Artex Group Patch Blog

Uniform Patches

Custom Boy Scouts of America Patches

Boy Scouts of America Custom Patches

 

“Be Prepared” with Custom Patches for Boy Scouts of America

Since its founding in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America has grown to more than a million youth participants. Badges and patches have been central to scouting from the earliest days of the organization in the US, and remain important today. Early emblems were embroidered directly on clothing, with later badges taking the form of embroidered patches that were sewn on. New manufacturing options allow more intricate and specialized patches than ever before.

Are you a leader looking for a custom Boy Scouts of America patch to recognize awards, accomplishments or events? Artex Group is here to help! As a licensee for the Boy Scouts of America, we’re proud to partner with you.

Can I create my own design?

Custom is the word for these BSA patches, so your design is where we begin. Circles, squares and custom shapes can feature your district, camp name, special event, dates and more. Use your imagination and incorporate emblems and illustrations that we’ll translate into colorful, high-quality embroidered, woven or dye sublimated printed custom patches.

Just send us a sketch of your ideas, and we’ll provide a free quote. Not sure what your BSA patch should look like? Artex will design your custom patch absolutely free of charge.

How do I apply the custom Boy Scouts patches?

Depending on your intended use, you may use an iron-on adhesive, a press-on peel-and-stick adhesive or sew the patch on. Our customers put patches on caps, neckerchiefs and other apparel. The Artex Group team is happy to advise you about the best options for your BSA custom patch manufacturing and application.

Why should I choose Artex Group for my BSA patches?

In the words of our customer and veteran Scoutmaster Clarke Green, “I’ve been very pleased with both the quality of the patches and the level of service I’ve received from Artex. Artex quotes each job individually and, in my experience, offers a significantly lower price than I’ve found elsewhere.”

Learn more about Artex Group Boy Scouts of America custom patches with a request for a sample, a free quote, or call us at 1-866-845-1042. We’re here to help and answer your questions. Scout’s honor.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Boy Scouts of America®, the Universal Emblem, BSA®, are either registered trademarks or trademarks of the Boy Scouts of America in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

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custom PVC patches

PVC Patches

 

PVC Patches

PVC Patches – Not a Plastic Pipe, But a Pipeline to Marketing

Working on a patch design with a lot of intricate detail?

PVC patches could be the perfect solution!

These custom patches offer precision reproduction of your design with near-perfect color matching and better rendering of fine detail than may be possible with an embroidered patch.

Artex Group’s custom PVC patches are waterproof and weatherproof, making them durable and versatile for outdoor uses as well apparel branding. Each PVC patch design is custom molded and can take virtually any shape. You can specify most Pantone Matching System (PMS) colors to keep your brand and marketing consistent, too.

What is PVC?

When you hear PVC, you might think of pipes for plumbing and construction. Known for their strength and water resistance, PVC pipes are made from the same type of material as our PVC patches – polyvinyl chloride, a synthetic plastic polymer. In its more flexible form, PVC is ideal for molding into our custom PVC patches.

Can you create a textured PVC patch?

Our PVC patches can include 2D or 3D textures, adding interest and tactile quality to your design. You can make the background one level of the patch and a logo or graphic on top of the background a different color and level of the PVC material.

How do you attach PVC patches?

Like our embroidered emblems, our PVC patches can be plastic-backed for sewn-on applications. If sewing on the patch is too permanent, our PVC patches also can be backed with Velcro for removable and repeated on/off uses.

How can you use custom PVC patches?

Artex Group’s PVC patches are great for clothing and other apparel branding. Our clients frequently use them for garments, caps, and canvas bags. Custom PVC patches’ resistance to fading and cracking makes them a great choice for gear used and worn by first responders and military service members.

Learn more about our custom PVC patches

Request a free quote, or call 1-866-845-1042 and talk with the Artex Group team. We’re here to help you build your marketing pipeline with on-brand and high-quality PVC patches!

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manufacturing, Custom Patches, FAQs, fashion

What's the process of ordering a custom patch?

 
What’s the process of ordering a custom patch?

