subject: Lapel Pins Are Available In Multiple Styles For Multiple Purposes [print this page] Lapel Pins Are Available In Multiple Styles For Multiple Purposes
Lapel pins are versatile enough to be used for many purposes. Corporations use them to recognize employee achievement. Nonprofit organizations often use them to increase awareness of social causes. Even Little League baseball and softball players build friendships among each other by trading lapel pins at games. With different types available for different purposes, there's sure to be a style of lapel pins to suit just about any need imaginable.
Lapel pins are an old idea. They were used to identify specific military units at least as far back as the U.S. Civil War. The military began using them mainly to honor distinguished service on the battlefield by the early part of the 20th century.
They have proved quite popular among civilians as well. One newspaper in Pittsburgh reported in 1940 that "lapel pins in the shape of flowers are taking the world by storm." With their attractive designs, economical cost and easy wearability, it's no wonder lapel pins have long been a popular fashion accessory.
The highest quality lapel pins on the market today are the classic cloisonn lapel pin. These are die-struck, then filled with a glass-like mixture of hard enamel. The colors are then individually fired at high temperatures for the maximum possible durability. This process yields fine jewelry-quality pins. Since the manufacturing process is so complex, cloisonn lapel pins are the most expensive type of lapel pins available. For that reason, these are best suited for pins reserved for the business world, and are only rarely used for sports trading pins.
A less expensive alternative is soft enamel lapel pins. These look like cloisonn pins, but the colors are made from soft enamel and are fired at a lower temperature. This makes the pins more affordable than true cloisonn. You can add an epoxy coating to soft enamel pins to increase their durability. This is the most popular style for sports trading lapel pins.
Speaking of sports trading pins, they are some of the most popular lapel pins available today. They are a huge part of Little League baseball and softball tournaments. Other youth sports have begun to adopt the trading of custom lapel pins as well, including soccer, hockey and football.
An economical alternative is photo etched lapel pins. Because they are made of thinner metal, however, they are less durable than other types. These lapel pins are made by etching the design into the surface of the pin, using a chemical process similar to the process used to develop photographic film negatives. These pins need epoxy coating added to extend their life.
Offset digital lapel pins are the way to go if you want to reproduce photographs, gradients and drop shadows. Unlike other types of lapel pins, these have no raised or recessed areas because the photograph-quality image is printed onto the pin instead of die-struck into metal. Epoxy coating is recommended for this style pin.
Silk screened lapel pins, like offset digital pins, have no raised and recessed areas. Silk screen printed pins feature colors printed one at a time, similar to the process used to print T-shirts. These lapel pins need epoxy coating to improve their durability.
Die-struck lapel pins are ideal for military-style pins. These pins generally have no color added. The pins are stamped from a die, and recessed areas are sandblasted to give them a grainy appearance. Raised areas of the lapel pins are then polished to a high shine.
With multiple styles available, lapel pins can fulfill virtually any needs for recognition, promotion or identifications. Reputable suppliers of lapel pins can help you identify which best fits your needs.
