A Patch Jacket is the Perfect Travel Souvenir for Minimalists

A close-up of Alyssa wearing a denim patch jacket

Once upon a time, I was an avid souvenir collector, decorating my fireplace mantle and office desk with trinkets from all over the world.

But then I moved. And moved. And moved again.

Eventually, I stopped buying traditional souvenirs altogether, opting instead for consumable goods or the occasional piece of jewelry. It’s a treat to slip on a bracelet or pair of earrings and be reminded of a far-flung city, but part of me missed the charm of those overt little tchotchkes.

While I wouldn’t call myself a “country collector” (if you asked me how many states or countries I’ve visited, I’d need a minute to count them on my fingers), I do love the thrill of seeing visual reminders of my travels.

I mean, hello, I started a travel blog to document it all!

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But I recently discovered a way to merge my desire to collect souvenirs and my love for beautiful clothes all while reducing clutter:

A souvenir patch jacket.

A denim jacket proudly displaying collectibles from all over the world has been (and continues to be!) the most fun way to add a little personality to my wardrobe. I still get the thrill of taking home a little token from my trip, yet a patch costs hardly anything at all and takes up almost zero room in my suitcase.

I’m still building my travel patch collection, but even though it’s not “complete” and there’s really no end date, I thought I’d go ahead and share this fun way to commemorate your travels today (as they say, it’s all about the journey, and not the destination):

HOW TO MAKE A TRAVEL-THEMED PATCH JACKET

Alyssa holds a jean jacket and shows the label

1. Pick out the perfect jacket

A denim patch jacket is a classic. My preferred patch base is this broken-in beauty from ABLE (save 20% with code WAYWARD20), but you could easily find one at your local thrift store or at an online thrift store like ThredUp, Poshmark, or eBay. Denim trends cycle quickly, and I recommend choosing one that is neither too fitted nor oversized to avoid looking dated.

Not into the blue denim look? That’s okay! White and black denim jackets are equally as versatile. If you’re opting out of denim entirely, consider a chore jacket or work shirt.

And you know what? There is no rule that says your patch jacket has to even be a jacket – it could easily be a canvas duffel or tote that you carry your travel memories around in!

Whatever jacket (or non-jacket!) you choose, be sure to check the label. A non-stretch fabric with a tight weave is the best blank canvas for smooth patch application. My preference for this will always be 100% cotton, especially if you’re planning on ironing your patches rather than sewing them.

2. Start collecting patches

This is the fun part! Keep your eyes peeled while traveling to find the patches that call to you. In my experience, both tacky tourist shops and too-cool indie stores have the best selection—but you may even find a place willing to make a custom patch, like my Louisville one above. The fun part is that you get to make the rules and decide what types of patches to fill your jacket with. I find I have to exercise a little restraint, so I only buy one patch that clearly depicts the destination (whether it’s the name of the destination all spelled out, a state shape, or a flag), and once I find one I like, I stop looking.

Your patch choices may be entirely different – perhaps they are all cats and rainbows or maybe each one has a witty saying. It’s the perfect opportunity to express yourself through your clothing while creating a travel memory at the same time. Just try not to waste too much of your precious travel time hunting for a patch; if it’s meant to be, it’ll be.

3. Consider your patch placement

Once you’ve accumulated a few patches, it’s time to start thinking about where to put them! Just like jackets, patches come in all different shapes and sizes, so spend a little time playing with the placement so you don’t have to re-sew them on later.

My approach is to work from the outside in, leaving just a little space between patches. I find this looks balanced while I’m still acquiring more souvenirs, but you do you.

4. Make it stick

Choose your fighter: a needle and thread, sewing machine, or iron.

It’s tedious, but I personally prefer the look of hand-sewn patches over their machine stitched or ironed-on counterparts. Yes, the stitches can sometimes look a little wonky, but I personally think it adds to the appeal.

It doesn’t hurt that the startup costs for handsewing are low, since you only need a few needles and thread that matches the edge of your patch (I like smooth Sashiko thread for this). You can even choose your favorite stitch for your patch; I use a simple straight stitch, but a whip stitch is also a fun choice.

Prefer to use your sewing machine? I haven’t attempted sewing my patches this way because I’m not confident my machine is up to the task (but shh, don’t tell it I said that), but here’s a tutorial that looks promising.

Of course, ironing is always an option, at least, as long as your patch comes with an iron-on backing or if you add an adhesive of your own. Just for the love of all things travel, if your jacket’s care tag says “do not iron,” then by all means, do not attempt to iron on your patch.

Have butter fingers or just too nervous to get started? You can always ask a friend for help, head to your local alterations specialist, or you may even be lucky enough to find a patch specialty shop in your area (I recently stumbled into Strange Ways in New Haven, which offers patch application for a small fee. How fun!).

Note: Because of the variation in patch materials, I highly, highly recommend skipping the dryer when laundering and instead line drying your patch jacket so everything remains even and crisp.

Alyssa sews a Buffalo patch onto a denim jacket

5. Be Ready to Share Your Stories

One unexpected side effect of wearing a patch jacket is this: it’s a big conversation starter. People stop me all the time to ask me about my jacket, from how I collect my patches to my thoughts on a particular destination highlighted.

In this tech-fueled day and age, interactions like these are happening less often than ever before; to me, this is just one more example of how travel fuels community and connection.

HOW TO STYLE A DENIM PATCH JACKET

Alyssa wears a denim patch jacket with a gingham dress

A denim patch jacket adds a casual-cool attitude to just about any outfit, whether it’s coupled with your favorite pair of jeans, a black miniskirt, a cute sundress, or your work trousers at 5 p.m. Basically, it goes with almost every outfit (we can all agree that denim is a neutral, right?).

Your patch jacket is the perfect easy layer to keep on a hook by your door or in the backseat of your car when the temperature is chillier than expected, so wear it often and wear it proud.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON CREATING A TRAVEL PATCH JACKET

Creating a travel patch jacket has been an unexpected way to enhance my travel experience, whether I’m scoping out cute shops that carry patches before my trip, getting to handpick my next treasure, or reliving the whole journey while sewing on my latest find after I’m home. It’s such a simple, inexpensive way to carry a piece of my travels with me (not to mention it keeps me warm on chilly nights!).

If you decide to create your own travel-themed patch jacket, I’d love to see it! Send me an email or tag me over on Instagram at @waywardblog.

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Questions for you

What kinds of patches would you add to your patch jacket?

Are you methodical about laying out the design of your jacket, or do you prefer a more impulsive approach?

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Minimalist Souvenir Idea: How to Create a Travel-Themed Patch Jacket