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The world of fashion can be extremely fast paced. Trends that were once popular last season are now seen as passé or even tacky. Fashion is in a continual state of evolution and reinvention. If you want to be on the cutting edge of fashion, you’re going to need to look beyond the mall and your local stores. Instead, you’re probably going to need to look overseas. Importing clothing can be a tricky business. Make sure you know what you’re doing.

Watch Out for Counterfeiters

The biggest problem with buying clothing from overseas is trying to wade through a good deal of fraud. Just because apparel is labeled as being from a famous designer of fashion line does not mean that’s really the case. Counterfeit goods is a $462 billion a year industry. Bootlegged apparel is a huge part of that number. Be on the lookout for counterfeit items or you may end up getting ripped off.

Be Aware of Regulations on Textile Imports

You should also be aware that you could be potentially committing a crime by importing certain kinds of apparel. Textiles are actually a highly regulated industry. Make sure the clothing you buy includes tags with information such as country of origin and the kind of fiber used. If it doesn’t, your purchase could be confiscated by customs.

Be Aware of Import Duties

You should also be aware that the price advertised on a piece of apparel form overseas may not be the real cost you will end up paying for it. You also need to be aware of the fact you could be hit with import duties, fees or other taxes. Import duties are controlled by the federal government in most countries. While it may not cost much to ship US to UK, it may be much more expensive to import from other countries. There could be significant tariffs in place.

Always Get Shipping Time Estimates

Always make sure the seller you are buying from gives you a range of time it could take to get your purchase of apparel shipped out to you. Always plan on it not arriving until the latest date listed in that range. In certain cases, it can take months for a shipment to arrive. By then, it may be out of style.

Fashion is fast paced. If you want to get ahead of the curve, you may want to start importing some of your outfits and accessories. Just make sure you know what you’re doing, because there are a number of importing pitfalls you’ll want to avoid.

Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and walks in the park with her husky, Snowball.

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