From recognizing special achievements to practicing a little self-expression, lapel pins are a great way to wear a stylish accessory with pride. If you're wondering where the lapel pin came from and what it means, look no further.
Check out this handy guide to learn five fun facts all about pins that you might not know about, so read on to learn more!
As the men's suit started to become a fashion staple, seamstresses and designers added a hole in the lapel. This hole was originally designed to keep fresh flowers, giving the man a look of wealth and distinction. As time went on, this hole, also called a boutonniere, was referred to as the "buttonhole flower." It originated as far back as the 16th century and is considered a sign of wealth, good luck, and protection.
During the 19th century, the boutonniere was accompanied by other accessories on the lapel like jewel-encrusted pins and watch chains, which eventually also lead to the lapel pin. What better way for men to express themselves than to add a unique and shiny pin to their already well-made suit?
Brooches and lapel pins have been used for centuries as a way to show off someone's affiliation with a specific part of society. While women tended to wear jewelry to showcase their wealth, men tended to sport lapel pins. Italian men were all about pins as they wore a fancy brooch also called an enseigne. This pin was usually worn on the brim of a hat to show that they made a successful religious pilgrimage.
For some people, the pins were a protection charm that helped to prevent danger. However, the most impressive way people wore lapel pins was to show an affiliation with the military or as a part of a particular group.
Today's lapel pins are usually made enamel which combines color, durability, and affordability. Soft enamel is typically more affordable and is a perfect option for casual wear or for giving out team awards. Lapel pins made of soft enamel are the most widely used thanks to their colorful designs and practicality. And while hard enamel lapel pins are similar to soft enamel, they also have a few distinguishing features.
A hard enamel pin is heated to increase its strength. Once the pin is dry, it has a smooth, crisp finish that helps it showcase much more intricate detail. These pins are geared toward the more fashion-conscious wearer, but both are equally durable and can be made in any design.
The clasp or backing of the pin is what keeps it neatly attached to your lapel, hat, bag, or anything else you choose. These attachments come in a variety of different designs depending on the manufacturer and your preference.
Stick pins are the original lapel pin and they're easy to use thanks to their simple design. The pin itself is attached to a slender metal stick and then placed directly into the buttonhole. A thin needle at the top slides up and down to secure or release the pin for ease of use.
Today's lapel pins are often found with a butterfly clutch. This mechanism was made popular by the military and features a sharp point on the back of the pin with a metal "butterfly" attachment. You simply squeeze the sides of the butterfly to release the pin, then press down to reattach it.
The gallery was not found!Other examples of lapel pin attachments include a magnetic design. Using two strong magnets, the wearer just places the pin on the outside of the garment and sticks the other magnet on the reverse to keep it in place. The most secure form is called a screw and nut, and all you do is simply screw the nut behind the pin in place to keep it neatly on the lapel.
One wonderful thing about pins is that they can be created in almost any design imaginable. This makes lapel pins a great way to recognize achievements, give out awards, or to use as a fashion accessory.
Many sports teams use lapel pins so fans can show off their team, or they can be given to teams as an award. You'll also find these pins on police officers, firefighters, and others who work in the public sector too.
Lapel pins can be worn as a symbol of a specific group, a sign of military ranking, or they can even be worn by employees to show off a company logo. And, since these pins can be made into almost anything, they're easy to customize. Many artists create their own unique designs in the form of a lapel pin. From animated characters to your favorite rock band, these accessories are the perfect form of self-expression.
Now that you know all about pins, it's easy to see why they're such a beloved item. Choose a pin for your organization, sports team, or school to give people an accessory to be proud of. What once began as a man's fashion accessory for the suit, today's pins are worn by everyone and on everything.
Visit our website for a huge selection of free art and amazing pins, and contact us today to get a free quote on all your lapel pin needs.
Keeping your employees happy is more about your corporate culture than the salary they make. Did you know that 88 percent of people looking for jobs consider your company’s mission and culture the most important things to consider?
In fact, 32 percent of job seekers choose positive corporate cultures instead of more money. So, it’s crucial to create a company culture that appreciates and rewards employees to attract and keep your best talent for team building.
Do you have an employee appreciation program in place?
