Cost-Effective Deliveries from the EU and Across the Globe
The apparel and footwear market in the UK is robust and still growing, which means many businesses need reliable freight support for clothing, textile and fabric imports. Our services include:
- Clothing import services into the UK
- Freight from Europe, Asia and beyond
- Clothing shipping for bulk garments
- Apparel logistics for seasonal stock
- Customs paperwork and clearance support
- Updates from collection to delivery
- Competitive apparel freight forwarding
Clothing, Textile and Fabric Import Services Into the UK
Barrington Freight supports UK businesses importing clothing, fabrics and textiles from suppliers across Europe, Asia and wider global manufacturing markets. Whether you are bringing in finished garments, bulk fabric rolls, seasonal stock, samples or packaged goods, our team can help plan a practical freight route based on your origin country, shipment size, timescale and customs requirements.
We regularly arrange clothing shipping and textiles logistics from popular manufacturing countries such as China, India and Bangladesh, as well as countries across Europe. Depending on where your goods are coming from, we can support imports by:
- Sea freight for larger fabric, textile and garment shipments
- Consolidated air freight for urgent stock or sample deliveries
- Road freight for UK-Europe imports
- Rail freight for suitable China import shipments
- Customs paperwork support through our trusted clearance partner
- Clear communication from collection through to delivery
As an experienced apparel freight forwarder, Barrington Freight gives UK importers clear advice, competitive pricing and straightforward support from collection through to delivery.
Apparel Logistics for Garments, Fabrics and Textile Imports
Our apparel logistics support covers a wide range of commercial garments, fabric-based products and textile stock. Many UK businesses need dependable clothing logistics for seasonal ranges, repeat orders, supplier samples, branded teamwear and bulk material shipments, particularly when working with overseas manufacturers.
Products we regularly help import include:
- Football club clothing and branded teamwear
- PPE clothing and workwear
- Formal wear, suits and tailored garments
- Hoodies, jumpers and sweatshirts
- Retail apparel and packaged garments
- Bulk fabrics, textile rolls and sample materials
Whether you need regular garment import support, one-off apparel shipping or help with fabric imports from overseas suppliers, Barrington Freight can advise on a suitable freight option. Our team can also help you understand the information usually needed for customs declarations, commodity codes and import paperwork, giving your business a simpler way to manage clothing, fabric and textile imports into the UK.
Contact us to learn more about importing clothing.
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Importing Clothing from Europe
You may be thinking of filling the local demand for clothing from major European brands such as Zara, H&M, Mango, Stradivarius and Bershka. Admittedly, Brexit and the TCA have made the process of importing clothing more complicated, and businesses importing clothing from EU to UK will now require new registration details, licences and certificates.
Our textiles logistics services are designed to help businesses manage everything from customs clearance and documentation checks to clothing shipping, apparel shipping and onward delivery across the UK. As an experienced apparel freight forwarder, we can support bulk import requirements, coordinate transport from European suppliers and help reduce delays at the border.
Importing bulk clothing and shoes from the EU to the UK involves several important processes to ensure compliance, minimise delays and control costs. Understanding the key requirements and best practices can help businesses streamline clothing and apparel logistics while maintaining efficiency throughout the supply chain.
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Renewing Your Registration and Identification Details
All companies importing to the UK require an Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number. Before Brexit, EU simplifications had allowed traders to import using EU EORI numbers. However, under the TCA, you will not import clothing from the EU to the UK without a GB EORI number. For HMRC to give you a GB EORI number, you will need to be permanently established in the country and have:
- A Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR),
- A Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code,
- A Government Gateway user ID and password, and
- A VAT number and National Insurance number
You may also want to consider getting VAT registered and applying for Authorised Economic Operator status. As a VAT registered business, you can apply for a refund of any VAT you pay for your clothing during the import process. With AEO status, you will enjoy faster applications for declarations and be subject to fewer checks at the border.
REQUIREMENTS
Import Requirements
Getting the Classification Codes
Getting the Classification Codes
When importing shoes, clothing or any other goods into the UK, you must include the correct commodity code in the customs declarations; otherwise, you risk paying the wrong duties, severe legal consequences and delays to your delivery.
Before you can look up the commodity codes from the tariff tool, you will need to know the types of material making up your clothing import, e.g. cotton, polyester, silk etc., whether it is woven or non-woven and if it is printed or not.
The tariff covers clothing and footwear in detail in chapters 61 and 62, with chapter 61 covering knitted or crocheted apparel and clothing accessories, and chapter 62 covering articles of apparel and clothing accessories that are not knitted or crocheted. Sections in each chapter cover a specific type of garment, for example;
- 6201 covers (non-knitted) men’s or boys’ overcoats, car coats, capes, cloaks, anoraks
- 6215 covers (non-knitted) ties, bow ties and cravats
- 6210 covers clothing made of felt, non wovens and wadding
- 6109 covers knitted baby garments
Filling an Import Declaration
Filling an Import Declaration
You need to complete an import declaration, also known as a C88 document. The process of completing an import declaration is quite complicated; that is why many importers choose to have a specialist freight forwarding company deal with this aspect.
VAT, Import Duty and Getting Preferential Rates
VAT, Import Duty and Getting Preferential Rates
If you are importing wholesale clothing (valued at over £135) from the EU to the UK, you will need to account for import VAT. You can choose to pay VAT at the point where your clothing and footwear consignment enters free circulation or take advantage of the postponed VAT accounting system.
Children’s or Babies’ clothing is also zero-rated (0.0%) for VAT. If you are importing children’s items, including bridesmaid dresses, make sure to mark this clearly in all your invoices and paperwork.
Most EU clothing and footwear brands produce their clothing in the far east, and you will need to request your supplier for an exporters proof of origin with each consignment if you want to get preferential rates. If you are importing clothing samples, ensure to import items in minimal quantities. Request your supplier to mark the clothing items as “Samples – Not for Resale”, or pack them in a condition where they cannot be re-sold, such as single gloves or a single item in each colour.
We are friendly, easy to work with, honest and we do not charge the earth.
Here at Barrington Freight, we support UK businesses with cost-effective clothing import, apparel import, fabrics import and textiles import services from China, Europe and wider global manufacturing markets. Whether you are importing finished garments, bulk fabric rolls, footwear, samples or packaged apparel, our team can help arrange the right freight solution for your shipment. As an experienced apparel freight forwarder, we can also support the practical parts of the import process, including freight planning, supplier coordination and customs paperwork through our trusted clearance partner. Contact us today for a quote!
