How to Trademark a Clothing Brand (2026 Guide)
Your clothing brand lives or dies on its name and logo. This guide shows you exactly how to register a federal trademark for an apparel brand in the United States — the right class, the search, the filing, and the costs.
Free Trademark Search →Why your clothing brand needs a registered trademark
Apparel is one of the most copied categories on earth. A federal trademark gives you nationwide exclusive rights to your brand name and logo, lets you stop counterfeiters and copycats, and unlocks brand-protection tools like Amazon Brand Registry. Because U.S. rights are largely first-to-file, registering early secures your priority date before a competitor claims a similar name.
Which class do you file in? (Class 25 — and often 35)
Clothing, footwear, and headwear fall under Class 25. If you also operate your own online or physical store, run a branded marketing operation, or sell other companies' products, you likely need Class 35 (retail services) too. Map every revenue stream to a class before filing — your protection only covers the classes you register.
How to file, step by step
1. Run a comprehensive search. Check the USPTO database, state registers, and common-law uses for conflicting apparel marks, including phonetic matches, so you avoid a refusal. 2. Choose your classes. Class 25 at minimum, plus Class 35 if you sell retail. 3. File your name and your logo. Register the brand name as a word mark and the logo as a separate design mark for the strongest protection. Same-day filing is available with Secure Mark USA.
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Start Your RegistrationFrequently asked questions
What class do I trademark a clothing brand in?
Clothing, footwear, and headwear are USPTO Class 25. If you also sell retail under your brand, add Class 35.
Should I trademark the name or the logo?
Ideally both. The name as a word mark protects it in any font or styling; the logo as a design mark protects the specific graphic. Together they give the strongest protection.
How much does it cost to trademark a clothing brand?
Secure Mark USA's service starts at $99 plus the USPTO fee of $350 per class. A single-class apparel filing (Class 25) is the most common.
Do I need a lawyer to trademark a clothing brand?
U.S.-domiciled applicants are not required to use an attorney. Secure Mark USA provides expert filing support and is not a law firm.
Can I trademark a clothing brand before I start selling?
Yes. You can file an intent-to-use application based on a bona fide intention to use the mark, which secures your priority date before launch.
Helpful resources
Trademark Registration Free Trademark Search Trademark Classes Trademark Cost Trademark Monitoring
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