The History of Lapel Pins

No one knows who first created lapel pins, but the technique of inlaying, which is often used to create them, is thought to have been invented by the ancient Egyptians around 1800 BC. By the 13th century BC, the ancient Greeks had created a similar process, and inlaying was also popular in 13th century China during the Yuan Dynasty. In the US, lapel pins first became prominent during the Civil War, when they were worn by all soldiers as unit markers. During World War I, lapel pins were given to individuals in recognition of bravery or exemplary commitment to service (a practice that continues to this day). In the postwar era, lapel pins and button badges became a popular way for people to display an affiliation with a political or social group, especially during the 1960s and the Civil Rights movement. In the 1980s, collecting as many lapel pins as possible became a fad. Today, younger generations continue to collect and display pins on backpacks, jackets, hats, and more. And of course, people of all ages continue to wear lapel pins for a variety of personal and professional reasons today.