Who would have thought that pin badges, typically associated
with corporate uniforms and membership associations, could become such hot, tradable items - in fact, highly sought-after collectors’ items?
Young and old it seems are both vulnerable to this highly
addictive hobby. Referred to a “pinheads”, their addiction is reaching soaring
levels as a result of the forthcoming London 2012.
Pin badges, or custom lapel pins, are metal badges, typically
worn by members of clubs, associations, sport, profit and academic institutions.
Detail adds interest and pin badges are custom made in a range of different
materials, styles, finishes and production processes.
Fuelled by the growing interest in sport associated badges,
London Pins has been organising meets for collectors and traders to
swap and talk about pins. And as testified in comments given by the collectors,
collecting pins is “addictive, like a drug. There are certain pins
you want, when you get them, you get a rush." And they are not alone. Pin
collecting is global, and London
is seeing the result of the attraction to pin collectors who are turning up simply to swap pins.
Badges range from those exclusively issued to athletes or produced by
sponsors, through to mass-produced official pins which can be bought. And then
there are the fakes, as well as the unofficial pins. London 2012 Games organisers Locog have said
that they will be producing 2,012 individual pin designs by the time the Games
begin.
For the pin collectors, swapping or trading of pins is a form of friendship
and goodwill, especially Olympic pins which are
seen as badges of national
pride and identity. And although collectors search for and occasionally buy badges online, it seem that trading is still the best option.
The addiction does not stop with themed pins. Corporate pins are also highly sought after
and there appears to be a large trading community focused on collecting and swapping
sponsored and corporate badges.
Now, at BIG we definitely have caught the bug….we just never realised how just
how BIG it is! And London Pins, we heartily support you.