The summer months are motorcycle time in the US, with rallies popping up in a number of places across the country. This is a great time to take advantage of patch collection by following the biker circuit as you can swap and buy lots of patches nowadays. When winter comes, and the bikes are in the garage for a few months, that’s the perfect time to get your patch collection out and organize it a little more.
Collecting patches is an old hobby despite the fact that we usually think of embroidered patches as a relatively new phenomenon. In fact, the patch goes back thousands of years to the traditional cultures of Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Some of the earliest patches ever found are from ancient Chinese dynasties most of us have never heard of. Patches like these are used for identification and are a stunning work of embroidery.
How the Patch Connects to the Military
Historians believe it is highly probable that the idea of embroidered patches was originally developed for military identification. A soldier can be identified by his group as a result of the patches he wears. As soldiers became more sophisticated over the years, so did their embroidered patches. In today’s modern armies, people can be identified by the patches they wear that signify their rank and what division, brigade or special unit they belong to.
There have been people collecting patches for as long as they have been around. It is possible to see how important patches are from a collector’s point of view when you consider that there are several collections of military patches found from ancient cultures. It’s no surprise that so many patch collectors these days like to devote one piece to military patches.
Bike Rally Patch
Also important to any sizable collection of patches is the category of bike rally patches. As already mentioned, the summer months see many different bike rallies taking place across the state but also in other parts of the world including Europe, Canada and Australia. Since the patch has its own importance in the military, the motorcycle club also uses it as a means of designation. The patches that motorcycle clubs use these days show not only the rank and position within the club but also the club the biker belongs to.
You can find many bikers who will buy a patch for every rally they participate in. They did so not only to make identification with the rally, but also to collect and exchange with other collectors. You may even find that some museums will have sections on the patch in their displays such as the museum in Sturgis, SD. It’s rare to find a collection of patches that don’t have a bike rally patch section other than a military patch.
One of the good things about collecting patches is the fact that you don’t even have to be a cyclist. Provided you may have a craving for patches and a few bucks to spend, then you’re off to a get started. You can start swapping with others as soon as you have a few dozen patches in your collection.
If you are an enthusiastic biker, then adding a patch to complement your current outfit is a must. Motorcycles can always feel better when you dress up the part while displaying all your great patches.
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