A badge is a device or an ornament which usually contain a logo or the sign of an organization, and a person can wear or get it as a sign of an achievement or some special service or it can be worn as a symbol of authority or position gotten with oath, it also be a sign or identification of employment or as a grade of a student. Now days they are also being used for marketing advertising, and publicity or branding reasons. From the medieval era, these badges are being worn by police or other forces with the coats of arms for the identification of their ranks and allegiances.
These are being made with different materials such as leathers, rubber, textile plastic and many others. The way of wearing these badges is that they get attached to the clothes, bags, footwear, vehicles, or even they can attach to the home electronic equipments. Custom Badges can be embroidered on the cloths or can be woven; they can also be paste with glue, or ironed or even stitched. Many people in the world have a hobby of collecting them and this have become very popular in years. In UK from 1980 a circle exist which is known as badge collectors circle. In military they are being given with the uniforms of the arms or the units when they get the full training of the forces and pass the examination, and the rank of every officer got written on it. The other organizations in which people are working for a cause also used them as their identification such as scouts or guides; they also use them to show their awards.
In the past they were being made as the piece of jewelry, and this type of jewelry was very popular as well as costly too. There are many big names involved in the making of this type of jewelry such as Dunstable Swan jewel, their jewelry consist was simple mold-made with the bases of metals or in leads. Pilgrim badges were the special form made for those who have completed a pilgrimage or heraldic or livery were denoted to the service of political personality. They were very popular in England till the time of wars of roses. The other special type was funerary and was being given to those who went to attend the funeral of any political person. In 19th century the use of these ornaments became very common and people start using them in every school and college.
They are available in different sizes, shapes design and styles, but the most popular design is the star which was made for U.S sheriffs. One which was worn by the chairman Mao was the most famous design.
