Trademark Class 25: Clothing, Footwear & Headgear in India

Overview of Trademark Class 25 in India

Trademark Class 25 is the Nice Classification category that protects clothing, footwear, and headgear in India. It is one of the 45 trademark classes under the international Nice Classification system. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) maintains the NCL Classification system, and the Indian Trademark Registry adopts it under the Trade Marks Act, 1999.

In the fashion industry, trademark registration plays a crucial role because similar-sounding brands often compete for the same customers.

Quick Facts: Trademark Class 25 in India

Detail	Description
Class Number	25
Type	Goods
Covers	Clothing, footwear, and headgear
Governing Law	Trade Marks Act, 1999
Classification System	Nice Classification (12th Edition)
Filing Form	Form TM-A
Government Fee	₹4,500 (individual/startup/MSME) or ₹9,000 (company/LLP) per class
Validity	10 years from the date of filing
Renewal	Form TM-R, renewable indefinitely every 10 years
Filing Mode	Online via the IP India e-filing portal

Why Class 25 Matters for Fashion Brands?

A Class 25 trademark helps you:

• Stop competitors from using similar brand names for clothing or footwear.
• Take action against counterfeit sellers on platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, and Myntra.
• Build brand value for fundraising, franchising, or business expansion.
• Expand into new categories such as activewear, kidswear, or ethnic wear under the same brand.

By understanding Class 25, fashion, footwear, or headgear brands can confidently safeguard their products and plan for future growth.

Who Should File Under Trademark Class 25?

Essentially, any business that creates, manufactures, sells, or markets fashion products should file under Class 25, also known as the Garments Trademark Class. 

You should file under Class 25 if you operate in any of the following segments:

• Clothing Brands and Manufacturers: Brands selling casualwear, ethnic wear, formalwear, streetwear, or luxury apparel should file under Class 25.
• Footwear Companies: You should file under this class if you deal in sneakers, sandals, boots, slippers, sports shoes, or formal footwear. 
• Headgear Brands: If your business is engaged in selling caps, hats, turbans, beanies, bandanas, or fashion headwear, you should register under this class.
• Fashion Designers and Boutiques: Independent designers, couture labels, and boutique fashion houses should protect their brand names before scaling.
• Sportswear and Activewear Brands: Gym wear, yoga wear, tracksuits, jerseys, or athleisure brands should file under Class 25.
• Kidswear, Menswear, and Womenswear Labels: Category-specific clothing brands fall under this trademark class.
• Uniform Manufacturers: You should register under Trademark Class 25 if you make school uniforms, corporate uniforms, hospitality uniforms, or industrial workwear should register their trademarks.
• Lingerie and Sleepwear Brands: Innerwear, shapewear, loungewear, and nightwear brands also fall under Class 25.
• D2C and Instagram Fashion Brands: Online-first brands selling through Instagram, Shopify, or marketplaces should secure trademark protection early.
• E-commerce Apparel Sellers: Sellers on Amazon, Myntra, Flipkart, Ajio, or Meesho should complete trademark registration for e-commerce sellers to prevent imitation and access brand protection programs like Amazon Brand Registry.
• Export-Oriented Apparel Businesses: Garment exporters should secure Class 25 registration in India before expanding protection internationally.
• Celebrity and Influencer Fashion Labels: Influencer-led and celebrity-owned apparel brands should protect their brand identity through Class 25 registration.

Difference Between Trademark Class 25, Class 35, Class 9, and Class 18

Most fashion and footwear brands need protection across multiple trademark classes alongside Class 25. Here’s how the related classes compare:

Class	Covers	Best For
Class 25	Clothing, footwear, headgear (physical wearable products)	Apparel manufacturers, fashion labels, and footwear brands
Class 35	Retail, e-commerce, advertising, business management	D2C brands, online stores, marketplaces, marketing agencies
Class 9	Smart clothing, wearable tech, fitness trackers, electronic fashion accessories	Tech-integrated fashion brands
Class 18	Handbags, wallets, belts, luggage, leather goods	Bag, luggage, and leather accessory brands
Class 24	Raw fabrics, textiles, bed linen, towels, and curtains	Textile manufacturers and fabric brands
Class 14	Jewellery, watches, precious metal accessories	Fashion jewellery and watch brands
Class 3	Cosmetics, perfumes, beauty products	Brands extending into beauty alongside fashion

For a complete reference, see the full trademark class list in India.

