Sourcing Woven Bandanas from China

A flat 8% duty on woven bandanas

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 6214 covers shawls, scarves, mufflers, mantillas, veils and the like. The supplied lines for woven bandanas from China all carry 8% duty. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension is listed. The table focuses on cotton, synthetic fibres, artificial fibres and silk.

The tariff attaches cat and dog fur and seal-product controls. Imports and exports of cat and dog fur, and products made from it, are banned. Seal products for sale in Great Britain must qualify under the Inuit and other indigenous communities exemption and have a seal catch certificate. Some animal-hair and other-material lines also attach CITES import controls. If considering these materials, confirm the applicable requirements with your customs broker before ordering.

Confirm the commodity code from the actual construction, fibre composition and whether the product is hand-made. Knitted scarves belong elsewhere. Use the scarves and shawls guide for the wider heading.

Specify the square, print and hem

Specify fibre composition, fabric weight, weave, finished dimensions and agreed tolerances. State whether the design is printed or yarn-dyed, how the border sits relative to the hem, and how much of the design should show on the reverse. Approve a finished sample folded and tied as the buyer intends to wear it.

Agree hem width, corner finish, thread colour, artwork placement and colour references. Confirm permitted fibre names for labels with Trading Standards. Test bulk fabric before approving cotton or silk claims and printing labels. Set wash and colour-fastness acceptance criteria against the approved sample.

If a proposed material contains a CITES-listed specimen, apply for the relevant permit for movement into Great Britain and obtain the corresponding documentation from the exporting country. An item made from a listed species can count as a specimen. Confirm the material before accepting the supplier's description.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 cotton woven bandanas under 6214 90 00 19, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,500. Duty at 8% is £520. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,020, so it is £1,404. Import taxes total £1,924; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £520 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fabric and labels: compare bulk fibre-test results with the approved composition and label; check fabric weight and feel against the sample.

Shape and hems: lay bandanas flat, measure finished dimensions, check squareness, and inspect corners for skipped stitches, puckering and loose threads.

Print and colour: check border alignment, print registration and reverse appearance; test rubbing, perspiration and washing performance for each colourway.

Packing and arrival: check design quantities, dry packing and labels; open cartons for dampness or staining and compare retained samples through a quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A square-looking sample can become skewed after washing, leaving the border uneven when folded. Narrow hems can unravel at corners, while heavy stitching makes the edge stiff. Inspect washed samples as well as unwashed stock, and settle acceptable shape and finish before bulk production.

Dark prints can transfer colour when damp or rubbed against clothing. A clear face print can also look weak on the reverse. Check the agreed appearance and colour-fastness results on bulk fabric, rather than approving the order from artwork 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.