 

One of the most frequent questions we get from new customers is this: “So how does this work, anyway?”

Some folks want to hold a physical patch sample in their hands, put it up the light, and examine the thread before proceeding with production. Others are content with a digitized sample.

What’s important to remember is that everyone’s journey is different, just as each patch has a unique purpose.

Some people come to us with a logo fully developed by in-house graphic artists, thread colors picked, a style already in mind, and all of that information beautifully laid out in a spreadsheet; others come to us with a hastily-snapped photo of a pencil drawing in their notebook. There’s no right or wrong way to go about it, but understanding the process of developing a custom patch will help you be prepared to get the most out of your experience.

Without further ado, here’s a step-by-step guide to ordering your first custom patch!

Step 1: Prepare your design

Before you can create your patch, you have to know what your design will be! Now, some patch manufacturers will help you create the actual artwork for the patch and some won’t – here at Artex, we’re proud to provide a basic design service – but if you (like most of us) weren’t blessed with artistic vision, consider using a freelance graphic designer to bring your logo to life. Websites like Fiverr and Upwork are great for quickly locating available talent without straining your budget, plus you get to feel good about supporting the little guy!

Once your logo is primed and ready, it’s time for step two.

Step 2: Select your patch style

This is a whole blog post in and of itself… luckily, we already have one, which you can read by clicking here!

The short version is this: the style of patch you choose (embroidered, woven, sublimated, PVC, et cetera) will have a tremendous influence on the way your patch looks and feels. If you’re having trouble deciding, have a conversation with one of our salespeople! They have decades of experience in the patch industry and know which style will suit a particular logo simply by looking at it.

Remember, the style of patch you choose will ultimately affect the way the patch looks and feels. Once you’ve got your artwork ready and you’ve picked the patch style that best suits your logo, it’s time to get things moving!

Step 3: Approve your custom patch

Once the details are settled, the next step is to produce what’s called a “stitch-out” or “sew-out” for your approval. So what exactly is a stitch-out? It’s not complicated – a stitch-out is just a scanned sample that will be passed along to you in order for you to decide whether you’d like to make any changes to the design prior to proceeding with production.

It’s important to be detail-oriented at this stage, but also to remain realistic. Remember what attracted you to your logo and focus on what’s important. It’s important that you love your logo – it’s very important! – but no one will ever analyze it to the same extent that you will during the design phase. Knowing what matters most to you will help you keep that perfectionist tendency in check while also ensuring that your custom patches are exactly what you wanted.

Step 4: Production time!

As soon as your patch is approved, production begins. The lead time on manufacturing a batch of new patches is typically around three to four weeks but can vary depending on the size of the order and the complexity of the design. Some styles – such as metal pins – may also take a bit longer than a traditional embroidered patch.

If you’re under a time crunch or if something unexpected comes up, don’t be afraid to communicate your needs! There have been times when our team at Artex has had to wrangle large orders of custom patches in just two weeks, but the worst thing for both the manufacturer and the customer is a breakdown of communication.

Step 5: Shipping your custom patches

Once your patches have been manufactured, the last step is getting them to your doorstep! Artex Group offers shipping options ranging from standard to overnight, but communication is key! Make sure you leave room in your schedule for mishaps. If you need your patches three days, for example, it’s best not to select two-day shipping… we’ve seen packages left unscanned in carrier warehouses and all other forms of slip-ups in our time, and we can safely say that a little bit of cushion never hurts! It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

… and that’s it! You have your custom patches!

If you have any questions about the process of ordering custom patches or if you’d like a quote for your design, feel free to reach out to us. We’d be happy to help you get your next order of patches going!

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FAQs

How Do Heat Transfer Patches Work?

 

How Do Heat Transfer Patches Work?

Embroidered patches are becoming more popular, and not only because they’re effective for marketing your business or association. With heat transfer, you can place patches on jean jackets, pants, bookbags, purses, and more, adding a fun and even vintage aesthetic to your look.

But how exactly do heat transfer patches work? Here, we’ll help you understand how to transfer your patches onto your clothing or accessories so you can look your best while feeling confident that your patches aren’t going anywhere.

