Trademark Class 25 in India: Clothing, Footwear & Headgear Guide

Key Takeaways

• Class 25 covers clothing, footwear, and headgear for human beings, not raw fabrics, leather goods, or protective safety gear outside this scope.
• It also includes traditional categories like sportswear, uniforms, and religious or ceremonial garments, still part of the official Nice heading.
• Regular apparel and footwear fall under Class 25; smart wearables and safety helmets fall under Class 9.
• Government fees are ₹4,500 per class (individuals, startups, MSMEs) or ₹9,000 per class (companies and others), part of the standard trademark fees in India. 
• Common exclusions: raw textiles and fabrics (Class 24), bags and leather goods (Class 18), protective and medical footwear (Class 9 or 10), and retail or e-commerce services (Class 35).
• Vague descriptions like “clothing” or “apparel” alone are a top cause of objections; be specific.
• A registered Class 25 mark can extend internationally through the Madrid Protocol, covering 130+ countries.
• Registration takes 6-12 months for uncontested applications and is valid for 10 years, renewable indefinitely.

What is Trademark Class 25 in India?

Trademark Class 25 is a goods-based classification. It protects the physical clothing, footwear, and headgear products your business designs, manufactures, or sells, instead of the services related to tailoring, dry-cleaning, or retailing them.

The Indian Trademark Registry evaluates Class 25 applications based on the nature and function of the goods, not their price point, fabric, or brand positioning.

Leading brands, including Allen Solly, Louis Philippe, Woodland, and Bata, hold Class 25 registrations in India.

Categories of Goods under Trademark Class 25

Class 25 trademark classification covers clothing, footwear, headgear, and related wearable goods. Key categories:

1. Clothing

Class 25 covers everyday and occasional apparel worn on the body, garments people buy off the rack or have tailored for regular use.

It includes:

• Shirts, dresses, jeans, sarees, and jackets
• Innerwear, sleepwear, and lingerie
• Sportswear, activewear, and gym wear
• Uniforms, workwear, and ceremonial garments
• Rainwear, winterwear, and waterproof clothing

Brands such as H&M, FabIndia, Zara, and Biba rely on Class 25 to protect their clothing lines.

2. Footwear

Class 25 protects shoes, sandals, boots, and related footwear worn for daily use or sports, including:

• Sneakers, formal shoes, and sports shoes
• Sandals, slippers, and bath footwear
• Boots, football boots, and ski boots
• Footwear components such as heels, soles, and uppers when sold as part of finished footwear

Brands like Nike, Adidas, Puma, Bata, and Woodland depend on Class 25 for their footwear products.

Note: Footwear designed for medical, orthopaedic, or safety purposes, such as steel-toe boots or surgical shoes, is not covered under Class 25. These fall under Class 9 or Class 10.

3. Headgear

Class 25 covers protective and fashion-oriented headwear used in everyday wear or specific activities, including:

• Caps, hats, and top hats
• Turbans, veils, and other cultural or traditional headwear
• Headbands, visors, and bathing caps
• Hoods attached to clothing

Brands like New Era, Puma, and Adidas rely on Class 25 to safeguard their hats and caps.

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

4. Niche and Specialty Apparel

Class 25 also covers several specialty apparel categories beyond regular clothing and footwear, including traditional uniform categories alongside modern athleisure. It includes:

• Dancewear and performance costumes
• Martial arts uniforms
• School, corporate, and hospitality uniforms
• Masquerade and fancy-dress costumes
• Religious and ceremonial garments

Brands such as Decathlon and Peter England rely on Class 25 for their niche and specialty apparel.

Who Should File Under Trademark Class 25?

Businesses involved in the design, manufacturing, or sale of clothing, footwear, and headgear products should register under trademark Class 25. Some examples include:

• Clothing brands and manufacturers making casualwear, ethnic wear, formalwear, or streetwear.
• Footwear companies producing sneakers, sandals, boots, or formal shoes.
• Headgear brands selling caps, hats, turbans, or fashion headwear.
• Fashion designers and boutiques protecting their brand names before scaling.
• Sportswear and activewear brands offering gym wear, yoga wear, or athleisure.
• Uniform manufacturers making school, corporate, or industrial workwear.
• Lingerie and sleepwear brands selling innerwear, shapewear, or nightwear.
• D2C and e-commerce apparel sellers operating on Instagram, Shopify, or marketplaces.

Choosing the right category from the classes of trademarks protects your brand and prevents misuse. Confirming Class 25 actually fits your goods is the key step in getting that right.

Goods Not Classified Under Trademark Class 25

Certain wearable-adjacent products, even if worn on the body, are not included in Class 25 for trademark purposes and are classified under different categories:

• Raw Fabrics and Textiles: Cloth, yarn, thread, and unmade textile material are classified elsewhere (belong to Class 24).
• Bags, Wallets, and Leather Accessories: Items such as handbags, luggage, wallets, and belts made purely as accessories do not fall under Class 25 (under Class 18).
• Protective and Smart Wearables: Safety helmets, smart clothing, and electronic fitness wearables are categorized differently (under Class 9).
• Medical and Orthopaedic Footwear: Surgical shoes, orthopaedic footwear, and medical compression wear are excluded from this class (under Class 10).
• Retail and E-Commerce Services: Selling or distributing apparel through a store or online marketplace is not covered under Class 25 (under Class 35).

Choose the correct class from the start. Even one wrongly classified product can result in an avoidable Trademark Class 25 objection.

Common Mistakes When Filing Under Class 25 and How to Avoid Them

Fashion, footwear, and headwear businesses often face delays or limited protection due to avoidable filing errors. Here are the most common mistakes and how to avoid them:

1. Filing Under the Wrong Class: Raw fabrics belong to Class 24, bags and leather accessories to Class 18, smart wearables to Class 9, and retail services to Class 35. Verify with the trademark class search tool before filing.
2. Using Descriptive or Generic Names: Examiners often object to words like “Fashion,” “Style,” “Trendy,” or “Wear” under Section 9(1)(b). Choose a distinctive name instead.
3. Using Vague Product Descriptions: Broad terms like “clothing” or “apparel” trigger objections. Use precise wording, e.g., “men’s cotton formal shirts,” not just “clothing.”
4. Skipping a Comprehensive Trademark Search: Search the Indian Trademark Registry and WIPO’s global database before filing. You can also use RegisterKaro’s free trademark search tool to identify identical or phonetically similar Class 25 marks. 
5. Submitting Incomplete Documentation: Missing forms, incorrect details, or absent proofs can trigger objections. Review the complete list of documents required for trademark registration carefully before submission to ensure accuracy and completeness.
6. Missing the Examination Report Deadline: Failing to reply within 30 days can result in abandonment. Respond to any trademark objection on time.
7. Ignoring Multi-Class Filing: Filing only under Class 25 may leave bags and accessories (Class 18) or your retail and online store operations (Class 35) unprotected. File under all relevant classes from the outset.

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