Trademark Class 25 vs Class 35 — Key Differences Explained
Class 25 protects your trademark for clothing, footwear, and headgear as products. Class 35 protects it for retail services, e-commerce stores, and business services. A clothing brand that sells directly to consumers should register in both Class 25 and Class 35 to be fully protected.
If you run a clothing label, fashion brand, or garment business in India, choosing the wrong trademark class can leave your brand partially unprotected. Class 25 and Class 35 are both relevant for fashion and clothing businesses — but they protect different activities. Here is exactly how they differ and which ones you need.
Understanding Each Term
What is Class 25 — Clothing & Footwear?
Trademark Class 25 covers all clothing, footwear, and headgear items — including ethnic wear, activewear, underwear, socks, shoes, sandals, hats, and accessories. If you manufacture or sell physical clothing products under your brand name, Class 25 is mandatory.
- CoversGarments, footwear, headgear, ethnic wear, sportswear, accessories
- AuthorityIP India
- Validity10 years, renewable
- CostFrom ₹1,499
- TimeTM No. same day
What is Class 35 — Business & Retail Services?
Class 35 covers advertising services, business management, retail services for clothing, and e-commerce. If your brand operates a retail store (physical or online), runs a marketplace, or provides business services under your brand name, Class 35 covers that activity.
- CoversRetail services, e-commerce, online stores, advertising, business consultancy
- AuthorityIP India
- Validity10 years, renewable
- CostFrom ₹1,499
- TimeTM No. same day
Trademark Class 25 vs Class 35 — Key Differences at a Glance
| Aspect | Class 25 — Clothing & Footwear | Class 35 — Business & Retail Services |
|---|---|---|
| What is protected | Physical clothing and footwear products | Retail stores and business services |
| For product manufacturers? | Yes — essential | Optional (if no retail brand) |
| For online sellers? | Yes — for the products | Yes — for the online store/platform |
| For brick-and-mortar stores? | Yes — for products sold | Yes — for the retail service itself |
| For fashion e-commerce brands? | Yes | Yes |
| Recommendation | Always file | File if you sell directly or operate a store |
Which Class Does Your Clothing Business Need?
Most clothing and fashion businesses need both. Here are specific scenarios:
A clothing brand that sells directly to consumers needs both Class 25 and Class 35. The two-class filing covers your products AND your retail activity — closing a gap that competitors could exploit. At ₹1,499 per class, filing both is the standard recommendation from trademark professionals for any fashion or clothing business.
Still Not Sure Which Registration You Need?
Our IP experts will assess your business and tell you exactly what to file — trademark, MSME, IEC, or ISO. Free consultation, 100% online.
- Free eligibility check
- Filing from ₹1,499
- IP India authorised agents
Call Now: 6239771006
Frequently Asked Questions — Trademark Class 25 vs Class 35
Class 25 includes: all clothing items (shirts, trousers, dresses, sarees, kurtas, lehengas, suits), footwear (shoes, sandals, boots, slippers), headgear (caps, hats, turbans), sportswear, activewear, underwear and lingerie, hosiery, swimwear, and accessories like scarves and gloves.
Class 24 covers textiles and fabrics — bed linen, table cloths, curtains, and household textile articles. A clothing brand that also sells home textiles, dress fabrics (by the metre), or furnishing textiles should add Class 24. Pure clothing brands manufacturing finished garments only need Class 25.
File Class 25 for your clothing products and Class 35 for your brand as a retail/e-commerce seller. Both Amazon and Myntra Brand Registry programmes require a trademark registration. Class 25 is typically the minimum; Class 35 adds protection for your seller activity.
Generally yes — trademark protection is class-specific. A well-known brand can oppose marks in other classes, but regular SME brands typically only have protection within their filed classes. This is why multi-class filing matters: a competitor could register your brand name in Class 35 if you only filed in Class 25.
Looking for another comparison? Browse all IP & Legal Comparison Guides
