DIY Lanyards are loops of fabric designed to hold key cards or ID cards you make yourself.
There is a growing trend amongst business owners and event planners to DIY their lanyards, as they believe it is a cheaper and more efficient way to do it.
However, is this really the case? Considering the number of professional lanyard manufacturers who create high-quality, durable, perfectly designed, and executed products, as well as the customisation choices on offer, it can be tricky to agree that choosing the DIY option over a professional is the better choice.
We are going to weigh up the pros and cons of DIY lanyards to help you make the right decision as to whether it’s the best option for you and your needs.
Opting to DIY your lanyards can be an appealing choice, however, a major con that many people don’t think about is the materials that are available to those making them at home. Those who make lanyards professionally have access to a wealth of superior materials that have been purposefully crafted to offer the best results.
For example, professional lanyards typically use nylon or polyester as the main material, both of which are known for their strength and durability during day-to-day use. For a more deluxe product, professionals have access to high-grade leather, which not only looks great but is also heavy-duty and resilient against damage and dirt.
Professionals can also heat sublimate their lanyards, which consists of a process that chemically alters the dye used on the fabric to infuse it into the material. This creates an extra durable and vibrant lanyard that is difficult to replicate at home.
On the other hand, if you choose to DIY your lanyards, the materials you can choose from are limited to what you can find at craft and hardware stores. This is typically cotton or paracord, which are not nearly as durable nor do they look as sleek.
While it might seem trivial, the difference in fabric types between the professional and DIY options can make all the difference. Natural fibres like cotton might seem like great options but do not perform nearly as well as synthetic materials such as nylon and polyester.
Furthermore, if you or your business is eco-conscious, it is much easier to use eco-friendly materials during professional lanyard making. Eco-friendly fibres are readily accessible to lanyard suppliers, whereas it can be a lot more difficult to track them down for a DIY project.
The design of your lanyard is also paramount, as it allows it to be a unique identifier for your business and brand. Once again, professional lanyards perform much better in this area, as professionals have access to high-quality tools and equipment to ensure a polished end result.
While homemade lanyards offer basic personalisation, professional production provides a far superior product. One of the most important features of a lanyard, which is the design printing on the actual material, is difficult to conduct in a DIY setting. Alternatively, opting for a professionally made lanyard ensures high-quality printing that is clear, consistent, and well-executed.
The capabilities of a professional also ensure a vibrant colour scheme that is consistent across all manufactured lanyards and perfectly fits your design goal. The precision of the branding achieved by a professional can’t be matched by a DIY project.
However, the most important point to consider is that a professionally made lanyard creates much more opportunity for customisation, as the resources they have to pull off your design are much broader than the average DIY’er. Whether you want your company logo, department name, or a personalised design element for the wearer, a professional can create a clean and precise customised product with ease that is aesthetically appealing and well made.
Replicating the creativity and customisation capabilities of a professional when making a DIY lanyard is incredibly difficult, which is why those looking for a high-quality and well-designed product should always opt for the professionally made option.
Plus, choosing the professional option not only increases your ability to execute customised designs, but you can also create your customised lanyards en masse with ease. Professionally, lanyards are manufactured efficiently, meaning you can create a large bulk of highly creative designs that are flawless and comply with your vision.
Many people do not realise that lanyards are quite difficult to make. The techniques required to create a strong and well-made product aren’t easy, which is why they are often best left to the professionals.
Lanyard-making techniques vary, but the most commonly used DIY are weaving, braiding, knotting, and sewing. Weaving and braiding involve intricately tying the individual fibres of the fabric together into a strong pattern. Knotting requires the fabric to be repeatedly knotted in a certain way to create a strong strip of fabric, and sewing calls for special sewing techniques to be used on the fabric.
All of these crafting techniques are acquired skills that take time, patience and practice to master. This can make lanyard making a very laborious and time-intensive project, and the result isn’t always guaranteed.
On the flip side, professionals can use advanced lanyard-making techniques that are fast, precise, and high-quality. Expert production techniques offered by the Wristband Co., such as heat sublimation, ensure that lanyard craftsmanship results in a superior product that DIY crafts can’t replicate. The colours are more vibrant, the patterns and designs are consistent, and the lanyard itself is more durable.
The common sentiment is that DIY projects are generally more cost-effective than getting them professionally made, but this isn’t necessarily the case for lanyards. There are several hidden expenses when it comes to making lanyards at home, and when you add these all up, it often works out to be more than if you’d had the lanyards manufactured by a supplier.
Hidden DIY costs that no one seems to think about when making lanyards include materials, tools, and the time investment it takes to make the product. Plus, you never truly know how much the whole project is going to cost you until it is complete, as there is no simple way to evaluate an accurate quote if you DIY it.
Going to a professional manufacturer instead means that the material cost of the project works out to be a lot less. There are no hidden costs when working with a commercial alternative, so you know exactly how much you are going to pay before the project even begins.
