Trademark Class 25: What It Covers and How to Protect Your Clothing Brand

Key Takeaways

• Core Scope: Class 25 of the Nice Classification covers clothing, footwear and headwear for human beings.

• Key Exclusions: Bags, jewellery, perfume, eyewear and online clothing stores fall in other classes.

• 2026 Nice Updates: Since 1 January 2026, electrically heated clothing sits in Class 25, and sunglasses moved from Class 9 to Class 10.

• Cross-Class Protection: Most fashion brands need Class 25 plus at least Class 35 (retail) and often Classes 18, 14 or 3.

• Strict Territoriality: Each country registers separately; a UAE trademark doesn't protect you in Saudi Arabia.

What is Trademark Class 25?

Trademark Class 25 is the official Nice Classification category whose official class heading is clothing, footwear, and headwear. Established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the Nice system categorizes goods and services across 45 distinct classes in more than 150 countries to standardize clearance and registration worldwide. For founders launching an apparel brand, securing a Class 25 trademark is the foundational starting point.

What goods are included in Class 25?

The official Nice Class 25 clothing, footwear, and headgear category covers finished garments and worn items for human beings. To structure your brand's filings effectively, consult the scannable categories from the official Class 25 goods list below:

• Clothing: Everyday apparel, shirts, T-shirts, polo shirts, trousers, denim jeans, dresses, skirts, hoodies, knitwear, jackets, outerwear, sportswear, athletic apparel, undergarments, swimwear, and sleepwear.
• Footwear: Everyday shoes, athletic sneakers, running trainers, formal footwear, sandals, leather boots, and slippers.
• Headwear: Caps, baseball hats, beanies, visors, and headscarves.
• Accessories Classified as Clothing: Leather and fabric belts (clothing), scarves, mufflers, winter gloves, neckties, pocket squares, and socks.
• Regional Garments: Traditional attire such as abayas, thobes, kanduras, ghutras, bishts, and hijabs. 

(Note: Always confirm accepted wording with the UAE and Saudi offices, as local registries maintain specific approved phrasing).

• New in NCL 13: Electrically heated garments (jackets, socks, footmuffs), beard aprons, and yoga gloves.

What is NOT in Class 25?

Many apparel founders assume that every lifestyle accessory worn on the body belongs in Class 25. The cross-class table below outlines where non-Class 25 items belong under the official NCL 13 alphabetical list:

• Handbags, wallets, backpacks (Class 18): Covers leather goods, carryalls, luggage, and travel bags.
• Jewellery, watches (Class 14): Covers precious metals, costume jewellery, and horological instruments.
• Sunglasses, non-smart eyewear (Class 10, from 2026): Optical goods, sunglasses, and spectacles moved from Class 9 to Class 10 under NCL 13-2026.
• Smart glasses (Class 9): Wearable tech, AR headsets, and smart frames stay in Class 9 because of their electronic functions.
• Perfume, cosmetics (Class 3): Covers non-medicated personal care products, beauty goods, and fragrances.
• Fabrics and textiles (Class 24): Covers piece goods, uncut fabrics, and household textiles.
• Buttons, zips, badges (Class 26): Covers haberdashery items, clothing fasteners, and decorative embellishments.
• Protective clothing, such as safety helmets and fireproof suits (Class 9): Protective apparatus designed to prevent accidents and fire injury.
• Sports equipment, not clothing (Class 28): Covers rackets, balls, gym gear, and sports implements that aren’t worn as clothing.
• Clothing retail, online store (Class 35): Covers commercial storefronts, e-commerce, and retail distribution services.
• Tailoring, embroidery services (Class 40): Covers material alteration, custom garment cutting, and garment manufacturing services.

What changed in Class 25 in 2026?

