Choosing pins and badges: size, fastening and where to wear them
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
5 min reading time
A pin that falls off your jacket is almost always a closure problem, not a quality problem. Here's how to choose by size, clasp, and surface, with examples and prices from the assortment.
Most pins don't break. They get lost. You hang your jacket over a chair, the rubber cap on the back gets caught in the lining, and three streets later, it's gone. Anyone who wears pins knows that loss, and it can almost always be resolved with a different clasp instead of a different pin. Now that jackets are coming out of the closet again, it's a good time to consider this.
Enamel pin, button, or brooch: what's the difference?
Three items are collectively called 'pin', yet they feel and hang differently.
Enamel pin. A metal base with colored areas. Sturdy, heavier than it looks, and retains its color for years. This is what you mean when you say 'a pin': for example, the enamel pin “You’re All Doomed” or the metal watermelon pin, both €7.95.
Button. Printed paper under a layer of foil, with a safety pin on the back. Lightweight, inexpensive, perfect for short periods — think of the pink ribbon pin at €4.95. Disadvantage: the foil edge can curl up after a rain shower.
On the back, there's a post with a cap over it, and that cap is the weak point. In practice, you'll encounter four types:
Rubber cap. Standard with most pins. Works, but hardens, slips off, and is the number one cause of lost pins.
Metal butterfly clutch. Two wings that you pinch together. Holds more securely than rubber and lasts longer.
Screw-on clasp. Found on heavier pins. The safest, but you really need to tighten it.
Locking back with a spring. Clicks into place and only releases when pressed. This is what you want on a backpack that goes in and out of a bike bag daily.
A practical tip that costs nothing: save the caps from pins you don't wear, so you always have a spare. And never put a pin with only a rubber cap on an expensive jacket — swap it for a butterfly clutch before you leave the house. Check the product page for the included clasp; it varies per model.
Size and fabric must match
A pin pulls at the fabric it's in. The heavier the pin and the thinner the fabric, the sooner you'll get a stretched hole or a drooping pin. Rule of thumb:
The assortment generally ranges between €4.00 and €9.95. This price spread is mainly due to size and finish: the larger the metal and the more separate color fields or stones, the higher the price. What you don't see in the price is the clasp — and that is precisely the part that determines whether your pin will still be on your jacket a year from now. So, for a €7.95 pin, it's better to factor in a few loose butterfly clutches than to look for a €5.00 pin.
Storing without scratches
Enamel scratches against other metal. So, don't throw your pins loosely in a drawer or in a bag with keys. What does work: a piece of felt or sturdy cardboard that you poke them through, and lay flat in a drawer. Got dirty? A damp cloth is enough. Avoid cleaning agents and alcohol — they will damage the lacquer layer over the enamel and dull the color.
View and order
The full range is available in Pins & Badges, with separate overviews for PRIDE, Halloween, Good Luck and Other. Looking for a larger quantity of the same design, for example, for a team, an event, or a store counter? Please email info@verpakkingdeals.nl, and we'll check what's in stock.
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