History of elbow patches in suits

#TeachingsTuesdays

Elbow patches were first implemented by the upper classes in the 1900s. Predominantly, people involved in shooting and hunting wore blazers with elbow patches to add a distinguishing factor to their attire and also to enable their fabric’s long durability.      

As a style, the patches were leather or similar materials to help with less wear and tear. Also, these patches were tailored in contrasting colors. For a light-hued blazer, the patches would be dark, and vice versa.