A flag patch is a piece of fabric displaying the national flag of a country. The image of the flag is usually produced by embroidery

Embroidery

Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as metal strips, pearls, beads, quills, and sequins....

, using different colored threads. It can also be produced by printing directly on the fabric, although this is less common. Many countries have patches made to resemble their flag for use in their militaries, although it is not uncommon for them to also be used for personnel in civil

Civilian

A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces or other militia. Civilians are distinct from combatants. They are afforded a degree of legal protection from the effects of war and military occupation...

 jobs (police officer

Police officer

A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...

s, civilian pilots, bus drivers, etc.), as well as sports teams who include the flag patch of the country they represent in their uniform. Some countries, for instance the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, have versions of their flag patch made in different color schemes in order to better blend in with their military camouflage

Military camouflage

Military camouflage is one of many means of deceiving an enemy. In practice, it is the application of colour and materials to battledress and military equipment to conceal them from visual observation. The French slang word camouflage came into common English usage during World War I when the...

. The three most common alternate color schemes are urban

Urban area

An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...

 (black/silver, pictured), desert

Desert

A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...

 (tan/brown), and woodland

Woodland

Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...

 (black/olive drab).

Flag patches are usually sewn onto bags or clothes. There is a fashion among backpacker

Backpacking (travel)

Backpacking is a term that has historically been used to denote a form of low-cost, independent international travel. Terms such as independent travel and/or budget travel are often used...

s to buy flag patches in the places where they go and keep them as souvenirs, or to show their origin.