Trademark Class 23: Yarns and Threads

The class is dominated by a small number of specialized manufacturers. Coats Group, the world's largest industrial thread company, DMC, known for embroidery threads, and Premier Yarns, a leading craft yarn supplier, represent the primary commercial segments. The class serves both industrial textile manufacturers sourcing thread for garment construction and the substantial consumer craft market for knitting, crocheting, and embroidery yarns.

Despite its narrow scope, classification errors do occur. Metal threads for embroidery belong in Class 26 with haberdashery, not Class 23. Rubber threads and elastic bands are classified in Class 17. Surgical sutures and medical threads fall under Class 10. The key qualifier is "for textile use" — threads serving non-textile purposes are classified according to their specific application. Applicants should also distinguish between yarns and threads (Class 23) and the raw fibrous materials from which they are made (Class 22).

Class 23 sits in the middle of the textile supply chain: raw fibers in Class 22, yarns and threads here in Class 23, and finished fabrics in Class 24. Brands operating across this chain — particularly vertically integrated textile companies — often file in all three classes. For craft and hobby brands selling yarns directly to consumers, Class 23 is typically paired with Class 35 for retail services and sometimes Class 26 for accessories like needles and embroidery supplies.