Sourcing women's georgette blouses from China

UK duty on woven georgette blouses

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 6206 covers women's or girls' woven blouses, shirts and shirt-blouses. All supplied lines carry 12% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension recorded. This guide focuses on women's woven georgette blouses; see the wider blouse and shirt guide for the heading as a whole.

The tariff attaches CITES import and export controls to 6206 20 00 00 and 6206 90 90 00. If material from a CITES-listed species is involved, imports from China into Great Britain require the applicable permit or certificate, entry through a designated port and presentation of the documents at the border. Confirm the species and paperwork with your customs broker before ordering.

Georgette is a fabric description, so obtain the actual fibre composition before choosing a line. Polyester and viscose versions fall within the man-made-fibre description; silk versions have a separate line. For blends, confirm classification using the commodity code guide, rather than relying on the supplier's fabric name.

Specify georgette, lining and drape

Specify the fibre composition, fabric weight, crepe texture, drape and colour against an approved swatch. State whether the blouse is unlined, fully lined or supplied with a separate camisole. Agree acceptable transparency under shop lighting, lining colour, seam construction, seam allowances, button attachment and the finished measurement chart with tolerances.

Fibre composition must be labelled; confirm the permitted fibre names with the relevant authority before approving the label. Test bulk fabric before printing silk claims. Approve a size set and wash-test the finished blouse, including its lining, using the proposed care instructions. Agree checks for shrinkage, seam slippage and colour transfer. Keep care instructions consistent with the tested garment.

For sale in Great Britain, the importer must ensure the product is safe before placing it on the market. Include checks for sharp trims and insecure fastenings in your product review, alongside fabric testing. Use testing and certification support to agree the testing brief.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 1,000 women's woven polyester georgette blouses; illustrative order, not a quote under 6206 40 00 00, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,600. Duty at 12% is £552. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,152, so it is £1,030.40. Import taxes total £1,582.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £552 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fabric: compare bulk fibre results, crepe texture, weight and drape with the approved sample. Check transparency with the intended lining and inspect for snags, pulls and weaving faults.

Seams: check seam slippage at armholes and side seams, puckering at collars and cuffs, neat seam finishes and button security. Stretch stressed areas gently without damaging saleable stock.

Colour and washing: compare shades across the delivery and test colour transfer onto pale lining or trims. Wash a finished sample and compare shell and lining dimensions, twisting and hem appearance.

Fit and packing: measure chest, length and sleeves across each size and colour. Check fibre labels against the approved artwork, size labels against the garments and cartons for dampness. Use the quality inspection guide to organise the checks.

What goes wrong

A swatch can look acceptable while the finished blouse is too transparent across the chest. Check opacity on a fitted sample under shop lighting. Seam slippage can open gaps around armholes, while puckering makes a light fabric look uneven. Approve seam construction on the actual bulk fabric.

Different shrinkage in the shell and lining can pull the hem out of shape after washing. Printed georgette can transfer colour onto pale trims, and mixed fabric lots can produce visible shade differences. Keep an approved finished sample and agree how the factory will identify and separate fabric lots.

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.