👕 Nice Class 25: Clothing, Footwear & Headgear
343,571 trademarks have been filed in Class 25 in the EU register, 193,938 of them currently registered (as of July 2026, EUIPO register data).
343,571
Marks in the EU register
193,938
Registered with the EUIPO
+13 %
Growth 2020–2024
49 %
Word mark share
Whether you run a streetwear label, a shoe brand or a merchandise line: if you sell clothing, you file in Class 25. It ranks among the most popular classes in the EU register: 343,571 trademarks have been filed here in total, and 193,938 of them are currently registered. Demand keeps rising, from 15,980 new registrations in 2020 to 17,998 in 2024, an increase of 13 percent. Another 17,830 followed in 2025. A look at the top filers shows how broad the class is: alongside shoe maker Skechers (786 trademarks) and Abercrombie & Fitch (399), you find World Wrestling Entertainment (736), Disney (374) and Warner Bros (309). Entertainment companies file here in bulk because every t-shirt featuring a character or logo needs trademark protection for clothing. Class 25 is not just the class of fashion labels, it is the class of merchandise. For you, that means your preferred name also competes with show titles, band names and franchise brands.
What belongs in Class 25?
Class 25 covers clothing, footwear and headgear, in short, everything people wear on their bodies. Typical examples: t-shirts, hoodies and jeans, jackets and coats, sportswear, underwear, all kinds of shoes from sneakers to boots, plus caps, beanies and hats. The boundaries to neighbouring classes matter: bags, backpacks and leather belts belong in Class 18, fabrics and home textiles in Class 24, buttons and zippers in Class 26. And if you not only make the clothing but sell it through your own online shop, the retail service additionally needs Class 35. Class 25 covers the goods themselves, not the act of selling them as a service.
Typical examples: Clothing, footwear, headgear
New EUIPO registrations per year in Class 25
Most active applicants in Class 25
| # | Applicant | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Skechers Usa Inc Ii | 786 |
| 2 | World Wrestling Entertainment Llc | 736 |
| 3 | Abercrombie & Fitch Europe Sagl | 399 |
| 4 | Disney Enterprises Inc | 374 |
| 5 | Warner Bros Entertainment Inc | 309 |
| 6 | El Corte Ingles Sa | 302 |
| 7 | Nike Innovate Cv | 290 |
| 8 | Union Des Associations Européennes De Football (Uefa) | 284 |
| 9 | Mizuno Corporation | 275 |
| 10 | Deichmann Se | 266 |
Word mark or figurative mark?
Often combined with
Protect the name as a word mark first, because it stays the same even when you redesign your logo down the road. You can register a distinctive logo as a figurative mark on top; in Class 25 that is more common than almost anywhere else. Also think in companion classes: Class 25 is most often combined with Class 18 (bags, leather goods such as backpacks and belt bags), Class 35 (retail, online shop) and Class 9. Class 9 may surprise you, but it fits eyewear and the growing range of digital products around fashion. Plan a few years ahead when filing: whatever you want to sell then should already be in your list of goods today, because a trademark cannot be extended afterwards.
Common mistakes with Class 25
The most common mistake in fashion: registering only the logo as a figurative mark and leaving the name unprotected. In Class 25, only 48 percent of trademarks are word marks; the rest are largely figurative marks and logos. But if you protect only the graphic design, you are in a weak position when a competitor uses the same name in a different design. Second classic error: forgetting the companion classes. Many labels start with t-shirts and later expand into bags (Class 18) or their own shop (Class 35), only to find they have to file again. Third, the collision risk from merchandise is underestimated: with filers like Disney, WWE and Warner Bros in the register, a name that evokes a well-known character or franchise can quickly become a problem.
Is your brand name still free in the EU?
Check it live against the EU trademark register – 3 free checks per day, no sign-up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Class 25 enough for my fashion label?
For the clothing itself, yes. But many labels need more: bags and belts belong in Class 18, and your own online shop as a retail service needs Class 35. Together with Class 9, those are also the most frequent companion classes to 25. Before filing, think about which products you plan to add in the coming years.
Why do Disney and WWE file so many trademarks in Class 25?
Merchandise. Every t-shirt with a character, logo or lettering needs trademark protection for clothing. That is why the top filers include not only Skechers (786 trademarks) and Abercrombie & Fitch (399), but also World Wrestling Entertainment (736), Disney (374) and Warner Bros (309). So check entertainment brands too before settling on a name.
Word mark or figurative mark: what is common in fashion?
Class 25 is unusually logo-heavy: only 48 percent of its trademarks are word marks, and many filers protect figurative marks and logos. Still, the name is usually your most valuable asset, because it survives every redesign. The solid foundation is a word mark, complemented by a figurative mark for a distinctive logo.
How competitive is Class 25?
Quite: 343,571 trademarks have been filed in total, and 193,938 are currently registered (as of July 2026, EUIPO). New registrations rose from 15,980 in 2020 to 17,998 in 2024, an increase of 13 percent, and reached 17,830 in 2025. A thorough similarity search before filing is well worth the effort.
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.
Check your brand name in this class
Free quick search against the EU register, AI similarity analysis from €19.
Check for free now