Solar Marine Neck Badge

—The Solar Marine logo is more than a mere emblem; its a badge that embodies the ideals and beliefs of those who wear it. It stands as a testament to the commitment to challenge those who oppress, take without consideration, and dehumanize others.
This symbol has become synonymous with the resolve to stand up for justice where it is lacking. It represents the spirit of defiance against entitlement and oppression, encapsulating the essence of the Solar Marines mission.

While the Solar Marine logo has appeared on a few of our garments, I have always wanted to create a neck badge, but my visualization of what it should look like didnt quite match the materials and production methods that were available to us.

So we just started experimenting, which involved learning alchemy and metal casting in the studio. The progress can be seen in the photo displaying the nine metal casts. Our first attempts, displayed on the top left, were less than satisfactory, but through trial and error, we refined the process to create the desired aesthetic, seen on the bottom right.

We also needed to optimize our 3D-printed master design to get decent casts. The small size of the intricate letters in our initial casting often resulted in incomplete casts from the silicone mold, leading us to adjust not only the lettering and logos aspect ratio, but also their height.

Our next hurdle was to develop the leather base. While we initially tried machine stitching, maintaining a consistent stitch-margin ratio for hundreds of units was inefficient. We then experimented with indented stitches on the leather surface, necessitating 3D-printed molds to stamp the stitches. This was the most time-consuming step, as even indented stitches sometimes came too close to the edge.

Once the leather base was completed, we needed to affix the metal badge to it. We tested various types of industrial glue before finding that Gorilla Glue offered the strongest hold, such that trying to remove the metal badge would also tear the leather surface.

The outcome is something Im pleased with, but it was crucial to ensure its durability for consumers. This necessitated extensive field-testing, hence1 year-long wait since the first prototype. 😉

Just like our Dog tags, the strap length can be adjusted to be worn either long or short.

Reasons Not To Buy

1. From my experience of my girls wearing this item continuously for several weeks on end with the back of the leather base in contact with the torso (my girls sporting the Adventurer Camisole) – I havent noticed any staining. Nonetheless, considering the properties of leather, theres a slim, yet possible, chance that staining may occur.
2. If you happen to purchase more than one of these badges, do note that theyll each have their own unique characteristics due to the handcrafted process. The leather base, for example, is cut individually, and since cowhide isnt uniform in thickness, each piece will naturally vary. The weathering and stitching will also differ between each badge, and over time, the leather will develop its own patina, further enhancing its individuality.
3. The metal badges, too, each have their own singularities. They are all hand-cast, causing slight variations in the lettering and weathering oxidation across badges. This process guarantees that no two badges will ever be identical.
4. You could buy four human-sized cosplay police badges from Amazon for the same price instead. If you do opt for this route, your Smart Doll may creatively reorganize your anatomy during your sleep to sprout four necks. You might wake up to your Smart Doll saying, “Well, you bought four police badges, so four necks are only fitting, right?”
5. Does not come with a Smart Doll or accessories or stairs.