There are few better ways to add a splash of color and design to all those relatively everyday clothes than with an embroidered patch. A simple patch can go a long way, whether it’s the name of your favorite band, a sports team, an inspirational message, or something that makes you and others smile.
Patches come in all shapes and sizes, with varying materials and textures. From a simple polyester blend or camouflage material to felt and modern vegan leather, numerous options allow you to create exactly the custom patch you have in mind. But where did this relatively modern craze begin?
An Ancient Art Form
While our snazzy modern incarnations are a new way of thinking about patches, people have been applying patches to clothes for thousands of years. Today, patches are an art form, but they have served a functional purpose for the vast majority of their existence.
The earliest known patches came from China between the 5th and 3rd Centuries BC, used to mend holes and tears in clothing. These began as relatively simple, but as techniques and skills evolved, a greater degree of design appeared as techniques and skills evolved
Archaeologists have found evidence of patches across what were once the great ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and the Roman Empire.
Technological Change
The invention of the sewing machine in 1830 completely transformed what was possible with embroidery. What had once taken days, perhaps even weeks, to produce could now be created in a matter of hours. Higher-quality embroidery and patches became much more widely available at a fraction of the cost they had before.
Yet still, it would take some time before nicely-designed patches became available for the masses. Patches remained a symbol of prestige and power and frequently appeared in connection with royalty or the aristocracy, often showcasing coats of arms or family crests. At the same time, the everyday men, women, and children would have to make do with patches of cloth roughly matching their clothing to cover holes beneath.
The Military Patches
Patches became counterculture symbols in the 20th Century, particularly with the anti-war movement. Yet, ironically, their recent history is very much rooted in the military.
Patches were and still are typically worn on the upper arm or chest to denote rank, unit, and division. It’s also common to see soldiers wearing small patches of their nation’s flag or individual patches representing special skills or combat engagements. These first appeared on British officer uniforms in the early 19th Century, appearing on the tunic’s left breast and usually including gold thread.
The practice began in the United States during the Civil War, but use remained minimal due to cotton shortages. World War One was when things took off, and the Army’s 81st Division became the first to bear a unique insignia showing a wildcat against a green background – taken from Wildcat Creek next to Fort Jackson, where the division trained.
Counter Culture Symbol
With widespread protests sweeping the world during the 1960s, focusing on civil rights, social movements, and anti-war campaigns, patches became a hugely important form of expression. Patches with iconic slogans began appearing everywhere, and the patch craze was born.
The mid-1960s brought a new movement into the public consciousness. Hippies were a radical shift in idealism, and it wasn’t long until patches of flowers, rainbows, and peace symbols began appearing across the western world.
While the hippy movement was essentially about peace, love, and, let’s be honest, a hefty dose of narcotic experimentation, it was also very much about fashion. But you could flare your jeans as much as you wanted without a patch or two to set you apart; you just didn’t quite fit in.
Into Modern Day
Even after the hippy movement came crashing down, patches remained popular throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Their connection with counter-culture and social movements remained strong, but increasingly they became commercialized, often as a way of supporting a band, team, group, or school.
The rocker leather of the 1980s eventually replaced the flared denim of the 60s and 70s, and nothing said screw the establishment better than a few patches with the names of whatever punk band floated your boat at the time. Unlike modern patches attached with perfect precision, these wearers often attached these with rough stitching. You wanted to look cool but not too cool.
Today, patches may not quite have the same political and social meaning they once did, but they are still incredibly popular. NASA astronauts have them on their arms, and fans or players of sports teams, often in high school or college, proudly display them. A scout jersey usually has many to showcase skills and achievements, while backpackers worldwide attach them to their bags.
Modern patches come with many materials, and how they’re attached can also differ significantly. You can go the traditional route and hand sew them on, use a specialist glue, or run an iron over it several times – often depending on the material you affix it to.
Creating a Custom Patch
Thankfully, the days of intricately making your own custom patches are well and truly gone. Today, you can design and order customizable patches in the blink of an eye – though we suggest taking your time to get everything just how you want it. You may want to create a patch to commemorate your final year at high school, or perhaps you’re launching your own fashion line and feel that an originally designed patch would really tie everything together. Creating your own patch is quick, simple, and doesn’t require extraordinary artistic skills.
