Sourcing women's pencil skirts from China
Women's knitted pencil skirts from China carry a flat 12% UK duty across the skirt lines, with no recorded trade remedies or suspensions. Confirm fibre composition labelling requirements for garments sold in Great Britain with the relevant authority. Specify stretch recovery and graded waist and hip measurements before production. Cambridge China Bridge sources women's knitted pencil skirts.
Duty on knitted pencil skirts
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the skirt lines under heading 6104 carried 12% duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing measures or suspensions. The heading covers knitted or crocheted women's and girls' garments, including skirts. This guide focuses on women's knitted pencil skirts. For A-line styles, see our guide to women's knitted A-line skirts.
The tariff attaches cat and dog fur and seal-product import controls to these skirt lines, and CITES import controls to the wool, fine animal hair and other textile-material lines. Imports and exports of cat and dog fur products are banned. Seal products brought into Great Britain for trade must have a seal catch certificate; confirm eligibility with your broker before ordering. For CITES-controlled materials from China, ask your broker to confirm the applicable requirement.
Confirm the commodity code against the fabric construction and fibre composition, rather than the pencil-skirt name. Knitted and woven garments are classified separately. For another skirt family within the wider heading, see women's knitted tennis skirts. For blazer styles, see our women's knitted blazers sourcing guide. For wide-leg trouser styles, see our women's knitted palazzo trousers sourcing guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women's knitted pencil skirts of wool or fine animal hair | 6104 51 00 00 | 12% | None |
| Women's knitted pencil skirts of cotton | 6104 52 00 00 | 12% | None |
| Women's knitted pencil skirts of synthetic fibres | 6104 53 00 00 | 12% | None |
| Women's knitted pencil skirts of other textile materials | 6104 59 00 00 | 12% | None |
Specify the silhouette and stretch recovery
Specify fibre composition, knit structure, fabric weight, lining, opacity when stretched and stretch recovery. Give graded waist, hip, hem-opening and skirt-length measurements with agreed tolerances. Define the waistband construction, elastic, zip and back or side vent, including reinforcement at the vent opening.
Approve a fit sample while sitting and walking, then a size set. Check that the skirt does not ride up, bag at the seat or restrict movement. Agree washing instructions and assess washed production fabric before cutting.
For sale in Great Britain, confirm with the relevant authority the fibre composition labelling requirements, including durability, legibility, visibility, accessibility and secure attachment. Put the approved composition wording, size and care instructions in the factory specification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 500 women's knitted polyester pencil skirts under 6104 53 00 00, invoiced at £5,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,200. Duty at 12% is £744. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,944, so it is £1,388.80. Import taxes total £2,132.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £744 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit: measure sampled skirts across the size range against the graded chart, including waist, hip, length, hem opening and vent position.
Recovery: stretch the waistband and body fabric, then compare recovery with the approved sample; check seat bagging, seam opening and opacity under stretch.
Washing: check shrinkage, side-seam twisting, colour transfer, pilling and lining distortion on production garments.
Finish and labels: check elastic twisting, zip operation, vent reinforcement and fibre-label wording against the fabric evidence. Use the quality inspection guide to brief the inspector.
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What goes wrong
A close-fitting pencil skirt exposes inconsistent grading and poor recovery. The waist rolls, the seat bags, the hem rides up or the vent tears during movement. Thin fabric can become transparent over the hips, while a lining with insufficient stretch pulls against the outer skirt.
Keep an approved sample and written acceptance criteria for fit, recovery and washing. Compare bulk fabric and finished garments with that sample, and repeat checks after washing rather than accepting the appearance straight from the carton.
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 pencil skirts from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 12% across the relevant skirt lines, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing measures or suspensions.
Do knitted pencil skirts need fibre labels?
Confirm with the relevant authority the fibre composition labelling requirements for sale in Great Britain, including durability, legibility, visibility, accessibility and secure attachment.
How do I stop a knitted pencil skirt bagging at the seat?
Specify stretch recovery, approve a sitting and walking fit sample, and compare washed production garments with the approved sample.
Does a woven pencil skirt use the same commodity code?
Knitted and woven garments are classified separately. Confirm the code from the fabric construction and composition, even when the silhouette is the same.