A lapel pin is a piece of jewelry, and meant to be worn in such manner. People wear their pins with pride.
Some lapel pins are made to be given as gifts, others for awards, and others to use as a thank you for a donation, are considered great for using as fund raisers. And more and more lapel pins are being utilized for event, brand and product promotion as more people identify with brands as a statement.
Custom lapel pins compliment any brand building campaign as well as the promotion of a product or service. More than anything though, lapel pins are still very much a recognition and awareness product.