Goods Covered Under Trademark Class 25: Complete List

Below is the complete class 25 trademark list of every good officially classified under this class in India:

1. Clothing Under Trademark Class 25 (Complete A–Z List)

The trademark class for clothing covers every category of apparel people wear daily or occasionally. This list includes more than 100 specific items officially recognized under Class 25:

Alphabet	Goods Covered Under Trademark Class 25
A-B	Albs, Aprons (clothing), Ascots, Babies’ pants (clothing), Bandanas (neckerchiefs), Bath robes, Bathing caps, Bathing drawers, Bathing suits · Bathing trunks, Beach clothes, Belts (clothing), Berets, Bibs (not of paper) · Boas (necklets), Bodices (lingerie), Boxer shorts, Brassieres, Breeches for wear
C-D	Camisoles, caps, cap peaks, cardigans, chasubles, coats, collars, combinations (clothing), corsets, cuffs, dancewear, detachable collars, dresses, dressing gowns
E-F	Ear muffs, evening wear, fishing vests, fleece jackets, footwear, football boots, formal shoes, fur stoles, furs (clothing)
G-H	Gabardines, garters, girdles, gloves, gym wear, gymnastic shoes, hats, headbands, headgear, heels for footwear, hoods, hosiery
I-J	Insoles, innerwear, jackets, jeans, jerseys, joggers, jumpers
K-L	Karate uniforms, knitwear, knickers, lace boots, layettes, leggings, leg warmers, lingerie, loafers
M	Mantillas, masquerade costumes, mittens, motorcyclists’ clothing, mufflers
N	Neck scarves, neckties, nightwear
O-P	Outerclothing, overalls, overcoats, pajamas, panties, parkas, pelerines, petticoats, pinafores, pocket squares, ponchos, pullovers
Q-R	Quilted jackets, rainwear, ready-made clothing, robes, running shoes
S	Sandals, saris, sarongs, scarves, shawls, shirts, shoes, shorts, shower caps, skirts, skorts, slippers, smocks, sneakers, socks, sports jerseys, sports shoes, stockings, suits, suspenders, sweatshirts, swimwear
T	T-shirts, tank tops, teddies, tights, togas, tops, tracksuits, trousers, turbans
U-V	Underclothing, undergarments, underpants, underwear, uniforms, veils, vests, visors
W-X	Waistcoats, waterproof clothing, wedding dresses, wetsuits, winterwear, X-training shoes
Y-Z	Yoga pants, yoga wear, zip-up hoodies

Brands like H&M, FabIndia, Zara, Roadster, Biba, Nike, and Puma operate in these segments and rely on Class 25 protection to secure their clothing lines.

2. Footwear

The footwear trademark class covers shoes, sandals, boots, slippers, and related footwear components:

Category	Goods Covered
Boots	Boots, sports boots, football boots, half-boots, lace boots, ski boots, valenki (felted boots)
Shoes	Shoes, sports shoes, gymnastic shoes, beach shoes, esparto shoes, football shoes, wooden shoes
Sandals and Casual Footwear	Sandals, bath sandals, bath slippers, slippers, galoshes (goloshes)
Footwear Components and Fittings	Footwear uppers, boot uppers, metal fittings for footwear, heelpieces, heels, inner soles, soles, non-slipping devices, studs for football boots, footwear tips, welts, spats, gaiters
Other Wearable Footwear	Footmuffs

Popular footwear brands in India, such as Nike, Adidas, Puma, Bata, Woodland, and Red Tape, use trademark class 25 for footwear to protect their brand identity.

Note: Footwear designed for medical, orthopaedic, or safety purposes (such as steel-toe boots, anti-static footwear, or surgical shoes) is not covered under Class 25. These fall under Class 9 (safety) or Class 10 (medical). See the next section for the full list of exclusions 

3. Headgear

This class covers protective and fashion-oriented headwear used in day-to-day wear or specific activities. It includes:

Category	Goods Covered
Caps and Hats	Caps, hats, top hats, cap peaks, hat frames (skeletons), skull caps
Cultural and Traditional Headgear	Turbans, mitres (miters), mantillas, veils, wimples
Sports and Casual Headgear	Headbands, visors, bathing caps, shower caps
Attached Headgear	Hoods attached to clothing
Novelty Headgear	Paper hats and costume headwear

Headgear brands like New Era, Puma, Adidas, Vega, and FabIndia rely on Class 25 to safeguard their hats, caps, and fashion headwear.

Note: Protective helmets, such as motorcycle helmets, construction helmets, and sports safety helmets, fall under Class 9, not Class 25. 

4. Niche and Specialty Apparel

Trademark Class 25 also covers several specialty and niche apparel categories beyond regular clothing and footwear, including:

Category	Goods Covered
Dancewear and Performance Apparel	Stage costumes, dance leotards, ballet attire, theatrical clothing
Activity-Specific Clothing	Yoga wear, gym wear, cyclists’ clothing, motorists’ clothing, fishing vests
Martial Arts Uniforms	Karate uniforms, judo uniforms, taekwondo doboks, kung fu outfits
Institutional and Professional Uniforms	School uniforms, corporate uniforms, hospitality uniforms, industrial workwear, ceremonial military and police uniforms
Costume and Fancy Dress	Masquerade costumes, Halloween outfits, fancy dress costumes
Designer and Limited-Edition Apparel	Couture wear, runway collections, capsule collections, limited-edition fashion collaborations
Religious and Ceremonial Garments	Albs, chasubles, togas, religious robes, ceremonial vestments

Brands in India, such as Decathlon, Allen Solly Junior, Peter England uniforms, and Sabyasachi, use Class 25 to protect their niche and specialty apparel.

