Why More DJs Should Sell Patches! An Inquisitive Editorial

The EDM/rave fashion scene is endlessly expressive. From pashminas and bucket hats, to jerseys and collective pins (and everything in between) there are lots of ways to spread your love of the music and scene. Making and trading Kandi is also commonplace within the culture as well and is a great way to meet strangers at your next festival or club event. However, there is one fashion item possibility that is being overlooked that I would like to share with you today.

I am a massive fan of EDM and attend shows very often, but it is not the only genre of music that I listen to. Metal and punk have also played a pivotal role in my life, as well as the trajectory of my music taste. As such, I own a leather vest with patches of numerous rock, metal, and punk bands with a few outliers and non-music oriented patches. I wore my vest to the grocery store the other day and had an epiphany: DJs should sell patches as well! An “EDM Battle Jacket/Vest” would be AWESOME. If my favorite DJs came out with patches I would buy them in a heartbeat. I would add the most sentimental ones to my existing vest, as well as set aside the others for a new vest. Either strategy is effective. Your favorite DJ, record company, album (etc.) could be the larger back patch, with smaller patches around. Trippy and artistic non-music patches may also be included to add to the vibe as well. Pins or sprouts could be attached for added effect. The possibilities are endless.

These rave edition battle jackets would also likely lead to pleasant crowd interactions between friends and strangers alike. A battle vest with REZZ, Liquid Stranger, and Of The Trees patches on it (among others) would look awesome! Promoters could even join in the fun and make patches of artists, festivals, and their own personal brand. Collaborative patches between DJs and brands or various forms of intellectual property, such as movies and television, could also be a thing. These genres and groups inspire DJs to do mind-blowing remixes for our enjoyment, so I think this is a perfect addition to the rave fashion scene. I wore my battle vest to Decadence AZ a couple of years back to rave reviews. It was a great conversation starter and helped me find groups to talk and dance with. I have seen other people wear battle vests at EDM events, but cannot recall seeing a Subtronics or Excision patch anywhere.

DJs selling patches would be a great business opportunity. Patches are typically inexpensive to produce and sell. Ravers buying prospective merch from their favorite EDM artist would likely add a patch to their cart at the last minute, especially if it is $10 or under. Artists could also do a “B2B” style collaboration with other acts that they typically associate themselves with. Maybe this will become a trend within the EDM scene soon – one can only hope!