Textile exports are one of the biggest contributors to the economy in India today. Industrialisation of the industry has allowed some of the hallmark Indian textiles (i.e. silk, wool) and other products to become international commodities. Embroidery has always been used as embellishments on fabrics in India; the growth of the export market has brought this type of handiwork to many other countries on a large scale. Badges, emblems, ribbons and allied products are just one example of a practical application of embroidery that India exports.

As stated previously, embroidery has been a part of Indian culture for thousands of years. Until recently, this type of decorative stitching was only done by hand, which meant the production capabilities were fairly limited. However, during the last thirty or so years, as India has embraced manufacturing as an industry, the number of embroidered products being exported from India has exploded; India is one of the world’s largest producers of embroidered items.

Badges, emblems, ribbons and allied products are some of the embroidered and embroidery related (ribbons) items. The computer industry has been a large contributor in the success of these products. Companies are now able to digitise an image, program the image into an embroidery machine, which, in turn, produces the finished product. Little or no hand stitching is required, which may allow manufacturers to utilise smaller workforces. Examples of these types of badges are police and military emblems and those for clubs or associations (i.e. Girls Scouts). There are a number of online sites to guide you to the right manufacturer for your needs.