Note: Class 25 covers wearable garments only. Protective uniforms and safety gear may fall under Class 9 or other trademark classes.

Items Not Covered Under Trademark Class 25

Knowing what Class 25 does not cover is just as important as knowing what it does. This is because incorrect filing can:

• Delay registration if the trademark office requires a correction or reclassification.
• Limit your legal protection, leaving some products exposed.
• Create disputes if someone else registers a similar mark in the correct class.

Some items that fall under other trademark classes include:

• Raw fabrics, textiles, cloth, yarn, and thread
• Accessories, haberdashery, fasteners, and decorative items, such as buttons, zippers, ribbons, buckles, and hatbands 
• Leather goods, handbags, luggage, and animal clothing
• Protective or specialized clothing, footwear, or headgear. These include safety helmets, medical scrubs, orthopedic footwear, fire-resistant clothing, and industrial safety gear 
• Electronic or smart wearables, such as smart shoes or smart clothing 
• Pet wear, doll clothing, and toy costumes 
• Paper bibs
• Masks for performance or protective use
• Clothing accessories not worn directly, such as detachable ornaments or non-fashion embellishments
• Footwear components that are not wearable alone, like shoelaces sold separately, and shoe soles for manufacturing

Brands like Vardhman Textiles, Hidesign, 3M, and Bata Safety Shoes operate in these categories outside Class 25.

How to File a Trademark Under Class 25 in India?

Here’s a clear, step-by-step guide to help you register a Class 25 trademark:

1. Conduct a Trademark Search: Search the IP India Trademark Public Search portal for existing or pending marks similar to yours under Class 25. For a more thorough conflict analysis, use a professional trademark search covering wordmarks, phonetic similarities, and device mark variations. Confirming the right class is critical; use a trademark class search tool to verify Class 25 fits your goods before filing.

2. Define Your Products Clearly: Clearly mention the products your brand covers to prevent classification errors and strengthen trademark protection.

3. File the Trademark Application: Submit Form TM-A with your brand name or logo, applicant details, Class 25 category, product description, and date of first use, if applicable. File the application online through the Trademark Registry portal.

4. Trademark Examination: The Trademark Office reviews your application to check compliance and similarity with existing trademarks. The registry may accept the application, raise a trademark objection, or request clarification.

5. Journal Publication: After acceptance, the trademark appears in the Trademark Journal. Third parties can oppose the registration within four months using Form TM-O if they believe the mark conflicts with their rights.

Step 6: Receive the Registration Certificate: If no trademark opposition is filed within the 4-month window, or if the opposition is resolved in your favour, the Trademark Registry enters the mark in the Register of Trademarks and issues a digitally signed trademark registration certificate. The trademark remains valid for 10 years from the date of filing and can be renewed indefinitely.

The entire process to register a trademark under Class 25 in India takes around 6 to 12 months. 

Why is Registering Under Trademark Class 25 Important? Lessons from Indian Courts

Indian courts strongly protect Class 25 trademarks, helping fashion brands prevent counterfeiting, misuse, and unfair competition:

1. Courts Protect Brand Reputation: In Bata India Ltd. v. Pyarelal & Co. (1985), the court ruled that even unrelated products using the “Bata” name could harm the brand’s goodwill. This case confirmed that well-known Class 25 trademarks receive broader legal protection.

2. Global Brands Can Enforce Rights in India: In Daimler Benz v. Hybo Hindustan (1994), the Delhi High Court stopped an Indian company from using “Benz” on undergarments. The judgment recognized the international reputation of the Mercedes-Benz brand.

3. Courts Act Strongly Against Counterfeits: In Louis Vuitton v. Atul Jaggi (2010), the Delhi High Court restrained the sale of counterfeit luxury apparel and awarded damages against the infringer.

4. E-Commerce Platforms Can Also Be Liable: In Puma SE v. Indiamart Intermesh (2024), the Delhi High Court held the marketplace accountable for hosting sellers offering counterfeit Puma products. The ruling strengthened protection for D2C and online fashion brands.

5. Strong Trademarks Get Broader Protection: In Raymond Ltd. v. Raymond Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. (2004), the court prevented another company from using the “Raymond” name, even in a different industry.

These landmark cases demonstrate that a registered Class 25 trademark is one of the most valuable business assets for a fashion brand — protecting it not only against direct copying but also against dilution by unrelated businesses. For India-based brands planning to expand internationally, a domestic Class 25 registration also serves as the foundation for filing a Madrid Protocol application through WIPO to extend protection across 120+ countries. For fashion brands operating online, parallel filings in Class 35 (retail/e-commerce) and Class 18 (bags and accessories) significantly strengthen brand protection across the entire product line. Founders should also review the broader trademark registration process before initiating their Class 25 application.

RegisterKaro makes trademark registration simple, affordable, and fully online for fashion, footwear, and apparel businesses. Our experts help you choose the right trademark classes, prepare accurate applications, and handle the registration process from start to finish. Contact us today for a free consultation!

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