page_title: Embroidered patch
section_title: United States
hierarchical_section_title: Embroidered patch / History / Military use / United States
caption_attribution_description: English: Maj. Gen. James E. Chambers, Combined Arms Support, Command Sustainment Center of Excellence and Fort Lee commanding general, replaces the unit patch of Command Sgt. Maj. C.C. Jenkins, Combined Arms Support Command, Sustainment Center of Excellence and Fort Lee command sergeant major at the SCoE Patch Ceremony Sept. 25, at the SCoE headquarters building.
context_page_description: An embroidered patch, also known as a cloth badge, is a piece of embroidery which is created by using a fabric backing and thread. The art of making embroidered patches is an old tradition and was originally done by hand. During the first half of the twentieth century they were commonly embroidered using a shiffli embroidery machine. High-speed, computerized machines have led to mass production.
  There are various methods of affixing them to the fabric surface. Embroidered patches can be attached with a pin, sewn on, or affixed with more modern methods such as iron-on, dryer heat-activated adhesive, and Velcro backing.
context_section_description: Embroidered patches were first adopted by United States military units, with some crude, unofficial examples found on soldiers’ uniforms from the War of 1812, 1845 Mexican War, and the Civil War (1861–65)  Unit identifications, also known as shoulder sleeve insignia (or SSI) is a relatively new component of the modern military uniform after originating during World War I, when Gen. John J. Pershing authorized limited use.
  The oldest of all official U.S. military patches is the Big Red One of the 1st Infantry Division, first issued on October 31, 1918. SSI became common during World War II and distinctive patches for individual units of the US Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard have become a proud tradition. There is an active collectors market, especially for rare, limited edition patches.
  Various regulations exist on how badges are displayed, how many may be worn at one time and whether or not such badges may be worn on the uniform of more than one branch of service.  In the U.S. Army, the SSI is worn on the upper left arm, just below the uniform’s shoulder seam.  It is sometimes worn on other places, most notably when soldiers’ body armor covers their shoulders.
  For the U.S. military, patch designs are certified and protected by the Institute of Heraldry.  The institute decides how military patches are displayed, how it is worn, and the reasons for display. A hallmark is assigned to each certified manufacturer of military insignia to indicate which manufacturer produced the product. It is illegal for other manufacturers to create designs on their patches that incorporate the likeness of an official Army heraldic item.
  The embroidered patch industry is dominated by several long established companies such as the Chicago Embroidery Company (founded in 1890), Lion Brothers (founded in 1899), St. Louis Embroidery (founded in 1887), A-B Emblem, and Penn Emblem (founded in 1947).   As with much of the textile manufacturing industry in the United States, manufacturing of emblems has largely moved out of the country, though some manufacturers still maintain domestic factories.
caption: US Army Sustainment Center of Excellence patch ceremony, 2009
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