It might come as a surprise that using a professional manufacturer for your lanyards is the more budget-friendly option. However, we highly recommend it if you are looking to keep costs down and quality high.
Another core aspect of a lanyard is its quality. Lanyards are used every day, so if it is a poorly made product, it will easily deteriorate and not last as long as it should.
When a lanyard, or any product, is professionally made, it is typically made with the highest quality materials by experts and undergoes strict quality control measures to ensure the product is the best it can possibly be. Lanyard quality control includes testing its strength, durability, aesthetic, and wear resistance, all of which are important features of the product.
This doesn’t happen for a DIY product, and there is no way to ensure that each lanyard is made to a high standard. The superior production techniques and materials of a professional manufacturer elevate the product and create a quality that easily outperforms a homemade lanyard.
Additionally, it is very difficult to create DIY lanyards with a high level of consistency. If someone were to DIY the lanyards, they would likely change their creation process over time, either by improving it as they become more accustomed to making the product, or worsening their process as they become fatigued. This means that no two DIY lanyards will ever be the same.
The consistency of your product is extremely important, especially when you are using the lanyards at an event or in a professional setting. Whether your lanyards are consistent in both design and quality can be a major factor in determining the product’s effectiveness and perception of quality and authenticity.
The quality of your lanyard is very important, as it needs to be long-lasting and durable. If it is not good quality, it will break easily, and you will need to buy or make a new one. This can be very inefficient cost-wise, and you might find yourself constantly replacing the lanyards.
Choosing a professionally made lanyard is often the most cost-effective solution as if it is well made, you won’t have to pay for replacements or repairs, meaning the initial quote you receive is likely the final price you will pay over time as the lanyards are used.
Due to the changing nature of our world, ensuring that the production of goods is environmentally friendly is key. This applies to lanyard production, too, which means that waste minimisation and using eco-friendly materials are important.
DIY projects might seem to be the most eco-friendly option on the surface, however, if you analyse the finer details, this isn’t the case.
DIYing your lanyards can often generate excess waste, which is not particularly eco-friendly. Additionally, the materials used in a DIY lanyard project often aren’t very durable, which means that the lanyard could quickly end up in the landfill.
For a professional manufacturer, it is much easier to produce a lanyard in an eco-friendly way. They have access to sustainable materials, including recycled fabrics and eco-friendly packaging, and their production process is a lot more efficient, which can reduce their carbon footprint and the amount of waste produced.
Plus, the superior quality of a professionally made lanyard makes it less likely to be thrown away, making it a much more sustainable option in the long term.
If this article teaches you one thing, it should be that professional lanyards are the superior choice over the DIY option.
Ultimately, professionally made lanyards offer superior quality, customisation, and durability, while DIY projects often require more time, effort, and hidden costs.
Choosing a professional manufacturer, such as The Wristband Co.’s heat sublimated lanyards, offers a broad range of design and customisation options, as well as access to a high-quality, durable, and wear-resistant product.
DIY might seem like a good idea at first, but if you think about it, opting for a professional manufacturer will give you a better product with an upfront cost, and won’t cost you any of your own time.
Whilst DIY lanyards have an appeal for being a one-of-a-kind item, professionally made lanyards provide unmatched consistency and durability, which is particularly ideal for large-scale events or branding.
Anyone who has ever attended a work event or conference will know how important.
A DIY lanyard can look cheap or unprofessional, as it may demonstrate that the organisers haven’t put adequate time or effort into the branding. Opting for professionally made lanyards can elevate your event even further and show attendees that you take even the smallest details seriously.
DIY lanyards come with many pros – you have total control over the product, and it can be a fun project to undertake. However, you are taking a major risk with the quality and longevity of the product, which is something that any business should not ignore. If you are only making one or two lanyards, or you are passionate about projecting yourself, DIY might be the right choice.
However, if you want lanyards for a large-scale or professional pursuit, it may be better to consider working with a professional manufacturer.
Commercial alternatives such as a professional manufacturer create a greater chance for you to create lanyards that you truly love. Not only will the design elements be top-notch but the superior materials and processes will yield a higher-quality product that lasts. Plus, you have the added benefit of ensuring that your lanyards are produced in an eco-friendly way.
Ultimately, it is up to you and your personal preference. However, if you are looking for an efficient and cost-effective way to obtain lanyards for a large-scale project, we highly recommend calling us at The Wristband Co. on 08 8363 4850 or emailing us at [email protected] to discuss your options and get your professional lanyard project underway.
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38 Little Rundle Street Kent Town SA 5067
08 8363 4850
ABN: 62 239 772 879
The Wristband Co. is located on the traditional lands for the Kaurna people, and we respect their spiritual relationship with their Country. We also acknowledge the Kaurna people as the custodians of the Adelaide region and that their cultural and heritage beliefs are still as important to the living Kaurna people today.
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