In days long past, people traveled with steamer trunks. Later innovations in luggage brought the hard-sided suitcase. Both were often seen covered in stickers chronicling the owner's travels. (Likewise, musicians often cover their cases and equipment with stickers for venues they have played at and bands they have performed alongside.)
Modern luggage is soft-sided, covered in durable fabric. Avid travelers also often carry backpacks or other smaller baggage. These surfaces are not ideal for the application of traditional stickers, but they are the perfect place to display a collection of souvenir woven patches!
Patches are a Cheap Souvenir
Many traditional vacation souvenir items can be expensive. A nice t-shirt can cost $20 or more. Even a simple shot glass can cost over $10. Purchasing mementos of all places visited can become an expensive endeavor.
Unlike many other souvenir options, woven souvenir patches are inexpensive, usually costing about $5. Some more intricate or larger patches may be more pricey, and some may be as little as $2. Starting a patch collection is a great way to chronicle travels on a budget.
Finding Patches to Collect
In most places, woven patches are very common and therefore fairly easy to find. Souvenir stores, gift shops, and other places offering local paraphernalia are a good place to start. Many tourist attractions such as museums and amusement parks have extensive gift shops with a wide array of site-specific merchandise. Patches from these destinations make great additions to a collection.
Despite the lasting popularity of the woven souvenir patch, they can sometimes be difficult to locate. If finding a patch becomes too time-consuming and begins to interfere with sightseeing or other activities, don't be afraid to skip the patch for the moment. Patches for nearly everywhere can be found online at places like eBay, so a collection can still be built after the visit is over.
Displaying a Souvenir Patch Collection
A backpack or cloth-covered luggage make great places to display a collection of souvenir patches, especially of the bag in question was used to travel to the destination. Patches are easy to sew onto most fabrics, even for those with very limited sewing skills. Use thread in the same color as the patch's border, or use fish line as a clear thread.
Alternatively, woven souvenir patches can be displayed on a bulletin board or in a show box, or even put into picture frames.
Collecting woven souvenir patches and displaying them on luggage is a modern take on a very traditional collection. Patches provide a fun reminder of vacations for years to come, and make great conversation pieces!
Rhonda Rowley - Rhonda Greene is a freelance writer living in Northern Michigan. She loves crafts, cats, and being outdoors.
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