How Do You Adhere Patches With an Iron?

If you’re using an iron to adhere your heat transfer patches, you’re going to start by pre-heating your iron on the “cotton” setting. Be sure that your steam setting is turned off. Set your custom patch on the garment in the place where you’d like to adhere it. Place a heat-safe piece of cloth such as a cotton pillowcase over the patch and garment. Be careful that you don’t move the patch. This fabric serves as a protective barrier between the patch and the iron.

When the iron is ready and the steam is turned off, press the iron onto the patch. Keep the iron on the patch for approximately 25 seconds and don’t move the iron. Use firm, consistent pressure. Moving the iron back and forth can prevent the patch from adhering properly to your garment. After ironing on the patch, let your garment cool down for about five hours prior to wearing it. This gives your patch enough time to properly adhere to the fabric.

How Do You Adhere Patches With a Heat Seal Machine?

If you’re using heat press patches and a heat seal machine, you’ll start by setting your machine to 365 degrees. Unlike when you’re using an iron, you’ll need to pre-heat the spot where you plan to adhere your heat press patches. Pre-heat the spot on the garment for approximately 15 seconds and then place your patch in the pre-heated area. Using about 50 to 70 pounds of pressure, apply heat to your patch for approximately 18 to 20 seconds. Once the patch is adhered, let the garment cool down for about five hours prior to wearing it.

Are you looking for custom iron on patches to add to your clothes or accessories? We’ve got you covered. Artex Group provides custom patches for individuals, sports teams, business organizations, and more. Reach out to us today to learn more about our heat press patches and how they work.

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ABOUT PATCH EMBROIDERY, Patches, Custom Patches, embroidered patches, woven patches, FAQs, leather patches, sublimated patches, PVC Patches, patch

What type of patch is best for your design?

 

What type of patch is best for your design?

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There’s a lot of terminology to learn in the wide world of patches. Do you need a sublimated patch or an embroidered one? Or maybe you’d be better off with a woven patch? Do you want a merrowed edge or a hot-cut one? Will your backing be heat-seal, velcro, plain? It’s a tough decision to make unless you have the right information, especially if you’re new to the patch game – but don’t worry, it’s not as complex as it seems!

Patch styles: the good, the bad, and the… well, you’ll see

Embroidered patches

Our logo as an embroidered patch

There’s nothing quite like the classic, old-school look of an embroidered patch. Although embroidered patches were first widely adopted for military use in the early 19th century, their modern purpose is twofold: they can bring a sense of officialdom to a logo, such as on a police officer’s uniform, or they can lend an undeniable coolness which harkens back to denim vests and vintage Americana motifs. Which effect you get all depends on your design!

Embroidered patches are classy and recognizable, bringing dimension and character to your logo. Embroidered patches are ideal for simple and bold designs, and they work best with 1″ patches and larger. They’re also great for achieving a textured look.

No other style can match embroidery in flat-out coolness… at least not in our opinion!

Woven patches

Our logo as a woven patch

The big-city cousin of the embroidered patch! Because woven patches are made using thinner thread and a different methodology, they are able to render fine detail more cleanly than a typical embroidered patch, which is why they’re often used in clothing labels and other compact designs.

Examining a woven patch feels like sharpening the focus on a camera lens: the blurred edges fall away and become crisper, clearer. They capture minute details well and still retain a sense of dimension. They’re also a very popular option for apparel, bringing a refined look and modern flair to your logo – in that last few years, for example, demand for woven patches in the hat industry has skyrocketed.

If your design requires intensive detail, or if you’re creating something like a shirt label or uniform name tag, woven patches are a great choice! They’re flexible, attractive, and undeniably stylish.

Sublimated patches

Our logo as a sublimated patch

While woven patches may be capable of capturing more detail than embroidered ones, sublimated patches take the prize when it comes to faithfully rendering every element of your design. Sublimated patches aren’t actually stitched onto a twill base like a woven or embroidered emblem – they’re printed, which means a sublimated patch can capture photo-quality detail. No matter how busy or difficult your design, it can be digitized and translated onto a sublimated patch.

