Woven patches, stitched patches, embroidered patches, sublimated patches – your head is spinning as you’re staring at all the patch options, and a decision seems impossible to make.
Simple, dang questions like ‘What’s the difference between them anyway?’ pop up, and you find yourself in a deeper hole.
There is that right patch, the right one for your brand, that shows that you only give your customers quality.
Let’s break it down.
YES, PATCHES DO MATTER MORE THAN YOU THINK
Patches aren’t just ‘logos’ that differentiate you from others; they tell your story and show the unique personality that only you have.
There are the scout badges, the military patches, and the famous Nike swoosh patch, which carry a huge meaning whenever and wherever they are recognized. Your choice of patches affects how people see your brand.
When you choose the wrong one, you choose to look cheap.
When you choose the right one, you build trust quickly with the minds of your customers.
THE GUIDE TO BEING A PATCH GURU: OUR 4 MAIN TYPES
Through fifteen years and non-stop digging for quality and perfection, our customers have fallen in trust with us. And you should join in too.
Embroidered Patches: A classic!
For these, premium threads are used to create your design. Our machines stitch colored thread onto fabric backing to create raised textured surfaces with rich colors to give a premium feel.
They are best for logos with text, corporate branding and simple designs.
Our customers love them because they feel expensive and practically last forever. About 73% of businesses choose this kind of patch for uniforms, and there’s a reason why. The thread creates such a dimension that your logo literally stands out.
The kinds of perfected embroidery patch ideas we have are: team names, company logos, club badges, military insignia and name tags. And of these, there are thousands we have produced!
Woven Patches: Master of detail!
These are like tiny carpets – thin threads that are woven together for your design. No thread sits on top of the other as they all lie flat and smooth.
They are best for intricate details, complex designs and small texts as they capture fine lines perfectly. The texts stay crisp at any size level.
Our customers love them because their logo has small details that they would love to see. They also need their tiny texts to be readable while keeping a sleek and professional look.
The woven badge and logo patch are techniques that we have perfected for years.
Stitched Patches: The durability is insane.
The extra stitching we add to the borders is designed to survive anything. It is quality embroidery techniques with reinforced edges.
They are best suited for sports teams, outdoor activities, and work uniforms. The patches can withstand washing machines and survive years of wear.
Our customers love them because they are perfect for industries that need them, like outdoor recreation, construction, medical supplies, and emergency services. These are the patches that outlast everything else.
Sublimated Patches: Now, this is our photo-realistic option.
Full-color photographs, unlimited colors and gradients can all be unleashed depending on your preference by transferring ink into fabric through heat.
They are best suited for rainbow designs, complex artwork, photos, and basically any image for a patch with no limitations on thread count. But they are less durable than our embroidered options.
Woven Hat Patches: The Specialty
Woven hat patches are a specialty because they need special attention. Since they are made on hats, curved surfaces create challenges. Our hat patches are made to work perfectly because they are thin, and so they follow curves naturally. A note to note is that embroidered patches look bulky on hat brims.
In short, for making a hat patch, we weave for the curved areas, keep designs simple, and test placements before production. Through these rules, we have solved hat patch problems for hundreds of customers.
WOVEN BADGE VS. WOVEN LOGO PATCH: THE DIFFERENCE
Let’s get to the part that may confuse you. Many of our customers think that woven badges and woven logo patches are the same.
They think wrong.
The first comes in traditional shapes. For example, circles or shields like military badges that speak tradition and authority.
But woven logo patches are cut into particular shapes that match your logo. They are primarily about branding and making you look unique in a crowd of so many others. These two use the same high-quality weaving process, but the message they give is entirely different.
HOW TO PUCK YOUR PERFECT PATCH
First and foremost, let’s get this info out.
‘PICKING THE WRONG PATCH IS EXPENSIVE!’
Too many businesses make this mistake, and it ends up being costly. That is why we take each step carefully (and seriously) with each of our customers so they avoid these costly mistakes and pick the right patch/patches.
Step 1: We look at your design TOGETHER
You send in your artwork, and we examine every single detail from thread to color to style. You’ve got more than six colors? We say go for sublimated patches. Do you have tiny text that needs to stay readable? We say pick the woven patches as the tight weave keeps the tiny letters crisp and clear.
Nothing beats listening to your wishes and making sure you pick the best patch type that will make your brand shine.
Step 2: We analyze how you want to use these patches
This is where businesses often miss their way. They pay little to no mind to how these patches will be used.
Will your wear be subject to frequent washing? Stitched patches are made to survive not just washing, but weather and years of hard (and bad) use. If you go for corporate uniforms, embroidered patches give a look of professionalism that customers trust.
Step 3: Then there’s working within that budget
As honest as we can be about cost, the embroidered patches are the most economical to work with when used with simple designs. The woven patches have higher minimums, but they deliver the quality that the price speaks of. And often, ordering slightly more of it essentially reduces your per-piece cost.
Step 4: We send samples first, always
Before ordering bulk orders, you should never forget to ask for samples first. This is important as your satisfaction comes first. Feeling the patches in person, understanding why our customers stay with us is ensured.
PROCESS OF PRODUCTION
This is what happens when you choose to work with us;
Design review: This is optimizing your artwork specifically for patches.
Creation of samples: Every project will not start without a satisfactory sample that is open to criticism.
Time of production: We work within 7-14 days, depending on the type of patch.
Inspection: Before shipping them out, every patch gets checked.
WHY SHOULD YOU CHOOSE LIGHTSPOT?
The moment every company loves is to prove how good they are to potential customers. With Lightspot, you get 15 years of experience delivered into every patch and ready to solve any patch problems that arise. Beyond patches, we offer complete textile solutions like elastic bands, webbing, lace trim and bias binding.
Importantly, we possess a certification that ensures consistent quality, and we conduct fair pricing with no hidden fees or surprises.
READY TO WORK TOGETHER?
Now, you understand patch differences and know the questions to ask if you need to. It is time to partner with manufacturers who care about your success.
Join thousands of businesses worldwide who put their trust in Lightspot today and start with a free consultation. There’s no use waiting while the competition gets ahead. Instead, begin with current pricing today.
Don’t forget, we’re also your textile partner for patches, webbing, elastics and more.
Your brand is waiting.
