from China or subsequent export; confirm the applicable documentation with your customs broker. The official guidance requires permits for species listed in Annex A, B or C.
Confirm the commodity code using the garment's construction and fibre composition. A fleece surface alone does not establish whether the fabric is knitted or woven. For the woven alternative, see women's woven dressing gowns.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women's knitted cotton dressing gowns | 6108 91 00 00 | 12% | None |
| Women's knitted man-made fibre dressing gowns | 6108 92 00 00 | 12% | None |
| Women's knitted wool or fine animal hair dressing gowns | 6108 99 00 10 | 12% | None |
| Women's knitted dressing gowns of other textile materials | 6108 99 00 90 | 12% | None |
Specify fabric, robe overlap and fire labels
Specify fibre composition, knit structure, fabric weight, brushed or looped surface, colour and finished measurements. Define chest width, shoulder width, sleeve and body length, front overlap, belt length, belt-loop position and pocket placement. Approve the hand and fit against a physical sample, including how the robe closes when the wearer sits.
The Nightwear (Safety) Regulations apply to adult nightwear. Confirm the applicable fire-label wording, colours and permitted options with Trading Standards, taking account of the garment's flammability performance; consult the published nightwear guide when preparing your questions. Fibre content must also be labelled. Approve label artwork before production.
Agree the washing method and acceptance criteria for shrinkage, twisting, pilling and colour transfer. Compare washed and unwashed samples, including the belt and front facing. Keep the approved fabric and garment samples available for bulk inspection.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 500 women's knitted cotton dressing gowns; FOB value and freight are illustrative. under 6108 91 00 00, invoiced at £7,000 free on board, with £700 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,700. Duty at 12% is £924. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,624, so it is £1,724.80. Import taxes total £2,648.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £924 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit and closure: measure the robe against the approved size chart; check front overlap, sleeve opening and belt-loop position, then compare the belt with the approved sample.
Fabric and washing: compare fibre evidence, weight and hand with the specification; wash samples and check shrinkage, twisting, pilling, shedding and colour transfer.
Assembly and shade: check underarm seams, pocket corners, belt loops and facing attachment; compare robe, belt and trim shades across cartons.
Labels and packing: check fibre wording and the fire label's wording, colour, durability and attachment against the approved artwork; confirm size labels, belts and carton contents. Use the inspection guide to organise the checks before shipment and on arrival.
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What goes wrong
A soft sample can be followed by bulk robes with a different fibre blend or finish. Washing can shorten the body, twist the front or shrink the belt differently from the robe. Weak belt loops and pocket corners tear, while insufficient front overlap makes the garment difficult to wear closed.
Missing fire labels, incorrect lettering and fibre wording that does not match the bulk fabric can prevent the batch being ready for sale. Keep approved label artwork with the order, compare production labels before packing and resolve fabric substitutions before shipment. Check washed production samples rather than relying on the approval sample 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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on women's knitted dressing gowns from China?
The supplied dressing-gown lines all carry 12% duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions.
Do women's dressing gowns need a fire warning label?
Confirm the applicable adult-nightwear fire-label requirements with Trading Standards. Ask which wording, colours and combinations of warnings or low-flammability statements are appropriate for the garment's flammability performance.
How do I check dressing-gown sizing before importing?
Approve a measurement chart and fitted sample. Check front overlap when seated, sleeve length, belt length and loop position. Repeat measurements after washing using the agreed care method.
Does a wool dressing gown need CITES paperwork?
The tariff attaches CITES import controls to the wool or fine animal hair line. Identify the animal species and ask your customs broker to confirm whether the material needs CITES documentation.