From military personnel to youth subcultures, the embroidered patch has operated as a form of insignia, through which a diverse array of people have used to showcase allegiance. The humble patch’s evolution into high-end fashion is particularly ironic given its lineage as an almost anti-fashion platform for subversion yet, while the customisable approach to the medium may have been diluted, the aesthetic certainly has not.
Saint Laurent translate their own brand of rebellion through their Souvenir Patch Crew Knit, which harks back to the literal souvenir garments soldiers returned home with after deployment. Similarly, Coach boast of American space age in the superb Animated Icon Varsity Jacket – lustrous leather and wool flesh out this sporting staple, which comes finished suitably with space exploration symbology stitched throughout.