If your logo looks like a work of art, with an array of colors and a wealth of detail, sublimation is a great option for showcasing the quality of your design. Background elements such as gradients translate perfectly into sublimation, representing complex imagery such as sunsets with a fantastic blend of color.

Plus – here’s an insider secret for you – you can always combine embroidery with sublimation to achieve that sought-after textured look!

PVC, leather, and other nonstandard patches

Our logo as a PVC patch

Of course, not all patches are made up of thread and twill. PVC patches, made with rubber, are fast becoming popular due to their architectural qualities and their ability to match most Pantone colors. And as an added bonus, they’re both extremely durable and stylistically unique.

PVC patches are totally weatherproof and can stand up to whatever punishment you have in store. They’re a great choice for outdoorsy apparel or any equipment which might end up on the receiving end of constant abuse, such as a hiking backpack. The thickness and makeup of PVC patches give them an extra layer of armor, which means they can keep a licking and keep on ticking.

Need help choosing a patch style?

That’s totally understandable! It’s a lot to take in all at once. Fortunately, we have an expert team with dozens of years of experience. If you’re wrestling with which style of patch would look best with your design, we’d be happy to give you our two cents – totally free of charge!

Remember, creating a business strategy can sometimes be a (pardon the pun) patchwork enterprise. Not everything is always apparent at the outset. But with some friendly advice and a few handy blog posts, you’ll be armed with all the information you need to keep your patches – and your business – going strong! 

 
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Designing A Patch For A Music Festival or Live Event

 

Designing A Patch For A Music Festival or Live Event

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With more people looking to return to normal and get out and about once again, music festivals are sure to be a big draw in the coming months. Millions of Americans are looking to attend concerts once again and likely these coming months will see an increase in demand for live entertainment.

If you’re planning to start a music festival or live event you’re no doubt aware that it’s quite the undertaking. When it comes to promotion and branding why not let your friends at the Artex Group give you a few pointers on how to design a custom music festival patch.

Selling Patches At Your Live Event

The obvious place to start with designing a festival patch is to make sure that it’s a patch that can be placed anywhere. If you are selling your patches, or even giving them away, it’s a good idea to create a patch that is durable and can be easily affixed to just about any surface. 

To this end, we recommend an embroidered patch that can be easily sewn onto clothes, bags, or other garments. Our embroidered patches allow for an extraordinary level of detail that will help your logo pop. These are the perfect patches to help promote your festival, and our low prices won’t eat into your profit margins.

Use Patches For Staff Uniforms

Patches aren’t just limited to being promotional items for concertgoers. They also make a good addition to your staff uniforms. These patches can help to easily identify members of your team and your attendees will know who to look for if they are in need of assistance.

A simple patch can be a great addition to your uniforms that will create an air of discipline and professionalism amongst your staff. Such a thing will definitely help concertgoers feel safe and secure during your live events.

Have A Professional Graphic Design Team Create Your Patch

The hardest part of creating a custom patch is coming up with a logo for your event. Fortunately, we employ a team of professional graphic designers to help assist you. Such a thing can be quite daunting if you’re new to the world of branding and logos, so it’s advisable to seek out the help of a professional graphic design team. Fortunately, we’re here to help every step of the way with the design and manufacturing process.


Still, need some help with your music festival patches? Get in touch with the Artex Group. We’d love to assist you with creating a custom patch. We have provided assistance to many concert congregations across the country, and we’d be happy to assist you with your next project. Reach out to us today and let’s get started!

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ABOUT PATCH EMBROIDERY, Hunting & Fishing Patches

Patches For Your Fishing & Hunting Business

 

Patches For Your Fishing & Hunting Business

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Have you dreamt of starting a business for fishing charters? Perhaps you have some experience working as a hunting guide? If so, you’re no doubt wondering how to distinguish yourself from the competition. Marketing can be tricky and running a guide business can be very competitive. In order to get ahead of the curve, you’ll need to stand out and make sure your potential customers know who you are. While there are certainly a number of ways to draw attention to your business, we’re going to look at how fishing patches and hunting patches can help your company.