Read more to find out how you can inspire a corporate culture that rewards employees for a job well done. For example, giving corporate pins to your top performers makes them feel like they’re part of your team.
The basis of a positive company culture is putting the opinions, feelings, goals and personal lives of your employees first. They want to feel appreciated and need all the positive feedback you can give them. This is a sure sign of a caring employer, which builds team loyalty and retains talent.
One of the ways to show your appreciation is to award gifts to dedicated team members. For example, if your team collaborates on a project, accepts and adapts to challenges and gets the job done, you can reward them with teamwork lapel pins.
Every time the team members wear the pin, they take pride in the project they accomplished and in their relationship with you. It’s a win-win for both you and your team.
The teamwork pins are an outward sign of your positive company culture. It also shows that your employees are happy and appreciated. When your customers see loyal employees, they’re more likely to become loyal customers.
Engage and listen to your employees, encouraging them to be creative and offer their opinions. This builds trust and challenges them to reach the goals you set. Always take a few minutes out of your day to share personal time with your team. This builds up your team’s spirit.
To take employee engagement on step further and strengthening a positive company culture, reward their unique talents with personalized gifts. This lets them know their opinions matter to you. By building trust and relationships, you’ll see an increase in performance and profits.
Another hallmark that your culture strengthens loyalty is when you recognize your employees’ years of service. For example, you can give employees different styles of lapel pins for their first year, fifth year or twentieth year of service.
Employee lapel pins are also thoughtful gifts for retiring employees who helped you reach your company goals. They can pass these pins on to their children and grandchildren as heirlooms.
These pins are personalized and emotional gifts that show how you appreciate them as friends, not just employees.
You don’t have to give employee lapel pins just for special occasions. Reward and recognize your team when you see them doing something right. Each day is an opportunity to show how much you care. This motivates your employees and strengthens your relationship with them.
Your employees need this kind of positive reinforcement. Make an effort to praise them every day. When you recognize their hard work, they’ll become enthusiastic and motivated to perform better as a team.
Lapel pins aren’t just for suits anymore. Your employees can wear them on casual apparel, such as golf shirts, cardigans, sport shirts, dresses, blouses and any other style of clothing. If your lapel pins highlight your company logo, it creates unity in the workplace.
Logo pins are also effective marketing tools that extend your reach. Wherever your employees wear the logo pins, they’re building your brand.
Creating a company culture that puts your employees first encourages respect, support and fun. One way to put fun into the workplace is to celebrate your employees’ birthdays, new babies, anniversaries and holidays.
Make it a point to get all your employees in on the celebrations by offering your congratulations at a team gathering. Then you can present birthday or special occasion pins, coins or medals as gifts.
Welcoming your new hires on their first day and introducing them to the team make a positive impression from the start. When you engage new employees, it gives them an idea of your business values and company culture.
Explain your expectations and onboarding process with them so they’re comfortable in the workplace. Give them encouragement and explain your goals and vision. Letting them know how they fit in with your vision makes it a personal and welcoming experience for them.
Presenting them with a welcome gift, such as a corporate pin will show them they made the right choice to work for your company.
Your employees want to know how they’re doing. Follow up with them regularly with feedback and performance evaluations.
Praise them for their efforts, enthusiasm, positive attitudes and accepting challenges. By reinforcing positive performance, you show your respect and appreciation for what they do for your business. This builds morale and drives performance.
Evaluations are another opportunity to present employee pins that show you value your staff's ongoing loyalty and performance. Also, try to match the gift to the achievement. Your top performers deserve a more substantial gift to keep them motivated.
Of course, salary is important to your staff. But, the thing that encourages and motivates them to do their best is thoughtful, personal recognition that signifies you value and appreciate them.
One of the strongest motivators is a positive corporate culture and the knowledge that you take the time to praise their efforts. Always present the rewards with sincerity and honesty, whether you’re giving corporate pins, medals or other rewards.
These types of gifts are simple, personal gestures that reward your shining stars and boost team-building.
Contact us for more information about employee recognition lapel pins to promote corporate teamwork and build your brand.
Suit up and let your confidence shine. But, don’t forget your trendy lapel pin to add swag to your dapper look. In the world of suits, lapel pins have become a fashion statement.
