🪡 Nice Class 26: Haberdashery & Accessories
The EUIPO register holds 29,323 trademarks in Class 26, the class for lace, braid, buttons, ribbons, pins and needles (as of July 2026). (as of July 2026).
29,323
Marks in the EU register
18,189
Registered with the EUIPO
+22 %
Growth 2020–2024
50 %
Word mark share
Class 26 is the haberdashery class: lace, braid, buttons, ribbons and needles, plus zippers, hair accessories, patches and artificial flowers. The EUIPO register holds 29,323 trademarks in Class 26, of which 18,189 are registered (as of July 2026, EUIPO register data). The class is growing fast: new registrations climbed from 1,467 in 2020 to 1,794 in 2024, a 22 percent increase, with 1,740 added in 2025. The top filers tell an unusual story: Japanese zipper maker YKK leads with 140 trademarks, and two football governing bodies follow close behind, UEFA with 113 and FIFA with 72, with Target (95) and Feme (89) in between. The reason: patches, badges and pins for fan merchandise fall under Class 26, so sports federations protect their logos here too. Word marks make up 50 percent of the class. For founders in accessories and DIY, this class matters far more than its modest name suggests.
What belongs in Class 26?
Class 26 covers haberdashery and trimmings for textiles: lace, braid, buttons, ribbons, hooks and eyes, needles, zippers and buckles. It also includes hair accessories such as hair clips, hair ties and headbands, artificial flowers, and patches and textile badges. The key distinctions: real jewellery such as necklaces and earrings belongs in Class 14, fabrics in Class 24, finished clothing in Class 25 and yarns in Class 23. Class 26 protects the items that fasten, decorate or complete textiles.
Typical examples: Lace, ribbons, buttons, zippers
New EUIPO registrations per year in Class 26
Most active applicants in Class 26
| # | Applicant | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ykk Corporation | 140 |
| 2 | Union Des Associations Européennes De Football (Uefa) | 113 |
| 3 | Target Brands Inc | 95 |
| 4 | Feme Limited | 89 |
| 5 | Fédération Internationale De Football Association (Fifa) | 72 |
| 6 | Aderans Company Limited | 65 |
| 7 | Lidl Stiftung & Co Kg | 55 |
| 8 | Dm-Drogerie Markt Gmbh + Co Kg | 54 |
| 9 | Sanrio Company Ltd | 54 |
| 10 | Gottlieb Binder Gmbh & Co Kg | 50 |
Word mark or figurative mark?
Often combined with
Start from your product range: in practice, Class 26 is most often combined with Class 25 (clothing), Class 18 (bags and leather goods) and Class 21 (household goods, combs and brushes). A hair accessories label covers combs and brushes too with 26 and 21, while a patch or accessories brand covers its typical range with 26, 25 and 18. Before filing, check whether your name is protectable as a word mark, since half of all trademarks in Class 26 are word marks. And plan ahead: the class is growing noticeably, and the list of goods cannot be extended later.
Common mistakes with Class 26
The most common mistake: misclassifying hair accessories. Hair clips and hair ties belong in Class 26, not in the jewellery class 14, so an accessories label that files only Class 14 leaves its core range unprotected. Second mistake: overlooking merchandise items. Patches, badges and pins fall under Class 26. If you sell fan gear or patches and file only Class 25 for the clothing, you have a gap that UEFA and FIFA closed for themselves long ago. Third, founders underestimate the search: YKK has maintained its portfolio here for decades, and the federations defend their marks consistently.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What belongs in Nice Class 26?
Class 26 covers haberdashery: lace, braid, buttons, ribbons, needles, zippers, hooks and eyes, plus hair accessories, artificial flowers, patches and badges. Real jewellery belongs in Class 14 instead, fabrics in Class 24 and finished clothing in Class 25.
Why do UEFA and FIFA file trademarks in Class 26?
According to EUIPO register data (as of July 2026), the top filers in this class are YKK with 140 and UEFA with 113 trademarks, ahead of Target (95), Feme (89) and FIFA (72). Patches, badges and pins for fan merchandise fall under Class 26, which is why sports federations protect their logos and tournament names in this class as well.
Do hair accessories belong in Class 26 or Class 14?
Hair accessories such as hair clips, hair ties and headbands belong in Class 26. Class 14 is reserved for real jewellery such as necklaces, rings and earrings. A label offering both needs both classes, otherwise part of the range stays unprotected.
Which classes are typically combined with Class 26?
Most often Class 25 for clothing, Class 18 for bags and leather goods, and Class 21 for household goods such as combs and brushes. An accessories label selling hair accessories, scarves and bags closes the typical gaps with 26, 25 and 18, while a hair care range adds Class 21.
Sources
EUIPO – European Union Intellectual Property Office: register data on EU trade marks and international registrations with EU protection, as of July 2026.
WIPO – Nice Classification: class definitions and headings (11th edition).
Methodology: own analysis by markencheck.ai; counted per filing entity, name variants merged.
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