Brand Recognition

Perhaps the most obvious advantage of creating a hunting or fishing patch is that you are giving your customers a physical memento to remember your brand by. This will help give your brand some much-needed recognition and will also help with word of mouth. This is especially true if the patch you have created features prominently on a key fob, hat, or other accessories that people are likely to see. 

Word of mouth can be a powerful marketing tool, and if you make sure to hand out patches to customers who booked a charter or expedition that you know had a great time they’ll speak highly of your operation to those who ask.

Promotions & Giveaways

Another attractive aspect of creating a custom patch is that you’ll be able to offer these patches as freebies. These patches can be given away at events, handed out to customers, or even given to influencers and other social media personalities to draw attention to your business. This can be a great way to foster new relationships and build trust in your brand. In fact, a quick Google search brought us to this helpful list of the top 1000 fishing influencers on social media, which is clearly a great place to start!

Such a thing ties in well with other social media promotions and free giveaways. Offering up a grab bag or some other sort of prize that includes these patches can be an effective strategy for collecting email addresses to use as a part of your email marketing. Furthermore, if you intend to heavily promote your brand via social media these free patches can be an efficient method to attract visitors to your website.

Show Support For A Cause

Does your company give back to the community? Creating a patch to showcase your charitable efforts and hand it out to your guides on their next fishing charter or hunting expedition. Not only does this draw attention to a worthy cause, but it will also help with your company’s image. 

Need some help creating custom hunting or fishing patches for your business? The Artex Group can assist you with designing and manufacturing a patch that features your logo, no matter how intricate the design may be. We offer a variety of patches, including PVC, embroidered, woven, and dye-sublimated patches with every type of backing you could need. Contact us today, we’d love to assist you!

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TIPS FOR ORDERING PATCHES

Our Guide To Custom Sports Patches

 

Our Guide To Custom Sports Patches

 

Got a favorite team that you want to support? Maybe you’d like some custom patches for a football team,  little league baseball team, or soccer team? If you’re on the market for a high-quality custom sports patch we can create a custom patch for any team. But, perhaps you need a bit of help in deciding which is the best patch for your league. Let’s take a look at the different types of patches and discuss which of our offerings would be the best fit for you and your league.

Custom Embroidered Patches

 We generally recommend using embroidered patches for sports patches. Embroidered patches will let the colors of your team stand out, and will add some eye-catching detail to your logo. Just like all of our patches, our embroidered patches are durable and designed to stand up to wear and tear on the field.

Custom PVC Patches

Another strong option for your sports team’s jerseys or uniforms is PVC patches. The biggest advantages to PVC patches are that they are immensely durable but also incredibly easy to clean. If you play a sport that might require your team to play in a muddy or rainy environment then a PVC patch might not be a bad idea. 

You’ll never have to worry about these patches becoming stained. Any mud or dirt that ends up on your patch can simply be washed off with tap water and left to air dry. This makes them an excellent choice for sports leagues that find themselves in inclement conditions, such as paintball teams or rugby leagues.

Custom Woven Patches

While the two previous options are great for those of us that will be on the field, a woven patch is a great option for folks that are just looking to support their favorite team. These patches offer a fine level of detail for logos and emblems, making them a good option for folks that are interested in showing some love to their favorite team.

Dye Sublimated Patches

If photographic detail is a must-have for your team’s logo these patches are the way to go. Dye sublimated patches offer a photo-realistic patch. Embroidery can even be added to give your patch a tactile and dimensional feel while allowing the dye sublimation process to still provide a level of photorealism.

Need some help with your sports team’s patch? Reach out to us! The Artex Group is the leading industry expert on creating patches of every shape and size. We have a team of designers that are eager to help you with creating a custom patch that will make your team stand out from the crowd.

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ABOUT PATCH EMBROIDERY, Velcro Patches

Creating The Best Patches For Your Cycling Club

 

Creating The Best Patches For Your Cycling Club

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If you enjoy the freedom and exercise that cycling offers you’ve no doubt joined a bicycle club to spend time with like-minded folks in your community. It’s likely that your club or team has a logo they’ve created and it only makes sense to create custom patches. Let’s take a look at some of the best tips and insights for creating stellar custom cycling patches for your organization.

