Trademark Class 25: Clothing, Footwear and Headwear
Trademark class 25 is where you protect a brand for clothes, shoes and caps. If you sell kurtas, sarees, sports shoes or uniforms under your own name or logo, you file here.
What class 25 covers
The official heading of Class 25 under the Nice Classification reads: “Clothing, footwear, headwear.” WIPO’s explanatory note says the class covers mainly clothing, footwear and headwear for human beings.
India follows the current Nice edition, NCL (13-2026), in force from 1 January 2026. Here is the catch: the Registry examines your mark only for the goods you list.
The note also places parts of clothing here, such as cuffs, pockets, ready-made linings, heels and cap peaks, along with sportswear, football shoes, martial arts uniforms, masquerade costumes and non-paper bibs.
Common goods in class 25
Everyday clothing
- Shirts, T-shirts, trousers and jeans
- Sarees, kurtas, salwar suits and lehengas
- Innerwear, nightwear and socks
- Jackets, sweaters and shawls
Footwear and headwear
- Shoes, sandals, slippers and chappals
- Sports shoes and football boots
- Caps, hats and turbans
- Heels and heelpieces
Special-purpose wear
- Sportswear and cyclists’ clothing
- School and work uniforms
- Martial arts uniforms
- Masquerade costumes and pocket squares
What is NOT in class 25
Some items look like clothing but sit elsewhere. WIPO’s note lists these, among others:
| Item | Where it goes |
|---|---|
| Buckles, zippers, ribbons, hatbands and trimmings | Class 26 |
| Protective helmets and fire-resistant clothing | Class 9 |
| Orthopaedic footwear | Class 10 |
| Baseball gloves and other sporting gear | Class 28 |
| Clothing for animals | Class 18 |
| Carnival masks, dolls’ clothes and paper party hats | Class 28 |
| Paper bibs | Class 16 |
| Handkerchiefs | Class 24 |
Who usually files in class 25
Garment manufacturers
Knitwear units, denim makers and ethnic-wear houses selling under their own label, to shops or online.
Footwear brands
Makers of leather shoes, sandals, slippers and sports shoes.
D2C and boutique labels
Online brands, designers and boutiques that want the neck-label name protected before someone copies it. In practice, a Faridabad kurta label selling on Instagram can file Class 25 first and add Class 35 when it opens its own website.
Tips before filing
Search the register class by class
Run a proper search of the IP India register for your word and close spellings in Class 25. Check close spellings too.
Describe the goods you really sell
Write “shirts, T-shirts and kurtas” or the heading terms. Vague words such as “fashion items” invite objections.
Plan for the next five years
Add footwear or headwear now if you expect to launch them. Under Section 47, a registered mark not used for five continuous years can be removed.
Add the neighbouring classes
Selling through your own store or website? Consider Class 35 too.
Frequently asked questions
Does trademark class 25 cover my online clothing store?
No, the store itself is a service and falls in Class 35. Class 25 protects your brand on the clothes, shoes and caps you sell. WIPO’s Class 35 note covers bringing goods together so customers can view and buy them, including on websites. We can file both in one application, with the government fee charged per class, so you protect the product and the shop together.
Are school uniforms and sportswear in class 25?
Yes, uniforms and sportswear both belong in Class 25. WIPO’s note names sports singlets, cyclists’ clothing and football shoes as Class 25 goods. Protective gear is different: helmets go to Class 9 and baseball gloves to Class 28. If your range mixes both, we split the specification so each item lands in the right class.
Can I file before my first collection is launched?
Yes, you can apply for a mark that is proposed to be used. Filing while samples are being made helps stop someone else filing first. Plan to start using it, because Section 47 lets anyone seek removal of a mark not used for five continuous years after registration. We mark the application “proposed to be used” and keep the paperwork ready for when sales begin.
Do buttons and zippers fall under class 25?
No, buttons, zippers, buckles and ribbons sit in Class 26, not Class 25. WIPO’s note for Class 25 specifically excludes clasps, buckles, zippers, ribbons, hatbands and trimmings. File in Class 26 only if you sell these items under your brand. A garment brand using branded buttons on its own shirts is usually covered by Class 25 alone; we will tell you if Class 26 is worth it.
What is the government fee for one class?
The government fee for Form TM-A is ₹4,500 per class if you e-file as an individual, startup or small enterprise. Others pay ₹9,000 per class online. Paper filing costs ₹5,000 and ₹10,000. A small label covering Classes 25 and 35 pays ₹9,000 online. We confirm your category before filing so you pay the right amount.
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.
The Form TM-A fee is charged per class, and individuals, startups and small enterprises pay half, so Udyam registration or DPIIT startup recognition can halve it. A clothing label filing in Class 25 alone pays one class fee; adding Class 35 doubles it.
| Applicant (Form TM-A) | E-filing, per class | Physical filing, per class |
|---|---|---|
| Individual, startup or small enterprise | ₹4,500 | ₹5,000 |
| Any other applicant | ₹9,000 | ₹10,000 |
Ready to begin?
Tell us your brand name and what you sell, and we will check Class 25, word the specification and file it this week.