Unit Patches, 501st Legion, 2015-2022

Embroidered Fabric

Not long after Albin Johnson founded the 501 st Legion in 1997, various members of the fan group began
making patches to commemorate their membership, much like other clubs. As the 501 st grew around the
world, various units (Garrisons, Squads, Outposts, Detachments, and individual members) began to
produce their own patches featuring their logos (or variations thereof), or of special events or
anniversaries.

Because the 501st and other Star Wars fan groups don’t own the underlying intellectual property, they’re
permitted to make patches and other merchandise with some restrictions: there are some constraints on
the designs, they can’t be sold to anyone outside of the group, or for profit. Within these fan groups,
there’s a vibrant collecting culture, with members often meeting up at conventions to trade patches to
add to their collection.

These merchandise items are an important part of the culture of these fan groups: they help their
members to show off their membership in the group, often by sewing the patches onto jackets or
garments, putting stickers on laptops or costume cases, or in other, publicly visible locations. The
combinations of patches often tell a story of the wearer: what costumes they’ve made, what units they
belong to, and what events they’ve taken part in.

Here's a selection of patches:

Garrison (L-R)

- Old Line Garrison (Maryland).

- Cloud City Garrison (Oregon and Southwest Washington).

- Golden Gate Garrison (San Francisco, California).

Squad Patches (L-R)

- Green Mountain Squad (Vermont, part of the New England Garrison).

- Arch City Squad (Central Ohio, part of the Ohio Garrison).

- Down East Squad (Maine, part of the New England Garrison).

Special Events (L-R)

- Star Garrison (Texas), 2022 Celebration Anaheim Patch, made for the 2022 Star Wars Celebration
convention in Anaheim, CA.

- “On A Wicked Diplomatic Mission”, an unofficial patch made for members of the New England Garrison
attending the 2019 Rise of Skywalker Premiere in Los Angeles, CA.

- “25 Years”, a commemorative patch for the 501 st Legion’s 25th anniversary in 2022.