Trademark Class 18: Leather Goods, Bags, Luggage and Umbrellas
Trademark class 18 covers leather and imitation leather, bags and luggage, wallets, umbrellas, and collars, leashes and clothing for animals. Handbags, backpacks, trolley bags and pet leashes usually belong here. We search, confirm the class and file Form TM-A online.
What class 18 covers
The class 18 heading in the 13th edition of the Nice Classification reads: “Leather and imitations of leather; animal skins and hides; luggage and carrying bags; umbrellas and parasols; walking sticks; whips, harness and saddlery; collars, leashes and clothing for animals.”
WIPO’s explanatory note lists luggage and carrying bags such as suitcases, trunks, travelling bags, school bags and sling bags for carrying infants. It also includes luggage tags, business card cases, pocket wallets, and boxes and cases of leather or leatherboard.
India follows this system. Under Section 7(1) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999, the Registrar classifies goods by the international classification, and under Section 7(2) that decision on class is final.
Common goods in class 18
Bags and luggage
- Handbags, backpacks and school bags
- Suitcases, trolley bags and trunks
- Travelling and duffel bags
- Luggage tags
Small leather goods
- Wallets and purses
- Business card cases
- Leather boxes and cases
- Leather, imitation leather and hides
Umbrellas and animal goods
- Umbrellas and parasols
- Walking sticks
- Harness and saddlery
- Pet collars, leashes and clothing
What is not in class 18
Leather is a material, but the Nice system follows function. Watch for these:
| Item | Correct class | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Leather belts, jackets, shoes and caps | Class 25 | Clothing, footwear, headwear |
| Laptop bags and camera cases | Class 9 | Adapted to what they carry |
| Musical instrument cases | Class 15 | Adapted to the instrument |
| Golf bags, ski and surfboard bags | Class 28 | Sports goods |
| Walking sticks for medical purposes | Class 10 | Medical aids |
| Patio umbrellas | Class 22 | Not a small portable umbrella |
Who usually files in class 18
Leather goods makers
Workshops and exporters in leather clusters such as Kanpur, Agra and Kolkata making wallets, bags and accessories.
Bag and luggage brands
Say a Delhi brand starts with backpacks, then adds laptop sleeves. Backpacks are class 18; the sleeves need class 9.
Pet accessory brands
Collars, leashes and pet clothing. Pet food is class 31 and pet toys class 28.
Tips before filing
Search class 18 and its neighbours
Run a trademark search in every class you touch, here 18 plus 25 and 9. IP India’s public search takes one class at a time.
Name the products, not the heading
Write “handbags, wallets, backpacks, travelling bags” instead of the full heading. A focused list is easier to defend.
Move adapted bags to their own class
Laptop bags and golf bags are classed by what they carry. Under Section 18(2), one application can cover several classes, with a fee for each class.
Pick your user date with care
State “proposed to be used” or your first-use date, and keep dated invoices to prove it. That date can decide a later dispute.
Frequently asked questions
Are laptop bags in class 18 or class 9?
Laptop bags are in class 9. WIPO’s note excludes bags adapted to specific products from class 18 and names laptop bags and camera cases under class 9. General backpacks and office bags stay in class 18. Selling both? File classes 9 and 18 in one application, and you manage a single filing for both.
Do leather belts, jackets and shoes need class 25?
Yes. The class 18 note sends leather clothing, footwear and headwear to class 25, along with leather belts for clothing. A brand selling wallets and bags as well as belts and shoes should file in both 18 and 25. We plan the classes at the start, so no product line is left unprotected at launch.
Does class 18 cover a pet accessories brand?
Class 18 covers collars, leashes and clothing for animals, the core of most pet accessory brands. Pet food falls in class 31 and pet toys in class 28, and pet beds or grooming brushes can fall elsewhere too. List what you sell or plan to sell within a year, and we will map each item to its class before filing.
What is the government fee for a class 18 trademark?
The Form TM-A fee is ₹4,500 per class for individuals, startups and small enterprises filing online, and ₹9,000 per class for others. Paper filing costs ₹5,000 and ₹10,000. Adding class 25 for belts and shoes means one more class fee. We confirm your applicant category first, so you pay the right amount.
Can one class 18 filing cover both handbags and wallets?
Yes. Handbags, wallets, purses, backpacks and luggage all sit in class 18, so one class fee covers the list. Keep the specification to goods you sell or plan to sell, since a clean list draws fewer objections. If an objection still comes, our trademark objection reply team prepares the written response.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
Government fee on Form TM-A: ₹4,500 per class for individuals, startups and small enterprises filing online (₹5,000 on paper), and ₹9,000 per class for others (₹10,000 on paper). Adding class 25 to the same application means one more class fee.
Ready to begin?
Tell us what bags, leather goods or pet products you sell, and we will confirm the classes and manage the trademark registration start to finish.