At an anime, gaming or comic convention, pins are a language. They tell people what you are into before you say a word. A lanyard heavy with buttons starts conversations in every queue. A covered bag gets compliments all day.
If you have never set one up, or your last attempt shed half its pins across an exhibition hall, here is how to do it properly.
Why pins and conventions go together
- You are given a lanyard. Your badge hangs on one all weekend. It is a ready-made place to display things.
- They are cheap. At a few dollars each, you can build a collection without much money.
- They are small. They travel in a pocket and don't need a suitcase.
- They start conversations. Someone who recognises a design will tell you.
- They are collected and traded. Many events have a pin-trading culture.
Kiyo Arts pins are glossy metal buttons with a safety-pin back, in 1.25, 2.25 and 3 inch sizes, at about $6 to $7 each.
The lanyard
The lanyard is the centre of a convention outfit.
- Use the smallest size. A lanyard strap is about an inch wide, and the 1.25 inch pin fits it. Larger buttons hang off the sides, twist the strap and flip the badge round.
- Run them up one side, or both. A line of four to six pins up each strap is the classic look.
- Keep the weight even. If one side is heavier, the lanyard slides round your neck.
- Leave the back of your neck clear. Pins there dig in.
- Don't cover your badge. Staff need to see it.
A wider, sturdier lanyard holds pins better than the thin one you are handed at the door. If you plan to wear a lot, bring your own.
The bag
A bag gives you the most space and takes the larger sizes.
- Backpack front pocket: the main display. Use 2.25 and 3 inch pins here, where there is room to see the artwork.
- Tote bag: cluster pins in an upper corner, or cover one whole side.
- Straps: small pins in a line.
Some fans use a display bag with a clear window on the front, made for showing a collection of pins and charms behind plastic. It keeps everything protected in a crowd, and nothing can fall off. If you are bringing pins you would be upset to lose, it is worth considering.
The jacket
A denim jacket covered in pins is a convention staple. Cluster them on the chest and collar, and keep them off the back if you will be wearing a backpack over it. See how to style pins on a jacket, backpack or tote for arrangements.
Which size where
- 1.25 inch: lanyards, hats, collars, straps.
- 2.25 inch: bags, jacket fronts. The most versatile.
- 3 inch: the centre of a bag, where you want one design to be seen across a room.
More in button pin sizes explained.
Choosing a theme
A set of pins that go together looks better than a random handful.
- By aesthetic. All cyberpunk: Cyberpunk Slick Street, Japanese City Punk FX.3, Koi Attack.
- By subject. All space: Hand of the Stars, Purple Pink Wormhole, Light Nebula, Scanline Spaceman.
- By creature. Frost Owl, Cosmic Deer, Phoenix Fire.
- By colour. All purple and pink, or all blue.
- To match your outfit or cosplay. Pick up its colours.
Original art pins sit well alongside pins from shows and games. They add variety, and they are designs other people won't already have.
Keeping pins on in a crowd
Convention halls are packed, and bags get bumped all day. This is where pins are lost.
- Close every clasp fully. Push the point right into the catch and check it.
- Pin through thick fabric. Canvas and denim hold a pin flat. Thin fabric lets it tilt and spring open.
- Check at lunch. Run a hand over them once or twice a day.
- Wear your bag on your front in the densest crowds. It protects the pins and your belongings.
- Keep spares. Bring a couple of extra safety pins.
- Leave irreplaceable pins at home, or keep them in a display bag behind a window.
Travelling with pins
- Pin them to a square of felt or cardboard, and put it in a zip bag. They won't scratch each other or stab you.
- Metal pins go through airport security without trouble, in hand luggage or checked. If your bag is covered in them, expect it to be looked at.
- Set up your lanyard and bag the night before. It takes longer than you think.
Add keychains
Acrylic charms hang from a bag strap or zip and add movement to a display of flat pins. Most of our pin designs come as a keychain too. See bag charm stacking.
The rest of the outfit
A graphic tee in the same theme ties it together. See the tees collection and how to style an art graphic tee. Keep everything else plain, so the pins and the print are what people see.
Order early
Pins are made to order: 2 to 7 business days for production and 3 to 7 for US delivery. Order at least three weeks before the event. If you buy pins with other products, they may arrive in separate packages.
Browse every design in the pins and buttons collection.