Many biker clubs make use of patches for their officers and members in general. These patches sometimes identify the club or feature the club logo. Others are helpful in identifying the officers of the club. Some clubs use the club treasury to buy these patches for their members, while others ask members to play a small amount to help defray the cost to the club.
Club patches that feature the club logo, name, or location are usually specially ordered from a shop that does custom items. They sometimes cost a bit more than similarly sized patches because they have to be custom made. They also don't always come with the iron-on plastic backing, so you have to sew them onto your clothing. Sometimes biker clubs ask members to create a club jacket featuring the club logo, location, and name on the back (often made up of two large rockers and a big circular patch). Those are the only patches allowed on the jacket, and members wear them at all official club events. Other times, members just need to wear a small club patch on the front of their jacket.
Clubs also often give their officers special patches showing their rank. This makes it easy to see who is in charge of the club or of an event. These can be purchased as wholesale patches from vendors, and they're usually given to the officers for free.
Bikers who leave a club shouldn't continue wearing that club's logo or other patches, nor should you continue to wear an officer patch if you no longer hold that rank. Some people do like to collect biker club patches, but they usually don't wear them. It can be difficult to do this, though, since most clubs only give their specific patches to their members.
