Register my clothing brand – trademark protection

We specialise in registering trademarks for clothing brands and can ensure that you don’t step on someone else’s toes when using your brand, and that your competitors shy away from copying your brand.

There are no “rules” for clothing brands. For every tip we give, there are many exceptions. Anyway, here are our tips for creating your clothing brand:

Note: You cannot patent a clothing brand – patents protect a new feature on a product, e.g. a new type of zip / velcro fastener. However, you can protect the unique shape of your dress / jacket / pants / sunglasses by filing a design. Having said this, considering the various clothing designs that have been sold worldwide, the scope of protection afforded by a registered design will be very small.

Tip 1 – Single words:

Come up with a memorable name. Single words are preferable. Think:

Nike

Levis

Adidas

Puma

Gant

Polo

Fila

Guess

Gucci

Chanel

Hermes

Lacoste

Kappa

Tip 2 – Syllables:

Notice how most memorable brands generally have one or two syllables, e.g.:

GANT (1 syllable)

GUESS (1 syllable)

NI – KE (1 or 2 syllables, depends on if the E is silent)

KA – PPA (2 syllables)

LE – VIS (2 syllables)

PU – MA (2 syllables)

PO – LO (2 syllables)

FI – LA (2 syllables)

GU – CCI (2 syllables)

CHA – NEL

LA – COST(silent e) (2 syllables)

Exceptions:

A – DI – DAS (3 syllables)

BUR – BER – RY (3 syllables)

BE – NET – TON (3 syllables)

VAL – EN – TI – NO (4 syllables!)

Problem: The shorter your word, the higher the chance there’s already a competing trademark on the trademark register / in use. The chance of your trademark registration being granted increases as the length of your mark / word increases.

TIP 3 – Combining words:

If your brand is longer than 2 syllables, consider combining it with another short name.

TOMMY HILFIGER

CALVIN KLEIN

HUGO BOSS

LOUIS VUITTON

THOMAS PINK

SUPER DRY

Initials combined with a surname also works:

TM LEWIN

However, coupling names with an “ampersand” / “and” is kind of “old school”:

HARVEY & HUDSON

TURNBULL & ASSER

HILDITCH & KEY

But, “old school” today may be “new school” tomorrow. Beards? Step hair cuts – I deny I ever had one?

Exceptions: Abercrombie & Fitch, Dolce & Gabbana

TIP 4 – Use a made up / arcane word:

Made up brand names are not only more memorable, they are also much more likely to be accepted by the trademark registrar.

NIKE, means “victory” (but only really to the Greeks)

ADIDAS

Or use words out of their context:

PUMA

TIGER of Sweden

DIESEL

SOVIET

SOWEARTO

TIP 5 – intuitive spelling

Prefer words that people can actually spell. This is best explained by “exceptions”:

NAPAPIJRI – Seriously? Who on earth thought of this?

TOMMY HILFIGER / Hillfigure / Hilfinger / Hillfiger / HilFigger?

TIP 6 – Use some gut feel:

Believe your gut. What is the difference between:

A – DI – DAS

and

BA – NA – NAS

Both are 3 syllables, neither word is naturally associated with clothing, both have the same metre, but your gut feel may identify the “winner” and the “slightly dodgy” option. But, then, “banana Republic” became a popular clothing brand. Figure that!

TIP 7 – Simple logo

When it comes to logos, simple is best. And, don’t add letters:

Exceptions: D&G, LV, DKYN, YSL clearly work.

Call us to make your clothing brand a success. We can also help you to select the appropriate trademark classes.

And, what was that NAPA …. brand again?