Clothing production for Swiss companies

On 1 January 2024 Switzerland abolished its industrial tariffs. That also covers clothing and textiles, so T-shirts, hoodies or jackets from China enter Switzerland without customs duty. What remains is the Swiss import VAT of 8.1 % on the value of the goods including freight, plus the clearance fee of the carrier or customs agent.

For companies registered for Swiss VAT, the import VAT is input tax and can be reclaimed. Compared with an EU delivery, where duty of usually 12 % on clothing applies, this item drops out of the price per piece.

DS Trading is a German company from Hamburg, and one of our co-founders works in China with a whole team. The team brings experience in sourcing and with Chinese producers. Our network includes more than 100 manufacturers, and we know every producer we work with personally. Whatever you want to know about a producer, we can check on site straight away.

For many companies, importing from China is a black box: who really produces the goods, what happens between sample and delivery, and who is responsible if something is wrong? With us you have one European contact person who goes through the whole project with you and makes it happen, from the first specification to DDP delivery. Behind your contact stands our whole team in China.

Many China imports run into trouble over communication, and that is exactly where we put the most work. You always know where your order stands: we get in touch on our own initiative, tell you openly if something is not going to plan, and do everything we can to keep the delivery date we gave you.

Trust is the most important thing we have. You know us personally, and if there is ever a quality problem, we talk to you straight away and can come to see you in person. That is not possible with a supplier on the other side of the world.

Quality comes first for us. Every series starts only after you have held the sample in your hands and approved it. Unless agreed otherwise, our own team checks the goods twice on site at the producer, during and after production. And if the producer makes a mistake, the producer bears the full cost.

Into the EU we deliver DDP, with duty and import VAT paid. Switzerland has its own customs and VAT law, so there we deliver DAP: we organise production, checks, freight and transport to your address. You, as the recipient, are the importer. The Swiss import clearance is done by the carrier or your own customs agent, and you pay the Swiss VAT.

Before loading we agree with you which documents your customs agent needs. Usually these are the commercial invoice, the packing list and the transport documents. The invoice comes from our company in Hamburg and shows the actual value of the goods.

Fashion labels that want to reorder their first collection in larger runs. Teamwear and workwear suppliers who want their own cut and their own labels. Promotional product agencies that pass on a customer order.

The minimum is 50 pieces per colour, which you split across a size run. For really small quantities, catalogue goods from wholesale with your own finishing are usually the better choice. Just ask, and we will tell you honestly whether it pays off.

Our own team in China knows more than 100 producers personally. It chooses the factory that fits your product, follows the sample and checks the goods during production and before loading against your approved sample. If something is wrong, the producer bears the cost of the defect.

Payment is 60 % on order and 40 % after the shipping document. Samples are always charged; you get the amount from us before sampling starts, and it is credited in full against the production order.