It’s widely known that bikers wear leather to protect themselves against road rash if they fall off their motorcycle, but have you ever wondered why they wear they attach patches to their jackets? This blog will explore the tradition behind biker patches …
The History of Biker Patches
Biker patches, also known as biker badges, are about more than just decoration. In fact, there is a rich history and culture behind why bikers wear patches and what they mean, starting in the early 20th century.
As motorcycling began to grow in popularity post World War II, riders began to form motorcycle clubs (MCs) with other like-minded individuals who were passionate about motorbikes. These clubs needed a way to identify their members and show loyalty to their specific group, and thus, biker patches were born!
The Symbolism Behind Biker Patches
Biker patches symbolise a deep commitment to a particular club’s values and ethos and are an important part of self-expression for bikers. Wearing a patch for your club signifies your loyalty to the brotherhood and carries with it a sense of tradition and respect. Many bikers see it as a way to pay homage to the club’s history and connect to the previous generation of riders.
The specific design, colours and size of the patches can reflect a lot about a rider and their history, with different patches signifying different roles and ranks within the club. Standard motorcycle patches include the name or symbol of the club – picture the famous “Hells Angels” patch that showcases the club’s name in bold letters with the skull and wing emblem underneath. They also include what is called a top rocker and bottom rocker, where the region or specific chapter of the club is shown.
Patches are taken very seriously by bikers. Wearing a patch for a club that you aren’t a member of can actually be downright dangerous in some circles. Many clubs only allow riders to wear certain patches after they have proven their loyalty or committed years of service to their club.
At Golden Finishes, we have been producing high-quality biker patches for motorcycle clubs for over 20 years. You can bring us any biker badge design idea and we can produce a custom-embroidered patch that is ready to be sewn onto jackets and other garments.
To learn more about what kind of biker patches we offer and how you can get started, contact us today and a member of our team will be happy to discuss how we can help!
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