8 Things You Didn't Know About Lapel Pins!

When people see a lapel pin on a coat, hat, jacket, or uniform, it draws their attention.  Pins are like beacons in that sense, but once drawn in you also discover each one is like a little short story wrapped up in a 1-inch space.  Most people have no idea about the power of the pin so in order to enlighten people just a little, here are 8 things you may not have known about lapel pins:

‍1. Soft Enamel is King
‍Or should we say, fit for a king on a budget? The type of pin you see most commonly is probably a soft enamel pin. It is the best value for the money type of pin, yet full of the durability and vibrancy one would expect when buying a pin. It has such a colorful, dimensional appearance it is often the choice for those who trade pins.

‍2. Hard Enamel for the Hard-Working
‍Hard enamel pins are like soft enamel pins, yet different and more durable.  They also are die struck in metal, color-filled with vibrant paint, but the tempering is the difference.  The paint is hardened by heat to increase its strength after the cooling process. Once cooled they are polished off creating a smooth shiny jewelry like finish.

3. Pins can Contain Photographs
‍Sometimes what you want on a pin is a real-life photograph.  Well the off-set printed pin can do just that, it can have a real-life picture printed on it.  A mountain scene, a person’s face, a beautiful sunset – all possible with an off-set printed pin.  The picture is literally printed on the metal pin and then covered with a clear epoxy coating that will not come off to protect the beautiful picture.

‍4. Lapel Pins Don’t Need Pins!
‍In Old English pin means “peg,” but today pin creations necessarily need that pointed piece of metal to attach it to something. Although a pin with a clutch is still the most common method of wearing one, other options are now available. Safety pins, magnets, and screws are all options to offer flexibility in how the lapel pin is attached.  Other, less expected, means take the pin off the lapel and put them on your cufflinks, tie clip, or keychain!

‍5. Don’t Wear Your Pin, Trade It!
‍Pins may have been created to accessorize and make a statement, but today an even bigger trend is to collect and trade pins.  “Pin Trading” as it is referred to has become a big part of Disney pins, Olympic pins, little league baseball tournaments, destination Imagination and odyssey of the mind competitions. Most pin traders are passionate and create pins that are large, colorful, unique and easily tradable.  Pin trading is the most important part of the event, it determines whether you win or lose.

6. Pins can Blink, Spin, Dangle and Slide
‍Don’t just pin it, play with it.  Lapel pins can have moving parts like blinking lights, or a piece that spins or dangles or slides left to right or up and down or even bobbles.  You think your pin got noticed before, well, with moving parts people don’t just want to know about it, they want to play with it.  The novelty is unstoppable.

‍7. Lapel Pins Speak!
‍Ok, maybe the lapel pin doesn’t actually speak, but they do send a message, they get noticed, they draw out questions, and most importantly they allow you to tell your story about the specific pin you are wearing or displaying.

‍8. Anybody can make a Pin!
‍Some may think that only a big company can make a pin.  Not true.  With a minimum of 100 quantity even you could have your design made into a pin for as little as 2 to 3 hundred dollars.

Now your expert, just contact us and we will help you bring your ideas to life.