Patch 101
81st Division Wildcats Patch 1918
How did patched come about?
Morale patches are a strong part of military history and are deeply connected to soldiers and law enforcement agents. Before World War I, the morale patch can be traced to the British Army who called them "battle patches". Mainly used to identify allies and enemy units, the distinctive designs would belong to each individual unit as a way to know who was who.
The 81st Division Wildcats of the US Army created the first American morale patch during World War I. It was suggested to Army officials that a patch should be created to acknowledge a division. The insignia was approved to help the morale of the troops. Since then patches have been used to bring groups of people together, inflict a sense of pride and as of recently a form of creative expression.
The 81st Division Wildcats of the US Army created the first American morale patch during World War I. It was suggested to Army officials that a patch should be created to acknowledge a division. The insignia was approved to help the morale of the troops. Since then patches have been used to bring groups of people together, inflict a sense of pride and as of recently a form of creative expression.
I'm not a Boy Scout, in a biker gang or own a 80's denim jacket why the hell would I own a patch?
Patches can be collected and carry value just like a baseball card, comic book or a rare book. The biggest difference is that you can actually display them everyday in a variety of ways. The first and most common use is a bag pack, gun range bag or cloth book Hanging them on a wall as art is another really cool way to display your patches. See Resources Here
What types of patches are out there?
Embroidered Patch
The most common are embroidered patches which means they are created using thread and stitches.
PVC/Rubber patches
Rugged, rubberized emblems that hold up well to grit, water, mud, paintballs and whatever else gets thrown at them. The unique material lets you have unique “sculpting” for a three-dimensional effect as well as a great tactile feel.
Chenille patches
These fuzzy threads don’t show off detail well; where they shine are bold, colorful pieces with simple lettering or design.
Woven Patches
Woven patches have many of the benefits of embroidered, but due to the tighter weave they can “pack in” more details like small letters in the same amount of space.
Printed Patches
Using the same technique used to print on t-shirts, these are more or less wearable photographs — or any other design with lots of details or words. Im just going to come out and say it, these patches are garbage and while other makers seem to love them I think they are a slap in the face OG patch makers everywhere.
