How to Trademark a Clothing Brand or Clothing Line: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re launching a clothing brand or a full clothing line, one of the most valuable steps you can take is to secure your name, logo, and designs through trademark protection. In the fashion world, your brand is not just a label: it’s your reputation, your story, and your competitive edge.

This guide explains how to trademark a clothing brand and how to trademark your clothing line, the differences between them, and how to avoid costly mistakes that can derail your business. We’ll also answer common questions like “What trademark class is clothing?” and “How do I trademark my clothing line?”, so you know exactly where to start.

Why Trademarking Your Clothing Brand Is Essential

Fashion is fast-moving, and trends can come and go in a single season, but your brand identity should endure. Without legal protection, you risk competitors copying your name or using a confusingly similar logo on their own products. This can lead to customer confusion, lost sales, and lasting damage to your reputation.

Learning how to protect your clothing brand name through trademark registration gives you the legal right to stop others from using it without permission. It also makes it easier to expand internationally, license your brand, or take legal action against counterfeiters.

Clothing Brand vs. Clothing Line: Is There a Difference?

People often use the terms interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference:

• A clothing brand is the main identity under which you sell apparel, footwear, or accessories. Think Nike or Zara, for example.
• A clothing line is a specific collection or style range within your brand, such as Adidas Originals or Levi’s Vintage Clothing.

From a legal perspective, the trademark process is the same for both. If your clothing line has its own distinct name, logo, or clothing label, you can register it separately from your main brand for stronger protection.

How Much Does It Cost to Trademark a Clothing Brand?

The cost to trademark a clothing brand can vary significantly depending on several factors, including:

• Number of classes: If your brand covers clothing, footwear, and accessories, you may need to file in multiple trademark classes, each with its own fee.
• Filing country or region: Trademark office fees differ from one jurisdiction to another. For example, registering in the U.S., EU, and Australia all have different pricing structures.
• Legal assistance: Hiring a trademark attorney or agent can add to the cost, but it also reduces the risk of costly mistakes.
• Scope of protection: Applying for international protection through systems like the Madrid Protocol will increase the total cost compared to registering in a single country.
• Extra services: Professional trademark searches, expedited processing, and translations (for international filings) can also impact the final price.

For a detailed breakdown of fees in different jurisdictions and scenarios, see our full guide: How Much Does a Trademark Cost?

Step-by-Step: How to Trademark a Clothing Brand or Clothing Line

The process is broadly similar around the world, whether you’re applying in the U.S., the UK, the EU, or elsewhere. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Choose a Distinctive Brand Name or Logo

Your brand name is your calling card in the marketplace. Choose something unique and memorable: avoid generic or purely descriptive terms like “Best Cotton Shirts”, as they are harder (and sometimes impossible) to trademark.

If you plan to trademark a logo for clothing, make sure it’s not too similar to other logos in the fashion industry. A strong, distinctive logo can become as iconic as your designs.

2. Search Before You Apply

Before you register a clothing brand, conduct a trademark search in official databases to check for existing trademarks that might be identical or confusingly similar to yours. Look for variations in spelling, sound, or even translations that could cause legal issues.

While you can do a basic search yourself, these tools are often limited. A professional trademark search carried out by an experienced trademark attorney or agent can uncover conflicts that a quick online search might miss, including pending applications or marks registered in other jurisdictions.

Skipping this step can lead to your application being rejected, opposed, or challenged later on, costing you time, money, and potentially your brand name.

3. Identify the Correct Trademark Class for Clothing

Trademarks are registered under specific categories, called "classes." Most clothing brands fall under Class 25, which covers clothing, footwear, and headgear.

If you also sell handbags, jewelry, or cosmetics, you may need to register in additional classes. Filing in the correct class ensures you’re fully protected for the products you sell.

4. Decide What to Protect

Trademark law allows you to protect different elements of your brand:

• Clothing brand name (word mark): Protects the name itself in any font or style.
• Logo for clothing (design mark): Protects the specific visual design of your logo.
• Clothing line name: Useful for protecting individual collections.
• Slogan or tagline: Protects catchy phrases tied to your brand.

Many successful brands register both the name and the logo to ensure maximum legal coverage.

5. Prepare Your Trademark Specimen for Clothing

A trademark specimen is proof that your brand is already in use in commerce. For clothing, this can include labels, hang tags, or packaging showing your name or logo.

This step is critical: if your specimen doesn’t meet requirements, your application may be refused.

6. File Your Application

You can file through your national Intellectual Property Office or, if you want protection in multiple countries, use the Madrid Protocol to apply internationally in a single process.

Your application will typically include:

• The owner’s details
• A clear image of your name or logo
• The list of goods and trademark classes
• Proof of use (in some countries)

For brands targeting several markets, especially across different continents, it can be highly beneficial to hire professional international trademark registration services. An experienced trademark attorney or agent can ensure your application is correctly drafted, filed in the right classes, and strategically structured for future expansion, significantly reducing the risk of costly refusals or oppositions.

7. Examination and Publication

Once filed, the trademark office reviews your application to ensure it meets legal requirements. If it passes, it is published for opposition, giving third parties a chance to challenge it.

If no opposition is filed, or if you successfully defend your application, your trademark will be registered.

8. Maintain and Renew Your Trademark

Most trademarks last 10 years and can be renewed indefinitely, as long as you continue using them and meet all renewal deadlines. Missing a deadline could result in losing your rights.

Common Mistakes When Trademarking a Clothing Brand

Many new fashion entrepreneurs make preventable errors:

• Choosing a name that’s too generic or descriptive.
• Skipping the trademark search before applying.
• Filing in the wrong class or missing related classes.
• Thinking a business name or domain name automatically protects their brand.
• Using the logo only as decoration rather than as a brand identifier.
• Failing to protect the brand in key international markets.

Avoiding these mistakes can save you from costly legal battles later.

How to Protect My Clothing Brand Name Internationally

Trademark rights are limited to the country or region where you register. If you sell globally, you’ll need to file in each target market.

One of the most efficient options is the Madrid Protocol, which allows you to apply for protection in over 110 member countries through a single filing, while designating only the countries where you want protection.

Other regional systems include:

• European Union Trademark (EUTM): A single application grants protection in all 27 EU member states, making it ideal for brands targeting multiple European markets.
• African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI): Covers 17 African countries with one application, offering a cost-effective solution for entering multiple African markets.
• Benelux Trademark: Provides protection across Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg with a single registration.

Choosing the right system depends on where your customers are located and your expansion plans. Each system has its own rules, fees, and benefits, so strategic planning is key.

For a detailed explanation of these systems and how to decide which is best for your clothing brand, see our guide: How can I get an international trademark?

How to Trademark a Clothing Design or Logo

• Trademarking a logo for clothing: File your logo as a design mark in your application.
• Trademarking clothing designs: In most countries, clothing designs are protected by design rights or design patents, not trademarks, unless the design itself serves as a brand identifier.
• Clothing patterns: Some famous prints, like Burberry’s check, have been successfully trademarked because consumers associate them directly with the brand.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re wondering how to trademark your clothing brand, how to protect your clothing brand name, or how to trademark a clothing line, the key steps are the same: Pick something distinctive, make sure it’s available, register it in the right classes, and use it consistently.

Trademarking isn’t just a legal formality, it’s how you protect the identity and value of your fashion business.