Today, if you don’t wear a lapel pin, it’s a fashion faux pas. Whether you’re dressing for a day at the office, a wedding or a romantic dinner for two, lapel pins add a touch of class to your suit.
Do you know how to wear a lapel pin?
Read more to find out the correct lapel pin etiquette so you can create a personal fashion statement.
Black suits and white shirts are not for the modern fashion-minded man or woman. If you are a suit lover, put some pizzazz in your suit choices. Try pale or mid-grey and blue. If you want to get really bold, go for windowpane check or glen plaid.
Remember to pair a solid color shirt if you wear a patterned blazer. This gives your outfit a balanced look.
If you prefer putting together separate jackets and trousers to highlight your creative fashion taste, perhaps you would like a seersucker or linen blazer in unconventional colors like pink, raspberry or green. Pair up your blazer with neutral-colored trousers.
Once you’ve made your suit choice, it’s time to dress it up with a lapel pin that gives a finishing touch.
You can go one step further to add panache to your suit with one of the many lapel pin styles. It’s a simple hack that pulls together your formal, business or casual style together, letting you really stand apart. This is especially true for the latest fashion trend of wide lapels.
When you want a polished look, wearing a lapel pin does the trick. Depending on your suit style, you can choose from several types of pin accessories. For example, you can select classy stick pins, floral lapel pins, magnetic pins, and motif pins.
Floral lapel pins are a popular choice for formal events like wedding and anniversary parties. Wearing a motif pin to a particular event is trending right now. For instance, if you were attending the Kentucky Derby, a horse lapel pin would be apropos.
Having a lapel pin collection on hand for every occasion ensures you’ll reach whatever look you hope to achieve.
When you begin collecting lapel pins, try to select a few from each style. That way, you’ll always be ready with the perfect pin.
Here are the most common types of lapel pins:
Keep your wardrobe in mind when choosing your pins. Do you want casual badges or formal stick pins and boutonnieres? Also, you can customize your pins to reflect your fashion sense.
If you love sports, consider sport’s pin of your favorite teams. You can also select military pins if you’re a veteran or club pins for an organization you belong to. Logo pins are also an option if you want to build the brand of your business.
Once you select a lapel pin with flair, you want to make sure you wear it correctly. Lapel pin placement is important if you want to dress to impress.
You might be wondering, “What side does a lapel pin go on?”
You attach your lapel pin to your left-side lapel. If you have a suit or blazer with a buttonhole, that’s where you place the pin. When your jacket doesn’t have a buttonhole, you attach your lapel pin where the buttonhole would normally be located.
Lapel pins attach to your suit or blazer is different ways depending on the styles. If you have a screw back pin or clutch back pin, all you do is push the tack through your lapel. Then push on the back piece by either pressing the butterfly clasp together or screwing on the back.
When you’re wearing a stick pin, push the needle through your lapel and that’s it. You can either leave the bottom of the pin hidden inside your lapel or let the bottom of the pin showing through your lapel.
Can you still wear a lapel pin when you’re not wearing a suit or a blazer? The answer is, yes. Here are a few alternative ways to wear a lapel pin to jazz up any outfit.
When you’re wearing a tie without a blazer, you can attach the lapel pin to your tie. Place the pin near the center of your tie. But, if you’re wearing a blazer, opt for the lapel for pin placement.
If you’re just wearing a dress shirt with no blazer, you can attach your lapel pin to the left side of your shirt. Position it above your heart where a blazer buttonhole would usually be.
When wearing a golf or polo style shirt, you can still wear a lapel pin. Just like a dress shirt, place the lapel pin on the left side above your heart.
Attaching lapel pins to coats and jackets is a popular way to display pins. When you’re wearing an everyday coat, attach badge style pins and mini pins.
If you’re wearing a formal coat for dressy occasions, wear your lapel pin on the coat’s left lapel. For coats without lapels, you can pin it to your collar.
Now that you know how to wear a lapel pin, start adding panache to your suits and everyday wear. You can find lapel pins for every occasion, whether you’re dressing for work, clubbing, networking, conventions or special occasions.
Contact us for more information on lapel pins that create a finishing touch for all your suits and jackets.
