Sourcing clothing from India for UK brands

The India-UK trade agreement: where it stands

The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) entered into force on 15 July 2026, according to India's Ministry of Commerce. The Indian government's announcement says UK tariffs on textiles and clothing from India are reduced to zero with entry into force.

For a UK brand, that changes the landed cost sum. Before July 2026, clothing from India paid the standard UK import tariff. Now, goods that qualify as Indian origin under the agreement can enter at a preferential rate.

Three things to keep in mind:

• Preference is not automatic. The goods must meet the agreement's rules of origin for their product type, and your importer must claim the preference with the right origin proof on the shipment.
• Fabric origin can matter. Clothing rules of origin often look at where the fabric was made, not just where it was sewn. Tell us early if you want to claim the preference, so fabric choices support it.
• Rates and rules change. Your customs broker confirms the final duty and the paperwork for each shipment. VAT on import still applies as usual.

UK labelling rules for clothing

The Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Composition) Regulations 2012 apply in Great Britain. What they mean for your garments:

• Fibre content is mandatory. Every garment on sale must show its fibre composition, using the approved fibre names (cotton, viscose, polyester, elastane and so on) with percentages. "Organic cotton" or "recycled polyester" claims need evidence behind them.
• Care labelling is not legally required in the UK, but almost every retailer and marketplace expects it. Most brands use the standard care symbols. Tell us your wash, dry, iron and dry-clean instructions and we put them on the sew-in label.
• Country of origin is not mandatory for most clothing, but it must not mislead. Most UK brands print "Made in India" on the label, and buyers increasingly ask for it.
• Children's nightwear falls under the Nightwear (Safety) Regulations 1985. Children's nightdresses and dressing gowns must meet a flammability standard. Other nightwear that does not meet it must carry a "KEEP AWAY FROM FIRE" warning label.
• Children's clothing also falls under general product safety rules. Retailers usually ask that drawstrings and cords on kidswear follow BS EN 14682, and that small parts such as buttons and trims are securely attached.

Put your label artwork, care symbols and swing tag details in the tech pack. We check labels against it at the final inspection.

Sizing to put in your spec

UK womenswear runs in even numbers, usually 6 to 20, with some brands going wider. Menswear is often chest and waist in inches, or S to XXL. Kidswear goes by age, such as 2-3 years or 7-8 years.

Indian factories work comfortably in centimetres and inches, but "a size 12" means different things to different brands. To avoid surprises:

• Give a full graded size chart in centimetres, with points of measure and tolerances.
• Name your base sample size, usually UK 10 or 12 for womenswear and M for menswear.
• If you sell into the EU as well, put both UK and EU size labels in the spec.

Our in-house designer can turn your measurements and references into a tech pack if you do not have one yet.

Shipping from India to the UK

Most UK brands ship by sea. Containers usually leave from the large west coast ports such as Nhava Sheva (near Mumbai) or Mundra, and land at UK ports such as Felixstowe, London Gateway or Southampton. Small or urgent orders often go by air instead.

• Sea: lower cost per piece, longer transit. Transit times vary with routing and shipping line, so build in a buffer.
• Air: from Delhi, Mumbai or Bangalore to UK airports. Faster, but the cost per kilo makes it best for small, urgent or high-value drops.

We support logistics for brands abroad, including customs clearance support. Your UK customs broker handles entry on arrival.

Seasons and lead times from India

UK fashion runs on spring/summer and autumn/winter, with many brands adding smaller drops in between. Work backwards from your launch date:

1. Brief and costing: you get a costing and line plan within 48 hours of a complete brief.
2. Sampling: every style is sampled until fit, fabric and finish are right. How long this takes depends on the style and how fast you send back approvals.
3. Production: about 45 days from sample approval to dispatch.
4. Transit and clearance: add sea or air time, plus a few days for customs and delivery to your warehouse.

For autumn/winter, Ludhiana is our hub for woollen knitwear, sweaters and hoodies, and Tirupur for cotton knits and loungewear. For spring/summer, Jaipur is known for hand block printing and cotton womenswear. Remember that production in India slows around the Diwali festival weeks each year, so plan bulk dates with that in mind.

How Sourcingo supports UK brands

We are a fashion buying house in Jaipur, matching brands in India and abroad with 80+ verified partner factories across seven hubs. For a UK brand that means:

• Matching: we place each style with a factory that suits its fabric, construction and quantity. Minimums start from 25 pieces per style, confirmed after we see the specs.
• Sampling: every style is sampled and you sign off fit, fabric and finish before bulk.
• Quality checks: our own team monitors production on the factory floor and checks finished goods against your approved sample before packing.
• Paperwork and shipping: logistics support, including customs clearance support for brands abroad.
• Visibility: after your first order is confirmed, your team gets a client portal login showing stage-by-stage status, approvals, comments and dates.
• Certificates: partner factories hold certifications such as ISO, Sedex, GOTS and OEKO-TEX. We share factory-wise copies on request before an order.

Your designs are made only for you and are never offered to other brands.

Questions

Updated: 12 October 2026