Company
October 16, 2023
Embroidered patches first appeared in the 1700s when soldiers had them sewn onto their uniforms to designate their unit. Today, they are worn by not just the military but first responders, sports teams and businesses to signify rank, position, specialized unit or an accomplishment.Perhaps more surprising, today embroidered patches are making their way onto the high fashion runways in Paris, London, New York, Toronto and Tokyo!There is no doubt that embroidered patches are enjoying a unique moment in fashion history. Because so many retail racks are filled with fast fashion and garments that have been mass produced for a mass market, designers and consumers alike are looking for new ways to stand out. As a result, the once staid world of embroidered patches have been adopted by designers ranging from newcomers to iconic houses such as Gucci.Together, they are re-energizing the embroidered patch and giving it a new home on the streets.
It has not been a straight line from a necessity on a military uniform to an A-list designer.In the early 1900s, union organizers handed embroidered patches out to factory workers as they came through the gate. In the 1960s, Viet Nam war protesters put peace symbols on a patch that they sewed onto jean jackets and caps. The patch was adopted by hippies in the 1970s and punk rock musicians and fans in the 1980s. The embroidered patch lapel pin became a symbol of individualism, rebellion and showing that the person wearing it didn’t conform to society’s norms.The patch was a mainstay for the counterculture underground for a long time prior to becoming the new staple of Fifth Avenue fashion.Maurice Blanco and his girlfriend Danielle are credited with opening the door. He is a designer for a streetwear label and the couple publish an underground newspaper in their spare time. But the couple knows how to tap into pop culture trends. Early in their rise to prominent they combined a popular song “The Crimson Ghost” with the head of one of the mutant ninja turtles on an embroidered patch and their creation took off. Then, they did another patch for a Wu Tang mashup with a “Peace to All My Haters” patch.Voila! A fashion trend was started.Another patch-based company, Ball & Chain, now ships 1,000 patch orders to designers each week.
We have been making embroidered patches for as long as we have owned PinProsPlus. Because we can produce a large quantity of custom embroidered patches quickly, designers look to us to help them play off a fast-rising cultural theme. In turn, this allows consumers to add personal touches to their outfits.Design houses appreciate the fact that we make our patches with high-quality embroidery thread similar to what they already employ. Best of all, we can create a customized patch for you with metallic thread, glow-in-the-dark thread and reflective material.For designers as well as for governments and businesses, we make an embroidered patch to suit how it will be used so there are many backing options: Iron on, sew on, pin on, peel on and stick for temporary use, an adhesive backing, magnetic, Velcro or no backing at all.
PinProsPlus provides everything needed, including:
Whether you are a fashion-forward designer in New York’s SoHo district, a military unit, responsible for a first responder’s entity or just a business that wants to stand out, our experienced representatives will help you create just the embroidered patch you have in mind.
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