Despite being one of the world's largest textile manufacturers, India imports significant quantities of ready made garments, particularly from China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and European fashion houses. Fast fashion brands, luxury labels, and sportswear companies regularly import garments to serve India's growing fashion-conscious consumer base. Understanding the clothing import procedure is essential for businesses in retail, e-commerce, and fashion distribution.
This guide covers the complete ready made garments import process including regulatory requirements, duty structures, labelling compliance, and quality standards. Business professionals in apparel retail will find practical guidance for managing their import operations profitably.
Regulatory Framework
Garment imports are regulated by Customs, DGFT, and the Bureau of Indian Standards. Most garments are freely importable without specific licensing requirements. However, all imported garments must comply with BIS labelling standards under the Textile (Consumer Protection) Regulations. Garments are classified under Chapters 61 and 62 of the Customs Tariff Act.
Chapter 61 covers knitted garments including t-shirts, sweaters, and hosiery. Chapter 62 covers woven garments including shirts, trousers, suits, and dresses. The classification and duty rate depend on the garment type, material composition, and target demographic.
Registrations Required
An IEC from DGFT is mandatory. Apply through Patron Accounting IEC registration. ICEGATE registration and GST registration are required for customs processing and tax compliance.
No additional product-specific license is generally required for garment imports. However, compliance with BIS labelling standards is mandatory, and non-compliance can result in rejection at customs.
Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Obtain Registrations
Secure IEC, ICEGATE, AD Code, and GST registrations.
Step 2: Product Classification
Determine the correct HS code based on garment type, material, and construction. Knitted and woven garments have different classifications and duty rates.
Step 3: Ensure Labelling Compliance
All imported garments must carry labels with fibre composition percentage, care instructions using standard symbols, size, country of manufacture, and importer details. Labels must comply with the BIS Care Labelling standard.
Step 4: Arrange Shipment
Garments ship in standard containers, typically on hangers or folded in cartons. Proper packaging prevents damage and contamination during transit.
Step 5: Customs Clearance
File Bill of Entry through ICEGATE. Customs may inspect garments to verify composition, labelling, and declared value. Pay BCD, IGST, and surcharges. Release is granted upon successful verification.
Documents Required
IEC, commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, insurance, fabric composition test report, garment size chart, and Bill of Entry.
Duty Structure
Garments attract relatively high import duties. BCD ranges from 20% to 25% on most categories. IGST at 5% to 12% applies based on the price point. Social Welfare Surcharge at 10% of BCD is also levied. The effective duty rate makes imported garments 30% to 45% more expensive than the CIF value.
India offers preferential duty rates for garments imported from countries with which it has Free Trade Agreements. Bangladesh, for example, benefits from zero or reduced duty on certain garment categories under SAFTA.
Labelling and Quality Standards
Mandatory label information includes fibre composition showing percentage of each fibre, care instructions using internationally recognized symbols, maximum retail price, country of origin, and importer name and address. All labels must be in English. Non-compliance with labelling standards is a common reason for customs rejection.
Quality testing may be required for certain categories. Azo dye content, formaldehyde levels, and colour fastness parameters must comply with Indian safety standards, particularly for children's garments.
E-Commerce and Direct-to-Consumer Imports
The growth of e-commerce has created new opportunities for importing and selling garments directly to Indian consumers through platforms like Amazon, Myntra, Flipkart, and brand-owned websites. This channel allows importers to reach consumers across the country without the overhead of physical retail stores, though it requires investment in digital marketing, logistics partnerships, and customer service infrastructure.
Cross-border e-commerce regulations allow individual consumers to import garments for personal use below certain value thresholds with simplified customs procedures. However, commercial importers selling through e-commerce platforms must comply with all standard import requirements including IEC, customs clearance, labelling standards, and GST compliance on all sales.
Quality Control and Inspection
Pre-shipment inspection is a critical quality assurance step for garment imports. Third-party inspection agencies like SGS, Bureau Veritas, and Intertek offer comprehensive garment inspection services covering workmanship, measurements, fabric quality, colour matching, labelling accuracy, and packaging standards. The inspection is typically conducted when 80% of the order is packed and ready for shipment.
Common quality issues in imported garments include colour variation between production batches, measurement deviations from approved samples, incorrect labelling, and fabric defects like pilling, uneven dyeing, or loose threads. Establishing clear quality specifications in purchase contracts and conducting random inspections at the factory helps prevent these issues from reaching Indian consumers.
Fast Fashion and Quick Response Supply Chain
The growth of fast fashion in India has compressed product development cycles and increased the frequency of garment imports. Fast fashion retailers typically introduce new collections every 2 to 4 weeks, requiring a supply chain that can move from design to delivery in 4 to 8 weeks. This has favoured sourcing from geographically proximate countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam, and China that offer shorter transit times compared to European suppliers.
Quick response supply chains require streamlined import processes with minimal customs delays. Fast fashion importers typically work with pre-approved customs classifications, established banking relationships for quick letter of credit processing, and logistics partners who can guarantee transit times. Any delay in customs clearance directly impacts the product's market relevance and sales potential.
Returns and Reverse Logistics
E-commerce garment sales in India have return rates of 25% to 40%, which is significantly higher than physical retail. Importers selling through online channels must factor return costs into their pricing model. Managing reverse logistics for imported garments adds complexity including quality inspection of returned items, re-packaging, and inventory management of returned stock.
Sustainability and Ethical Sourcing
Indian consumers, particularly in the premium segment, are increasingly conscious of the environmental and social impact of their fashion choices. Imported garments with sustainability certifications like GOTS for organic cotton, OEKO-TEX for chemical safety, and Fair Trade for ethical production practices appeal to this growing consumer segment. Importers who can provide transparency about their supply chain practices gain competitive advantage.
Many international retailers and e-commerce platforms are implementing sustainability scorecards that rate suppliers on environmental and social criteria. Importers who proactively adopt sustainable sourcing practices and obtain relevant certifications improve their chances of securing business with these quality-conscious retail partners.
