The backing is a five-second decision that decides whether the patch is still attached in a year, and there are three cases where getting it wrong is expensive.

Sew-on

A margin of leather around the artwork carries the stitch line. It can be supplied plain or pre-punched with holes at a stated pitch for hand or leather-needle sewing.

It is the only method that survives commercial laundry, because adhesives soften at those temperatures and stitching does not care about heat at all.

Heat-seal

An adhesive film laminated to the back melts into the fabric under a press. No stitching shows, application is fast, and it works beautifully on cotton, canvas, fleece, caps and bags.

It also stiffens the patch slightly, which genuinely helps it sit flat on a soft garment.

The three times heat-seal is wrong

Industrial laundry: the adhesive softens and the patch leaves. Waterproof membranes: the press temperature destroys the membrane and the garment stops being waterproof, which is the most expensive mistake on this page.

And very stretchy fabric: the patch cannot move with the cloth, so the bond peels at the edges within a few wears.

Rivets, and when to think twice

A riveted patch is permanent and looks industrial, which suits bags and workwear.

It also puts a hole through the host item. On a lined bag panel or a technical fabric that is a decision to take deliberately rather than a default.