Textile and sewing goods, as well as other artificial accessories and decorative pieces, fall under Trademark Class 26. Consider items used for “finishing” an outfit or piece of clothing when categorizing these items.
Hair Related Goods: Trademark Class 26 contains a plethora of hair-related goods, ranging from ribbons to bobby pins. Although these items are not directly related to sewing or textiles, they can be considered accessories and decorative pieces. Products such as decorative hair articles, false hair, hair grips, bobby pins, hair nets, electric and non-electric hair curlers, toupees, and wigs are specifically mentioned by USCIS.
Hooks and Closures: This class also includes items used to finish clothing, such as hooks and closures. Belt clasps, blouse and dress fasteners, suspenders, corset hooks, snap fasteners, trouser clips, and zippers are all examples of this type of fastener.
Textile Materials: While Trademark Class 24 covers most textiles, Trademark Class 26 includes a few specific exceptions used for detailing and decorating clothing. Chenille, clothing cords, embroidery, lacework, clothing frills, and wooden laces, for example, are all specifically mentioned in the USPTO guidelines.
Accessories: Class 26 also includes a variety of accessories designed specifically for clothing decoration (i.e. not jewelry). Bird feathers, braids, armbands, brooches, hat trimmings, non-jewelry pins, and shoulder pads are some commonly used examples.
Misc. Decorative and Display Goods: Just as the examples above “finish” specific outfits, some other examples help finish other decorative displays. Display goods such as artificial flowers and fruit, Christmas garlands and wreaths, prize ribbons, bows and ribbons for presents, and other similar articles are also included in Class 26.
Sewing Goods: By volume, the vast majority of the items in Class 26 are related to sewing and clothing production. Most items related to sewing, knitting, and crocheting fall into this category. This class includes binding needles, buttons, collar supports, crochet hooks and needles, embroidery needles, hatbands, knitting needles, needle cushions, rug hooks, sewing needles, and other common sewing implements.
Shoe Related Goods: Finally, Class 26 covers a variety of shoe-related finishing touches. As a result, shoe fasteners, hooks, laces, trimmings, eyelets, buckles, and shoemakers’ needles are all classified as Class 26.
Related Classes
If you are considering registering a Class 26 item, you should also consider the related classes that may be more appropriate for your product.
Take special note of Trademark Class 14, which pertains to jewelry, as well as Classes 23-25, which pertain to yarns, threads, fabrics, and clothing. Many of the items in these classes are very similar to those in Class 26.
If you are unsure whether you need to register for more than one class or one of the others listed, consult with an attorney. Businesses use trademarks to assert ownership of specific names, logos, and other forms of branding.
They may, however, only do so within the specific trademark class for which they have registered. Trademark Class 26 covers a wide range of products that “finish” outfits and articles of clothing, such as ribbons, buttons, and lace.