Custom Lapel Pins Have Many Uses, Many Styles

Over the past two decades, custom lapel pins have become a major segment of pop culture, a way to demonstrate patriotism, celebrate youth sports, promote social causes and many other things. Just about any cause, organization, team or group can be represented by custom lapel pins.

It’s not hard to see why custom lapel pins are so popular for so many uses. When crafted properly, they can be very attractive, with a look similar to fine-quality jewelry. Their small size makes them easy to order, ship, distribute and trade. And because they can be produced in high volume at low cost, custom lapel pins can be an excellent way to show support for political or social causes.

The great thing about custom lapel pins is that they are available in a variety of styles. The right pin for your organization depends on your intended use and budget. Any good supplier of custom lapel pins can advise you which style is best for your specific application.

Cloisonné custom lapel pins are the highest quality pins available. Crafted from a glass-like mixture of hard enamel on a die-struck metal base, they are best suited for business pins. After the base is die-struck, the ridges are filled with the enamel mixture. Each color is fired individually at high temperature to prevent color bleed and create jewelry-quality custom lapel pins.

The complex, time-consuming manufacturing process ensures cloisonné custom lapel pins are the most durable style of custom pins available. But that same process also means they are the most expensive style. Their high cost relative to other styles generally limits cloisonné custom lapel pins to business uses, and rarely, sports trading pins.

Soft enamel custom lapel pins look like cloisonné pins, but are less expensive. The colors are made from a softer enamel and fired at lower temperatures allowing a significant reduction in cost. This is the most popular style for sports trading pins. For increased durability, this style of custom lapel pins is available with an optional epoxy coating.

Sports trading pins are among the most popular custom lapel pins on the planet. You’ll find them everywhere at youth league baseball and softball games and tournaments, where fans trade them by the millions. Many other youth sports, including soccer, hockey, competitive cheer squads and even football have adopted trading pins as well, with the popularity of custom lapel pins continuing to grow in those sports.

Die-struck custom lapel pins offer a classic polished look, most commonly with no color added. These elegant pins are the traditional military style. The custom lapel pins feature a formal, timeless appearance favored by military units and other organizations.

Offset digital printed custom lapel pins are perfect for reproducing gradients and drop shadows in a way that die-struck pins can’t. The photograph-quality image is printed directly onto the pin’s metal surface.

Silk screen printed custom lapel pins are the best choice if you need to reproduce corporate logos, drawings or photos precisely. The colors are printed one at a time, allowing precise color control. Like offset digital printed pins, silk screen printed custom lapel pins require an epoxy coating to increase durability.

Photo etched custom lapel pins are an economical choice for organizations on a tight budget. Because they are made of thinner metal, these custom lapel pins are likely to be less durable than other styles.