Five Kinds of Patches
What Different Kinds of Custom Patches Are There?
There are several different types of custom patches and labels out there, and it can be overwhelming if you are new to the embellishment game. At Shout Out Loud, we offer a wide variety of high quality labelling options. When it comes to choosing the perfect type for you, there are several different aspects that must be considered, such as price, material, turnaround time, durability, texture, and so much more.
Below you will find a list of the different kinds of patches and labels that we offer:
Embroidered patches
PVC patches
Woven patches
Leather patches
Printed patches
Our experts are always here to help and make the ordering process seamless and easy for our customers!
As industry experts, we get asked a lot of the same questions about embellishment options. And no wonder — for first-time buyers and even apparel pros, the process can be intimidating. You’re swamped with dozens if not hundreds of options. Oftentimes, the cheapest route isn’t going to be the best for your product in terms of durability, application or overall appearance.
There are actually XXX styles of patches, with the difference coming from either the material they’re made from or how they’re made — both of which affect your end result aesthetically and your bottom line.
Embroidered Patches
Embroidered patches make the most of high contrast designs.
Price: $
Turnaround time: fast
Best for: sports and work uniforms, giveaways, high-contrast designs
Embroidered patches are the perfect combination of affordability, durability and design potential with hundreds of thread colors to match your logo or drawing. Their unique texturing lets some designs visually “pop” off the patch with real depth. They’re also easily made, meaning they’re deadline-friendly.
PVC Patches
PVC/rubber patches are made with layers of colored rubber to give your design a crisp 3D look.
Price: $$
Turnaround time: medium
Best for: outdoors use, novelty designs, tactical gear, paintball/airsoft squads
If you are looking for a high quality waterproof material that will also survive heat and cold temperatures, PVC patches are the right choice to go with, and they are waterproof!
Woven Patches
With woven patches, it’s all about the details.
Price: $-$$
Turnaround time: fast-medium
Best for: sports and work uniforms, giveaways, lettering-heavy
Achieve the look of a classic embroidered patch with the elegant feel and fine detail of a woven label. The weaving process and premium thread selection allows the reproduction of intricate details. The tradeoff is that they don’t have the “texture” of embroidery, but that works just fine for small lettering.
Leather Patches
Warm, stylish — leather patches make a statement.
Price: $-$$$
Turnaround time: medium
Best for: fashion brands, outdoors brands, backpack and bags labels, giveaways
Leather patches allow you to create fine detailed logos, adding a rugged, yet refined look to apparel, hats and hard goods.
Printed Patches
Printed patches — detailed, affordable, fast.
Price: $
Turnaround time: fast
Best for: budget patches, giveaways
Using the same technique used to print on t-shirts, these are more or less wearable art — or any other design with lots of details or words. Perfect for cost-sensitive projects with deadlines.
PRO TIP: don’t shy away from buying a few more patches than you need. Because of how patches are made, the difference between 100 and 200 patches may only be a couple dollars, saving you potentially hundreds in the future if you plan in advance. Our customer success team knows all the price points and are glad to help you get the most bang for your buck.