Understanding the Clothing Accessories Category (ID: 167)
The Clothing Accessories category, designated by Google product category ID 167, sits under the broader Apparel & Accessories vertical within the Google product taxonomy. This category is specifically designed for items that complement a primary outfit but are not considered core apparel, footwear, or jewelry. Properly identifying these products helps Google match your items with the most relevant search queries and applies the appropriate product data requirements.
What Belongs in Clothing Accessories
This category encompasses a wide range of secondary apparel items designed to enhance, hold up, or protect clothing. Based on real-world examples from the US market, this category includes items such as headwear like trucker hats, mesh hats, and headbands. It covers functional gear such as balaclavas for cold weather, neck gaiters, and earmuffs. Hand-held or wearable accessories like decorative folding fans, pinback buttons, and traditional leis are also included here. For formal or business attire, you will find items such as cufflinks, tuxedo studs, collar stays, neckties, and pocket square handkerchiefs. This category also covers protective items like lace fingerless gloves, winter work gloves, and maternity support belts. Finally, it includes essential structural accessories such as leather belts and individual belt buckles, as well as hosiery-related items like leg warmers and boot cuffs.
What Does Not Belong Here
It is common for merchants to confuse Clothing Accessories with neighboring categories. If an item is fundamentally a shoe, it must be mapped to Shoes, even if it is a decorative add-on. Items intended to be worn as primary clothing, such as shirts, pants, or dresses, belong in Clothing. Similarly, fine or fashion jewelry items like necklaces, rings, or bracelets must be placed in Jewelry. If you are selling items like purses, backpacks, or wallets, these belong in Handbags, Wallets & Cases. Any item specifically related to maintaining or upgrading a shoe, such as specialized polish or shoe trees, should be classified under Shoe Accessories. Furthermore, items sold as parts of a disguise or festive outfit, such as a wizard costume or a plastic prop mask, belong in Costumes & Accessories rather than standard accessories.
When to Choose a Subcategory
While ID 167 is the parent for all clothing accessories, Google provides over 30 subcategories to allow for higher granularity. You should always select the most specific subcategory available. For instance, if you are selling a wool scarf, do not use the general ID 167; instead, navigate deeper to the Scarves & Shawls subcategory. If your product is specifically for a baby, look for the Baby & Toddler Clothing Accessories category. Using the most specific subcategory ensures that Google's automated systems correctly apply requirements, such as size and color attributes, which are vital for apparel-related products. If your specific product does not fit into any of the 33 deeper subcategories, only then should you default to the top-level 167 ID.
How to Use This Category in Your Feed
To implement this in your feed, use the google_product_category attribute. You may provide the numeric ID or the full path. For the best compatibility, use the following strings:
- ID: 167
- Path: Apparel & Accessories > Clothing Accessories
Remember that the google_product_category attribute is technically optional, but using it prevents Google from guessing your category incorrectly, which could lead to suppressed impressions. Since this falls under the Apparel & Accessories branch, be prepared to provide required attributes such as color, size, gender, and age_group for every item in your feed. Note that the product_type attribute is a completely separate field where you should include your own internal store taxonomy; filling out your custom categories does not exempt you from providing the correct official Google product category.