What Is Nice Class 26?
Nice Class 26 is the trademark classification for lace, trimmings, and sewing notions — the haberdashery class. It covers lace and embroidery as finished trimmings, ribbons and braid, buttons, hooks, and eyes, zippers and fasteners, pins and needles, and artificial flowers and decorative accessories. It is the world of the notions counter and the sewing kit — the small decorative and functional components added to garments, crafts, and textiles.
Class 26 sits near the end of the textile chain, after thread (Class 23) and fabric (Class 24) but distinct from finished clothing (Class 25). It covers the trimmings and fastenings applied to those finished goods rather than the goods themselves. That distinction — component versus finished garment — is the key to filing correctly.
What Class 26 Covers
- Lace and embroidery as finished trimmings
- Ribbons, braid, and decorative textile borders
- Buttons, hooks, eyes, and snaps
- Zippers, fasteners, and closures
- Pins, needles, and sewing notions
- Artificial flowers and decorative accessories
- Hair ornaments, bows, and similar trimmings
- Appliqués, patches, and badges (in applicable cases)
Exclusions: yarn and thread are Class 23; finished clothing is Class 25; fabric and textile piece goods are Class 24; and jewelry is Class 14. A fashion or craft brand can span Class 26 (trimmings and notions) and the classes for the materials and finished goods around them.
Boundary note: A zipper or button is Class 26, but the garment it is sewn onto is Class 25. A notions supplier files in Class 26; a clothing brand files in Class 25. A company that makes both branded fasteners and garments needs both classes.
The Textile Chain and the Notions Class
Class 26 completes the picture of how textile-related products are classified. Raw fibers (Class 22) become yarn (Class 23), which becomes fabric (Class 24), which becomes clothing (Class 25) — and the trimmings, fasteners, and decorative notions applied along the way are Class 26. A haberdashery or craft-supply brand anchors in Class 26, while a vertically integrated apparel maker may touch several of these classes. Our Class 23 guide covers the thread stage and our Class 25 guide the finished-clothing stage.
Notable Areas in Class 26
Class 26 is anchored by notions and fastening specialists — zipper and button manufacturers supplying the garment industry — as well as craft and sewing-supply brands serving hobbyists. YKK, the dominant global zipper maker, is the best-known example of a brand whose product is a Class 26 component found on countless garments worldwide. Trimmings and ribbon makers and artificial-flower brands round out the class.
Common Filing Mistakes
- Filing thread in Class 26: yarn and thread are Class 23.
- Filing garments in Class 26: finished clothing is Class 25.
- Filing fabric in Class 26: textile piece goods are Class 24.
- Confusing decorative pins with jewelry: jewelry is Class 14.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are buttons and zippers in Class 26?
Yes. Buttons, hooks, eyes, snaps, zippers, and fasteners are in Class 26 as sewing notions and fastenings. The class covers the components added to garments and textiles, distinct from the finished clothing in Class 25 and the fabric in Class 24.
What's the difference between Class 23 and Class 26?
Class 23 covers yarn and thread — the spun textile materials. Class 26 covers finished trimmings, lace, ribbons, and notions like buttons and zippers. Embroidery thread is Class 23, but a finished embroidered trimming is Class 26. They represent input material versus finished decorative component.
Is lace in Class 24 or Class 26?
Finished lace as a trimming is in Class 26, along with embroidery, ribbons, and braid. Woven fabric and textile piece goods are in Class 24. The distinction is that Class 26 covers decorative trimmings and notions, while Class 24 covers the fabric itself.
Where do artificial flowers go?
Artificial flowers and decorative accessories are in Class 26 alongside trimmings and notions. Natural and fresh flowers, by contrast, are in Class 31 as natural agricultural and horticultural products. The classification depends on whether the flower is artificial or living.
Search Class 26 Before You File
Notions, trimmings, and haberdashery names overlap across the textile-chain classes, so clearance should span Classes 23-26. Use tmarkmetric to browse registered Class 26 trademarks, see which names are taken, and search the broader registry before you commit. File across the right classes for a craft or apparel-supply business.