👜 Nice Class 18: Leather, Bags & Luggage
The EUIPO register holds 174,132 trademarks in Class 18, the class for leather, bags, luggage and umbrellas (as of July 2026). (as of July 2026).
174,132
Marks in the EU register
99,742
Registered with the EUIPO
+7 %
Growth 2020–2024
47 %
Word mark share
Class 18 is fashion's bag class: it covers leather and imitation leather, luggage, handbags, backpacks, wallets, umbrellas and saddlery. The EUIPO register holds 174,132 trademarks in Class 18, of which 99,742 are registered (as of July 2026, EUIPO register data). Growth is slow but steady: new registrations rose from 8,121 in 2020 to 8,673 in 2024, a 7 percent increase, with another 8,056 added in 2025. The top filers tell a story of their own: Spanish department store El Corte Inglés leads with 303 trademarks according to EUIPO register data, and three merchandising heavyweights follow close behind, Disney (220), UEFA (214) and FIFA (139), with shoe retailer Deichmann (210) in between. Bags and luggage are classic fan merchandise, so names are fiercely contested here. The class also behaves just like fashion: only 47 percent of its trademarks are word marks, nearly everything else is a logo or combined mark, and that is one of the biggest protection traps in this class.
What belongs in Class 18?
Class 18 covers leather and imitation leather, hides and skins, luggage and suitcases, handbags, backpacks and wallets, umbrellas and parasols, walking sticks, plus saddlery, whips and clothing for animals such as collars and leads. What counts is the type of product, not the material: a bag made of plastic or fabric still falls under Class 18. The other way round, leather jackets, belts and shoes belong in Class 25 as clothing, and leather phone cases in Class 9.
Typical examples: Leather, bags, luggage, umbrellas
New EUIPO registrations per year in Class 18
Most active applicants in Class 18
| # | Applicant | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Corte Ingles Sa | 303 |
| 2 | Disney Enterprises Inc | 220 |
| 3 | Union Des Associations Européennes De Football (Uefa) | 214 |
| 4 | Deichmann Se | 210 |
| 5 | Fédération Internationale De Football Association (Fifa) | 139 |
| 6 | Target Brands Inc | 117 |
| 7 | Samsonite Ip Holdings Sa Rl | 116 |
| 8 | Decathlon | 115 |
| 9 | Soliver Bernd Freier Gmbh & Co Kg | 112 |
| 10 | Takko Holding Gmbh | 112 |
Word mark or figurative mark?
Often combined with
Rarely file Class 18 in isolation: in practice it is most often combined with Class 25 (clothing and shoes), Class 35 (retail and online shops) and Class 9, which covers typical accessory add-ons like phone cases and sunglasses. Think before filing about where your label is headed, because the list of goods cannot be extended later. Check whether your name works as a word mark instead of relying on the logo alone. And search the register before you file, especially in a class with filers this active.
Common mistakes with Class 18
The most common mistake: protecting only the logo. Just 47 percent of trademarks in Class 18 are word marks, so many labels register only their combined word and figurative mark. Its protection is tied to that specific design and will not survive a redesign. Second mistake: confusing Class 18 with fashion as a whole. If you sell clothing, shoes or belts alongside your bags, you also need Class 25, otherwise half the collection stays unprotected. Third, underestimating the collision risk: Disney, UEFA and FIFA are merchandising giants that defend their marks rigorously, so a thorough search before filing is not optional here.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What belongs in Nice Class 18?
Class 18 covers leather and imitation leather, luggage, handbags, backpacks and wallets, umbrellas and parasols, plus saddlery and clothing for animals. The type of product counts, not the material: bags made of fabric or plastic belong here too. Clothing, belts and shoes fall under Class 25 instead.
Why do Disney, UEFA and FIFA file so many trademarks in Class 18?
Bags and luggage are classic merchandising products. According to EUIPO register data (as of July 2026), El Corte Inglés leads with 303 trademarks, followed by Disney (220), UEFA (214), Deichmann (210) and FIFA (139). Anyone selling fan merchandise almost always covers Class 18, which is why the register is so crowded.
Is protecting just my bag label's logo enough?
Usually not. Only 47 percent of trademarks in Class 18 are word marks, so many labels rely on their logo alone. Its protection is tied to that specific design, though. If your name is distinctive, an additional word mark secures it in any spelling and survives the next redesign.
Which classes are typically combined with Class 18?
Most often Class 25 for clothing, shoes and belts, Class 35 for retail and online shops, and Class 9, which covers items like phone cases and sunglasses. A label selling bags and clothing through its own shop covers the typical gaps with 18, 25 and 35.
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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