The 13th Edition of the Nice Classification (NCL 13-2026), effective from 1 January 2026, introduced critical shifts that affect every modern clothing brand trademark:

1. Electrically Heated Clothing Entered Class 25: Heated jackets, heated socks, and heated footmuffs shifted from Class 11 (heating apparatus) directly into Class 25, reflecting their primary character as wearable garments.
2. Eyewear Transferred Out of Class 9: Standard sunglasses, corrective spectacles, and frames moved into Class 10 alongside medical and therapeutic devices. Smart glasses with electronic processing or connected heads-up displays remain in Class 9.
3. Application Timing Rules: All filings submitted on or after 1 January 2026 must adhere to the 13th edition. Earlier trademark registrations retain their historical classification and do not require retroactive reclassification.
4. Dual-Class Clearance Mandate: For brands producing heated items or eyewear, trademark clearance searches and brand watch services should bridge both editions:
   • Heated apparel: Search both Class 11 and Class 25 to catch legacy filings and new applications.
   • Eyewear & sunglasses: Search both Class 9 and Class 10 to ensure complete conflict detection.

Which other classes should a clothing brand register?

Securing a bulletproof trademark requires understanding Class 25 vs. Class 35. Class 25 protects the physical garments, while Class 35 protects retail storefronts and e-commerce shopping services. If a competitor opens an online clothing store using your brand name without manufacturing their own garments, your Class 25 registration alone may not provide sufficient grounds to stop them.

• Clothing line only (Class 25): Core protection for wholesale apparel manufacturers.
• Clothing + own online store (Classes 25, 35): Covers the garment labels (Class 25) and direct-to-consumer online or retail shop operations (Class 35).
• Fashion house with bags and accessories (Classes 25, 18, 14): Complete protection across clothing lines, leather bags, and jewellery collections.
• Lifestyle brand with fragrance and eyewear (Classes 25, 3, 10, 18, 35): Broad protection for apparel, cosmetics, sunglasses (Class 10), handbags, and online retail. (You can read more about here - https://abounaja.com/blog/cosmetic-trademark-class-complete-guide-to-protecting-your-beauty-brand)
• Sportswear brand (Classes 25, 28, 35): Protects performance apparel, sporting equipment and accessories, and retail distribution.

How to write a strong Class 25 specification

• Use pre-approved terms: Avoid vague phrases like “fashion items” or “all clothing” that trigger registry objections. Selecting standard terms directly from the WIPO Nice Classification database speeds up examination and sets clear legal boundaries. 
• Avoid non-use vulnerability: Over-broad specifications create legal risks down the road. In the UAE and Saudi Arabia, unused claimed items become vulnerable to third-party cancellation actions after five consecutive years of non-use.
• Balance current and planned lines: List the specific garments, footwear, and headwear you currently sell, plus items you have concrete plans to launch within the next three years. This protects brand growth while keeping the registration enforceable.

Why Class 25 is one of the most crowded classes

Class 25 ranks as one of the most crowded categories in intellectual property registries worldwide. Apparel founders naturally gravitate toward short, memorable names, everyday vocabulary, and minimalist graphic devices. Because a single category spans hundreds of garment types, the statistical probability of name collisions is high.

Examiners in Class 25 routinely issue refusals based on two standard grounds:

1. Descriptive Names: Marks that merely describe the product's function, cut, or material (such as "Soft Cotton" or "Breezy Linen") fail examination for lack of distinctiveness.
2. Likelihood of Confusion: Applications that sound, look, or mean the same as an earlier registered mark for related goods will be refused.

Conducting a thorough clearance search prior to filing prevents wasted official fees, months of administrative delay, and emergency rebranding expenses.

How to register a Class 25 trademark in the UAE and Saudi Arabia

Trademark rights are strictly territorial. A successful application in Dubai confers no legal rights in Riyadh. Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia are member states of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, allowing applicants to claim convention priority within six months of their initial domestic filing.

United Arab Emirates (Ministry of Economy and Tourism)

To execute a successful trademark strategy for a clothing brand in the UAE, follow this six-stage filing roadmap. For comprehensive guidance, consult our dedicated trademark registration in the UAE service page. 

