Custom zipper pulls have been common since the 1930s, though machine embroidery did not become standard until the industrial revolution. Custom labels for clothing and custom cloth labels have become fairly standard in recent years. It used to be that custom labels for clothes would be difficult to make, because the machinery had to be calibrated for it. But new high speed computer technology has made it into a fairly simple process.
This is why the cost of clothing has dropped off significantly in recent years. Making clothes is no longer as time consuming a process as it once was. Now, everyone can have printed cloth labels or custom zipper pulls and many people, from scouting organizations to sports teams can have this clothing.
Of course, as patches have grown easier to put on the clothing, they have also grown more efficient and more aesthetically pleasing as methods for backing and preventing stiffness have become more prolific. Sometimes people will choose to include police or service patches on their clothing and others will include patches of space missions or scout patches.
These are not particularly common. Nonetheless, patches can be a great way to display one’s civic engagement. Clothing is for everyone. That is not to say that everyone wants to wear their life on their clothing. Many people will opt for other options. Some people will want to wear something different entirely.
That being said, the best clothing is often the clothing that reflects your unique personality. There are plenty of ways to incorporate woven labels for clothes onto your clothing. Rubber patches and suede patches are often a great place to start.