Trademark Class 23: Complete Guide to Yarns and Threads for Textile Use

Registering a trademark under the right class is essential to ensure that your brand is properly protected. The Nice Classification (NCL) system categorizes goods and services into 45 different classes, each designed to help applicants identify where their products or services legally fit in.

Trademark Class 23 pertains specifically to yarns and threads intended for textile use, including both natural and synthetic varieties. This class is essential for manufacturers, exporters, and traders in the textile and garment production industry.

What is Trademark Class 23?

Trademark Class 23 includes yarns and threads made for textile applications, such as weaving, sewing, knitting, embroidery, and darning. It applies to both natural and synthetic fibers and covers a wide variety of thread types used in manufacturing textiles, garments, and fabrics.

From cotton yarn to elastic threads for stretch fabrics, Class 23 ensures that the brands supplying these crucial raw materials receive adequate legal protection.

Goods Covered Under Trademark Class 23

Here is a breakdown of what Class 23 specifically includes:

1. Natural and Synthetic Yarns

  • Spun cotton

  • Spun wool

  • Spun silk

  • Polyester yarn

  • Nylon yarn

2. Sewing and Embroidery Threads

  • Threads for embroidery

  • Threads for sewing or darning

  • Metallic threads used for decorative stitching

  • Hand or machine-use threads for tailoring

3. Specialty Threads for Textile Use

  • Fibreglass threads for weaving

  • Elastic threads used in textile products

  • Rubber threads designed for fabrics

  • Plastic threads intended for textile integration

All these products are typically used as components in the textile, fashion, upholstery, or garment industry.

Examples of Products in Class 23

Product Description Covered in Class 23? Notes
Polyester sewing thread Yes Used in garments and stitching
Embroidery thread made of silk Yes Textile-specific use
Spun wool yarn for knitting Yes Used in sweater production and knitting
Surgical sutures No Classified under Class 10 (medical use)
Electric wire identification thread No Covered under Class 9
Gold thread used in jewelry No Classified under Class 14 (jewelry use)
Fibreglass thread for non-textile industrial use No If not for textile, classified under Class 21 or 17
Rubber thread used in industrial belting No Not for textile use – falls under Class 17

What Is Not Covered Under Trademark Class 23?

While Class 23 is focused on textile-use yarns and threads, several types of thread are excluded based on their function or composition. Below are the major exclusions:

  • Surgical threads or sutures – Class 10

  • Threads used for electric wire identification – Class 9

  • Precious metal threads used in jewelry – Class 14

  • Rubber or plastic threads not used in textiles – Class 17

  • Fibreglass threads for industrial use – Class 21 or 17, based on application

  • Metal binding threads for packaging or industrial uses – Class 6

  • Non-textile cord and twine – Class 22

To ensure your trademark is properly filed and enforceable, the purpose and material of your product must align with Class 23’s textile-focused scope.

Who Should Register Under Trademark Class 23?

Trademark Class 23 is highly relevant for businesses involved in the following sectors:

  • Yarn and thread manufacturers

  • Embroidery and tailoring thread suppliers

  • Textile raw material exporters

  • Knitting and crocheting yarn brands

  • Specialty thread producers for textile industries

  • Fashion and apparel supply chain businesses

  • Cotton mills and spinning units

  • Fabric and garment wholesalers dealing in textile threads

If your product is a thread or yarn used directly in textile processing or fabric creation, Class 23 is the appropriate classification.

Related Trademark Classes

Depending on your business range, you may also need to consider other related classes:

Class Description
Class 22 Twines and ropes not meant for textile use
Class 17 Rubber or plastic threads for non-textile, industrial uses
Class 10 Surgical or medical stitching threads
Class 14 Threads made of precious metals for jewelry
Class 24 Finished textile goods such as fabrics, linen, and towels
Class 25 Clothing and garments made from yarns and threads

Filing your trademark under the right class or combination of classes ensures that your brand enjoys complete legal protection across all relevant product categories.

Why Trademark Classification Matters

Accurate trademark classification plays a major role in:

  • Determining the scope of legal protection for your brand

  • Avoiding application rejections or objections

  • Preventing misuse or imitation of your brand in the wrong sector

  • Enabling you to take legal action against infringers in your actual business domain

Choosing the right class from the start saves time, cost, and protects your brand in a highly competitive textile market.

Conclusion

Trademark Class 23 is the definitive class for all yarns and threads used in textile manufacturing. Whether you’re supplying high-quality spun cotton, synthetic embroidery threads, or specialty elastic yarns, filing under Class 23 ensures your brand is legally safeguarded within the textile industry.

Understanding what’s included—and excluded—within this class can help you avoid common trademark filing mistakes and establish a stronger foundation for your business.

Need Help Filing a Trademark Under Class 23?
At Tradeviser, we assist businesses across the textile and apparel industry with accurate class selection, documentation, and end-to-end trademark filing.

Get in touch with our experts today.