INTERVIEW: The uncle who makes the patches

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Today the new PATCH-WERK shop finally goes online. But who is the man behind it: Michael "Uncle" Sönning - above: at work - is the creator of PATCH-WERK and the midwife of many good patches that you can stick anywhere Velcro is. We at SPARTANAT interviewed him. SPARTANAT: On October 1st, your new shop will go online at www.patch-werk.com. What's new at PATCH-WERK?

Michael "Uncle" Sönning: There are about 50 new patches all at once. In addition, the new shop now offers a much clearer layout and a fantastic search function. As a nice extra, there is a gallery. There we present our current patches for our customers - with a direct connection to Facebook. "Dealers welcome" through the new dealer log-in. And in the future, new great additional items related to patches will be added.

SPARTANAT: Michael, what is created in the patch-werk workshop?

Michael "Uncle" Sönning: Behind PATCH-WERK are creative, highly qualified people. We offer products that are made to high German quality standards for the most demanding customers worldwide. We specialize in 3D rubber patches and derived from that we offer keychains, nylon patches, so-called big-back plates. Our customers value the individualizability of their equipment. For this, we provide special patches that graphically represent callsigns, logos, and team names in high resolution and in multiple colors. Robust and solidly manufactured, as you would expect from PATCH-WERK. Tactical armbands, banners, stickers, thermos cups, and similar products complete our product range.

NATO, NYPD, the real US A-Teams (ODA), the THW, the Swiss intervention unit "Skorpion," the Matthew Axelson Foundation, many paintball event organizers and hundreds of paintball and airsoft teams, companies like TIPPMANN, and even some music stars have been loyal customers of ours for yearsSPARTANAT: Your personal opinion, rubber or embroidered patches?

Michael "Uncle" Sönning: I love the possibilities that working with rubber and PVC, as well as NYLON, offer. The visual and tactile variety that invite you to touch in the truest sense of the word are simply fantastic! They are incomparably robust and very resistant to dirt. On our website, you can watch an impressive video clip about this: https://youtu.be/uKEtmrIOgqg

There are also very nice embroidered patches, they will always have their place, for example in the traditional club scene and among biker clubsSPARTANAT: Military, airsoft, or paintball? Are the patch worlds so different?

Michael "Uncle" Sönning: There are many more "patch worlds," for example, shooting clubs, police, security services and companies, bands, fan clubs, biker clubs, just to name a few. And yes, they all differ greatly in their motif selection.

While paintballers prefer humorous motifs, airsoft players are more interested in serious motifs. Companies and bands naturally want their own company logo to be presented in an appealing way, and fan clubs are into their club emblems.

The military and the police appreciate our discretion, which is why we are often the first choice, because we have proven reliability and confidentiality many times beforeSPARTANAT: At what quantity does it make sense to have a patch made?

Michael "Uncle" Sönning: Here we should differentiate between the ideal value and the material value. We have already produced individual pieces, as well as small quantities of fewer than 10 pieces, for example, as a tribute to fallen comrades. We offer a fair price for any quantity and every customer. From 1 piece to several thousand patches, we fulfill all wishesSPARTANAT: Quite intimate: What is your favorite patch?

Michael "Uncle" Sönning: The NYPD drug squad received a Punisher patch from us. That one is really great. But the absolute favorite patch we made for a special military unit, unfortunately, I cannot show this beauty publicly because confidentiality is part of our business.

PATCH-WERK on the Internet: www.patch-werk.com