Iron-on embroidered patch trend heats up on Long Island

Fashion statements with a DIY twist are really heating up.

Iron-on embroidered patches from local boutiques, big-box stores like Target and Hobby Lobby, and online shops are turning everyday items into one-of-a-kind pieces.

"Personalization is a big trend, and this is part of that," says Joseph DeBello, who carries a wide array of patches at the Hitch boutique in Babylon. "They’re a great way to express yourself."

In his shop’s "patch bar," there’s a veritable A to Z (angels to zodiac signs) of iron-on patches displayed alongside hats, totes and makeup bags that can be transformed with them. "Evil eye patches are super popular," DeBello says. "I can’t keep them in the store."

For Trish Evangelista, 37, a frequent customer at the store who runs CrossFit Babylon, iron-on appliqués have become a go-to gift for family and friends. That includes her 5-year-old son, Jayden, and as well as her nieces and nephews, age 6 to 16.

"I’ll bring the kids in and they’ll pick out patches and hats," Evangelista says. "Patches are a great way to match style with personality. People want to be themselves."

Kristin Ceto, 36, a former elementary school teacher and stay-at-home mom in Dix Hills, concurs. For her son Lincoln’s fifth birthday party a year ago, DeBello attended and made it patch-perfect. He set up an activity station where kids picked out iron-on patches — mermaids, trucks, and dinosaurs, among them — to put on hats Ceto had bought in advance.

"I wanted our party favors to be different and memorable," Ceto says. "It was really fun for everyone. Lincoln still wears his hat. Kids come over for a play date and they’re still wearing their hats."

Just like those party favors that were a lasting hit, customization is an enduring trend. People consistently seek to trumpet their true colors and individuality. Iron-on embroidered patches are also inexpensive and strike a nostalgic chord to boot. Since the hippie-happy 1970s, iron-on appliqués — peace signs, smiley faces, flower power — have turned denim jackets, jeans, and caps into personal billboards. Three months ago, Hitch filled an order for 60 daisy-patch hats for a peaceful protest.

National appeal

At Target, in stores and online, iron-on patches come in all sorts of styles — letters, rainbows, cherries, animals, stars, ice cream cones, and more. "Target continues to lean into personalization," says the retailer’s spokesperson, adding that "iron-on patches fit naturally into the experience."

During the fall back-to-school season, Target featured in-store customization stations in nearly 500 stores around the U.S. These stations gave customers an easy way to put their mark on backpacks, apparel, and accessories. The stations were seasonal, but iron-on patches are still in Target stores, per the spokesperson.

Hobby Lobby is another major retailer that carries patches. Scan their website, and you’ll see that embroidered iron-ons run the gamut — flags, ladybugs, princesses, and ones that read "good vibes," "be kind & stay weird."

Patches with a Long Island twist

Patches can also speak to the power of place. At The East End Shirt Company, a clothing and accessory store in Port Jefferson, there’s a small selection of iron-on patches designed with a Long Island theme.

What fuels interest in them? "It's local pride," says Mary Joy Pipe, 62, who’s run the store for the past 18 years. "I sense that all the time when customers tell me, ‘I’m from Long Island.’"

Illustrator and designer Meagan Dowling, 31, lets her embroidered patches tell the story of where she’s from and where she’s been. She grew up in St. James and now lives in California. She launched her business, Sunthing Studio, in 2016 while on Long Island and studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.

Dowling’s patch designs can be ironed-on or framed like tiny artworks. They’re inspired by her travels to and memories of many places including the Hamptons and Montauk. Her new Greenport patch is set to debut in February. "My aunt lives there," says Dowling. "It’s one of my favorite places to go on Long Island."

Dowling believes patches check off a number of attractive boxes. "A lot of people are looking for ways to get creative and crafty," she says. "They also love small mementos of places or memories with friends. Everybody can relate to and afford patches."

Coast Hampton, a lifestyle and wellness boutique in Southampton, carries a few iron-on appliqués including Sunthing Studio’s Hamptons patch. The shop also stocks patches with a rock music as well as a love theme. They complement trucker hats and denim jackets sold in the store.

Store owner Laraine Gordon, 59, has seen that customers of all ages — Gen-Alpha to Boomers — are drawn to the iron-on appliqués. "Young people sometimes ask, ‘What are these?’ Older people say, ‘I remember these.’ The popularity of the patches spans generations."

Who says ironing can’t be fun!