1. Clearance Search: Search the UAE trademark database for identical and phonetically similar names in Class 25 and Class 35.
2. Application Filing: Submit the electronic application through the Ministry of Economy and Tourism portal.
3. Substantive Examination: Ministry examiners review the mark for absolute grounds (distinctiveness) and prior conflicts.
4. Official Publication: Accepted applications are published in the Ministry's official trademark bulletin.
5. Opposition Period: A 30-day statutory opposition window opens on the date of publication.
6. Registration Certificate: Following the opposition period, the final fee is paid, and the certificate is issued for 10 Gregorian years.

Registry Notes: The UAE trademark law permits multi-class applications under a unified fee schedule per class, though single-class filings remain standard practical procedure. For marks containing Latin script, the Ministry requires an approved Arabic transliteration.

Saudi Arabia (Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property - SAIP)

Managing a Class 25 trademark filing in Saudi Arabia requires local representation before SAIP. Review our guide to trademark registration in Saudi Arabia and contact our Saudi Arabia office directly. 

1. Clearance Search: Check SAIP's electronic database for conflicting marks across the Kingdom.
2. Application Filing: File the Class 25 application through a SAIP-accredited intellectual property agent.
3. Examination by SAIP: SAIP conducts formal and substantive examinations of the mark and goods list.
4. Official Publication: SAIP publishes the accepted application digitally in the SAIP gazette.
5. Opposition Window: Competitors have 60 days from the publication date to file a formal opposition.
6. Certificate Issuance: Upon resolution of any opposition and payment of final fees, SAIP issues the registration certificate, valid for 10 Hijri years (approximately 9.7 Gregorian years).

Registry Notes: SAIP does not accept multi-class applications; each class requires an independent submission. Arabic is the exclusive language of official proceedings, and Latin brand names must be filed with an accurate Arabic transliteration.

How much does a Class 25 trademark cost in the UAE and Saudi Arabia?

Official Trademark Fees per Class (Approximate, 2026)

• UAE (Ministry of Economy and Tourism)
  • Fee: About AED 6,500 per class, covering application filing, official publication, and final registration.
  • Exceptions and reductions: Businesses certified under the National SME Programme get a 50% discount on official fees, and People of Determination are fully exempt.
• Saudi Arabia (SAIP)
  • Fee: About SAR 6,000 per class (SAR 1,000 for filing plus SAR 5,000 for publication and registration).
  • Exceptions and reductions: Fees are charged per single-class filing, and professional legal and search costs are charged separately.

Protecting your clothing brand after registration

Securing a registration certificate is an active legal milestone, not a passive one. Once registered, apparel brands must take practical enforcement measures to defend their market share:

• Trademark Watch Services: Automated surveillance alerts you when competitors file confusingly similar names in Class 25 or Class 35, allowing you to file oppositions within statutory deadlines.
• Marketplace Takedowns: Register your brand with online IP protection programs to remove counterfeit apparel and infringing listings from platforms like Amazon and Noon.
• Customs Recordal: Record your registered trademark with customs administrations in the UAE and Saudi Arabia to block and seize counterfeit imports at the border.
• Timely Renewals: Track expiration dates across jurisdictions (10 Gregorian years in the UAE; 10 Hijri years in Saudi Arabia) to avoid abandonment of rights.

Review our full post-registration enforcement strategies on our 360° IP Services (Brand Protection) page.

How Abou Naja helps fashion brands

Abou Naja manages intellectual property portfolios for emerging fashion labels and established luxury houses throughout the GCC and the wider MENA region:

• Clearance Searches: Comprehensive conflict assessments across regional registers before you invest in manufacturing or marketing.
• Class Strategy: Cross-class mapping across Classes 25, 35, 18, 14, and 10 to ensure complete protection without wasted expenditure.
• Multi-Country Filings: Coordinated GCC and international trademark filings managed by local, licensed attorneys.
• Counterfeit Enforcement: Cease-and-desist actions, digital marketplace takedowns, and border-control customs enforcement.