Pick Your Patch Material

Putting your cycling club’s logo on a patch is a simple process. You simply need to determine which material is going to work best for the logo that you have. For example, if you have a complex logo with lots of little details we recommend a woven patch. If you frequently find yourself cycling in inclement weather or you’re part of a mountain biking club we’d recommend going with a PVC patch. If your logo is a simple design then use an embroidered patch. Finally, if you need a photographic level of detail then go with a dye sublimated patch.

Choose Your Patch Backing

Your patch backing will be based on how you plan to affix your patch. If your team is going to sew on their patches we recommend using a plastic backing. This is the most common style of patch backing and tends to be very economical. However, if you plan to use these patches on a bag or need a quick-to-remove patch consider using velcro. Finally, if you only need your patch for limited use, such as an upcoming event or competition, then use a self-adhesive patch backing. We also offer magnetic backing for patches if you want a patch that you could attach to a bike frame or other metallic surface.

Designing Your Logo

If you don’t have a logo for your bike team yet, or you’re uncertain about the design don’t worry. We have a staff of experienced graphic designers that can assist you with creating a logo for your bicycle club. We’ll make sure to create a graphic with an eye-catching level of detail that will be sure to pop when you hit the trail, road, or bike path.

Get Started Today!
Ready to make your cycling team look like a million bucks? Reach out to the Artex Group and we’ll help you design the perfect custom patch for your team. Since 2002, we’ve made over 75 million custom embroidered patches for businesses all around the world. No matter what your needs might be we can work with you to create a custom bike patch. Contact us today and let’s make your dream a reality.

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ABOUT PATCH EMBROIDERY, Discount on ordering patches, INTERESTING TECHNIQUES, TIPS FOR ORDERING PATCHES

How To Market Your Business With Custom Patches

 

How To Market Your Business With Custom Patches

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If you’re looking for an affordable option for marketing your business then custom patches might be the right fit for you. Our durable and striking patches offer great branding and marketing options for those who are looking to bring more visibility to their business. Custom patches will allow you to add your logo to clothing, hats, and bags. If you need a patch for a corporate event, such as a convention or expo you’re attending, then this might be the perfect opportunity to stand out from the crowd.

Create A Custom Patch

The most obvious place to start is working with a representative from the Artex Group to help create a custom patch for you. We employ a team of designers and artists to assist you during this process, and we’ll make sure that you are completely satisfied with the patch design you receive.

We’ll even help you decide on the best type of patch material to use, depending on what your plans are. We offer patches in a wide variety of styles, materials, and backings. This includes PVC patches, embroidered patches, woven patches, and dye sublimated patches.

Tips For Marketing With Custom Patches

No matter how you’re using your custom patches, it’s a good idea to have your logo feature prominently and make your logo simple and easy to read. Attaching your patch to t-shirts, polos, hats, and jackets is a great place to start. Of course, you aren’t just limited to using your brand new custom patches for clothing or hats. Consider the following ideas:

  • Add your patches to bags or backpacks
  • Include your patch as a freebie inside of grab bags
  • Adhere a pin to the back of your patch to turn it in a removable pin
  • Attach your patch to can koozies
  • Turn your custom patch into a keyring

Standing Out With Custom Patches

Another thing to consider is that you don’t have to giveaway patches to potential customers. Decking out your team in stylish patches is another surefire method for getting brand name recognition. For example, if a member (or members) of your team have recently accomplished something noteworthy, such as earning a certification, consider making a patch to add to your company’s uniforms. Such a thing will help to instill trust in customers and will exquisitely showcase expertise. 

If you have a group of charismatic and enthusiastic employees consider making them brand ambassadors. These ambassadors will share their passion for your business with folks they meet, converting them into potential customers. By having them wear your company logo they’ll be able to foster goodwill for your brand.

Need some further assistance with your custom patch? Reach out to us today! The Artex Group has the expertise and know-how to help you design and manufacture a custom patch without the headache. We’re here to help you every step of the way.

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